A kick-off banquet for the Global Peace Festival in Japan was held September 3, 2008 at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku with Dr. Hyun Jin Moon as the keynote speaker for the gathering of ambassadors and diplomats. The Philippine delegates to the event included officials from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo: the Labor Attaché, Mr. Danilo Cruz; the Welfare Officer, Ms. Luz Talento; and the Armed Forces and Defense Attaché, Col. Danilo Estropia. Also present was Mrs. Angelita Obara, President of the Filipino Japanese Movement for Global Peace and co-chair of the GPF Japan Filipino Community National Steering Committee.
The delegation from the Philippine Embassy was surprised at the scope and impact of the Global Peace Festival and even more so realizing that it started in the Philippines in 2006. They acknowledged their willingness to support the upcoming Global Peace Festival-Japan on November 15, with the Labor Attaché, Mr. Cruz, saying, “I am very happy to support the November GPF event in Tokyo” to one of the chairmen.
The Defense Attaché, Col. Estropia, compared the work of Universal Peace Federation to the Jaycees and Rotary Club but on a bigger scale. He talked to GPF Executive Committee Member Mr. Koji Matsuda about the present situation in the island of Mindanao, where war is ongoing. He described the fighting behind the banana fields that occurred when he was assigned in that area. He is a man of action and someone who can carry out the mission of the Global Peace Festival.
A kick-off event for the Filipino community in Japan is planned for September 13 at the Shinjuku Bunka Center. Performing artists from the Filipino community will come to grace the event.
The Filipino Japanese Movement for Global Peace, founded in March 2008, is dedicated to fostering unity, peace, and service to the Philippines, Japan, and the world. It (1) provides fellowship, unity, service, and leadership education in collaboration with government and non-government organizations; (2) develops and advocates standards for intercultural and interreligious peace and harmony; (3) offers educational tools, service opportunities, and constructive activities for the benefit of the family, community, the country, and the world; and (4) promotes a strong bond of camaraderie and harmonious relationship among all Filipinos living in Japan. Its membership is Filipino-Japanese families.