Exchange Student Program The Soka University is presently engaged in academic exchange agreement
with 96 universities in the world. In the Philippines, U.P . had entered
into this agreement with the Soka University in 1988, and De La Sale in
1996. Every year, two exchange students from each university are dispatched.
Aside from that, because this is the only English speaking country in
Asia, many Soka University students came here to study at their own expense.
Furthermore, short term language training program is launched in Kalayan
College where Dr. Abueva, a friend of President Ikeda, serves as principal.
File 025: September 2008
Jun Sato (Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City)
Hello! My name is Jun Sato.
I'm a senior student majoring in Elementary Education at Soka University.
I've been studying at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippines,
as a private student since May 2008.
My Way to the Philippines
with Mrs. Daguman (2nd from the right),
the Headquarters Women's Division Vice Chief,
and University Vice President Juarez (right most)
To begin with, I have two valuable and unforgettable episodes in my life
which I think has made me find my way here in the Philippines.
Firstly, on July 6 in 2004, Capitol University has conferred its honorary
doctorate of humanities upon Ikeda Sensei in Tokyo. Fortunately, I had
a golden chance to participate in this conferment ceremony and met my mentor
Ikeda Sensei for the first time in my life. In his speech, Ikeda Sensei
said to us, "Victory is simply never accepting defeat, no matter what.
Being undefeated is victory. Never give up; never lose hope – that is the
key to winning and the essential philosophy of all experts in the art of
happiness".
After this event, I strove to apply Sensei's guidance to my daily life
and determined to enter Soka University which he founded. And also I could
say that I came to take interest in the Philippines because of this event.
Secondly, at the end of my second year in Soka University in 2007, I got
an opportunity to join the Intensive English Language Program at the University
of the Philippines and went to the Philippines for the first time together
with a bunch of my admirable members. Right after I arrived in the Philippines,
everything was unbelievable, astonishing, and totally different for me.
In my point of view, there were lots of fearful, sad-looking street children
and beggars along the streets. On the other hand, there were many huge
and luxurious malls standing in a row, looking down upon those unfortunate
people with too brilliant lights flashing. I was extremely confused to
see that freaking sight. The disparity between the rich and the poor here
has widened to such staggering proportions, unlike in Japan.
I tried to ask myself again and again, "What is true peace and welfare
of all humankind? And what could I do about this?" Aside from this,
I had a long and serious talk with other members about this matter until
late into the night. But somehow, one of Sensei's words popped into my
mind. In effect Sensei said, "You must train and polish your distinguished
power which is strong enough to save those who are suffering". After
this realization, I made a determined resolution to come to the Philippines
again and improve, cultivate, and enrich my English communications skill
as well as my humanity.
My Life in the Philippines
with University's Lotus Sutra Research
Group Members
with Young Men's Division members in Cebu
Six months have already passed since I came here in Cagayan de Oro City.
Although I've faced many kinds of difficulties and obstacles, and there
were even many times when I was almost about to be defeated, but I stood
my ground and kept on going. I was able to do this because I've faithfully
promised Ikeda Sensei that I would never give in to any difficulties which
I might encounter. And I couldn't help but feel how marvelous the Mystic
Law is. That is to say, it was on the conferment ceremony from Capitol
University that I've first met Ikeda Sensei and I’m now actually studying
here at Capitol University in this way. How come in the world I cannot
feel the wonderful relation through Buddhism? This is to say, I must fully
succeed in my studies here in the Philippines and live up to Sensei’s great
expectation. I, however, do believe that I can make it.
I'm already feeling at home here and quite enjoying my studies at Capitol
University. I have found most students at Capitol University immensely
approachable and quite generous to me. For instance, when I have difficulty
in catching up with my class in English, they swiftly sense my brooding
and help me with considerable kindness and their ever smiling faces. I
came to consider this as a unique Filipino hospitality and a cultural characteristic.
The other day, I was given a great chance to have a long talk with the
president of Capitol University, Atty. Juarez when I visited his office
to convey how I’ve been leading my campus life. Since he is very big and
brawny person, I always feel a bit nervous in his presence. In actuality
however, both he and his wife, the vice president of Capitol University,
Dr. Fe Juarez, are both taking good care of me and treating me like Ikeda
Sense's son. He even told me about a great story of how he sincerely felt
when he met Ikeda Sensei in Japan. He went on by saying, "Noisy people
are shallow. But silent people are deep. When I met Sensei (He calls Dr.
Ikeda "Sensei"), he was so silent. And he was serenely thinking
about something. I know that he did not finish his college. But he is very
intelligent. I guess this is because he has read lots of books and been
given to deep contemplation." On the verge of tears, I was greatly
touched by the story because he considers Ikeda Sensei intimately this
way. Hearing about this, I had to make a fresh determination to myself
in which I must prove that I am a real Soka student. For my definition,
a real Soka student is a student who never accepts defeat until he achieves
his final objective no matter what happens along the way and who always
continues to struggle, embracing Ikeda Sensei and his guidance of encouragement
in the bottom of his heart.
My Determination
with my French friend in Camiguin Island
My final objective in life is to be a professor of education at my alma
mater, Soka University and to contribute to its continuous development,
while pursuing my interest in education. As Ikeda Sensei always says, "education
is truly significant". This is because education moulds people and
then, these educated people constitute societies. As such, whether our
societies and the world would be a peaceful one or not entirely depends
on how we create and establish good education. So, after finishing my private
study here in the Philippines, I will go back to Japan and prepare myself
for proceeding to graduate school at Soka University, in order to pursue
my utmost interest---"Education".
Finally, I'd like to express my profound appreciation and repay my debt
of gratitude to my family in Japan, host family in the Philippines, Mr.
Juarez and Mrs. Juarez, friends both in Japan and the Philippines, local
SGI members and, of course, Ikeda Sensei. If it had not been for all of
them, I would definitely not be what I am now today. Although my steps
toward my objective might be inching along like a tortoise, slowly but
surely, I'll nevertheless try my utmost to achieve it at any cost.
Daghang salamat! (Thank you very much [in the Visayan dialect]!)
