Exchange Student Program Soka University is presently engaged in academic exchange agreement with
96 universities throughout the world. In the Philippines, U.P . had entered
into such an agreement with Soka University in 1988, and De La Salle in
1996. Every year, two exchange students from each university are being
dispatched for the said program.
Aside from that, because this is the only English speaking country in Asia,
many Soka University students come here to study at their own expense.
Furthermore, short term language training program is also launched in Kalayaan
College where Dr. Abueva, a close friend of SGI President Ikeda, serves
as its principal.
File 037: November 2009
Natsumi Nomoto (English Language Program at
University of the Philippines)
at "Paaralang Pantao", a free school in Payatas
Hello! I’m Natsumi Nomoto, first grade student majoring Economics.
I stayed in the Philippines for three weeks last February.
I came there as a member of the English study tour in the University of
the Philippines (UP).
I experienced many wonderful things through this tour,
so I’ like to share some of them with you.
My Experiences in the Philippines
with Dr. Abueva, a former president of UP
I’d like to write about friendship and one of unforgettable meetings.
First of all, I’ll write about friendship. Whenever I faced with worries
and problems, I talked to my friends in this tour. Everyone heard my problems
carefully, give me advices, and encourage me to go right way. One day,
I felt fear that I faced with one friend. I had the thing which I really
wanted to do with all members for one person, but I was afraid of being
rejected. At that time, one of my friends talked to me about the thing
by accident. I couldn’t help myself and burst out crying. She heard my
talk kindly, and finally said, “You will be leader of peace, and work at
the international organization, won’t you? At such a place, you will meet
more difficult people, and problems. Even now, you can’t be faced with
the person, you’ll not be able to work such a place. To think about it,
this problem can be good practice for you!” It was strict but warm words,
therefore it moved me. After that, I seriously chanted to be faced with
the problem, and power of chanting inspired me with courage. Because of
it, everything went great way. Thanks to this problem and her, I could
feel Power of chanting, and my possibility.
Secondly, I’ll write about unforgettable meeting with Dr. Jose V. Abueva, president of Kalayaan College. We visited there and met him. Since he came into the room which we were led, I was so moved because I’d have liked to meet him, and his behavior was very natural although he is worldwide scholar. First he gave us the lecture about “non-killing society” and answered our questions. After that, we gave the determination messages from all of us to him. To tell the truth, what I wrote as the thing that I really wanted to do at friendship part is about this determination messages. I read out the message to him as a representative. During reading, he gazed at me with very kind eyes, and I decided that I’ll be peace leader whom he has hoped to grow up from there. He did a lot of things for us. All of things are difficult to write only this space. Through this meeting, I felt that the first-rate intellect was a person like him. Time spend with him became one of the happiest times in my life.
My Determination
with my friends, who participated
in this study program
Thanks to this tour, my heart strengthened and I could start to see my
way for my future. I owe all of things to my mentor, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda,
and I appreciate all people who supported us.
I’ll live up to this faith, study harder with my great friends and become peace leader and first- rate intellect like Dr. Ikeda and Dr. Abueva.
