“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and, most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

— Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé)

As I gazed at the full moon on June 29, partially hidden by drifting clouds, I could not help but associate it with this year's FIFA World Cup soccer match as Japan prepared to face Brazil in a decisive knockout match at 2:00 a.m. on June 30. Would the Strawberry Moon—so named because it coincides with the strawberry harvest season—transform itself into a "honeymoon" victory for the Samurai Blue?

I also chose a famous quote from the legendary Pelé, the iconic "King of Football," who won three FIFA World Cups and was affectionately known as O Rei in Brazil. I hoped that his enduring spirit would inspire the rightful winner of the match. Perhaps Pelé also had a special fondness for Japan, as his third wife, Marcia Aoki, is of Japanese descent.

This year, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines, I am featuring remarkable Japanese individuals who have dedicated themselves to strengthening Japan-Philippines friendship.

One of them is Keigo Teraji, who has been serving at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Western Japan—the commercial section of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka—for nearly six years. A graduate of the Philippine Studies Department of Osaka University's Minoh Campus in 2016, Keigo has quietly built a career devoted to fostering stronger economic ties between the two countries.

Keigo spent his kindergarten, elementary, and middle school years in California and Kentucky while his father was assigned to a branch of a Japanese automobile company. Returning to his hometown of Okazaki City in Aichi Prefecture proved challenging. Having attended an American school overseas and a Japanese supplementary school only on Saturdays, he struggled to adjust to Japan's education system.

His first attempt to enter a national university was unsuccessful, forcing him to spend a year as a ronin—a student preparing to retake the highly competitive university entrance examinations.

He never gave up.

A year later, Keigo successfully passed the entrance examinations for Osaka University's prestigious Minoh Campus.

"Perhaps my experience living overseas was a great advantage because I was strong in English and World History," Keigo recalled.

Thus began a new chapter in his life. Although he was back in his native Japan, he now lived away from his family in Aichi Prefecture.

Our paths crossed in my class at the Philippine Studies Department. He was quiet yet thoughtful, unassuming yet determined. I affectionately gave him the nickname "Carlos" because he possessed a calm, kingly aura.

When I once asked what kind of person he had hoped to become while growing up in the United States, his answer was simple yet revealing:

"To be a well-disciplined and highly principled person."

His curiosity about the Philippines continued to grow. Together with his classmates, he attended Filipino community gatherings that I organized. When the Ateneo Blue Eagles played a basketball exhibition game at Doshisha University, Keigo enthusiastically interviewed several players, including Kiefer Ravena, who has since become one of the B.League's most recognizable stars with the Yokohama B-Corsairs.

Carlos recalls that one of the turning points in his university life came during his sophomore year, when his class staged an original Filipino play focusing on Filipino-Japanese marriages. Playing the lead role deepened his interest in discovering another side of the Philippines.

Another defining moment came when the Department of Tourism in Osaka asked me to recommend an interpreter for the Mayor of Takatsuki during a meeting with former Philippine President Joseph Estrada, who was then serving as Mayor of Manila.

Carlos accepted the assignment despite admitting that it was one of the most nerve-racking experiences of his life. That first trip to the Philippines became only the beginning of many meaningful journeys.

Moved by compassion for the underprivileged, Carlos traveled to Tacloban during his third year at the university to visit evacuation centers in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda together with one of his professors.

In his fourth year, he joined a volunteer group organized by a Japanese non-profit organization that helped rebuild an elementary school in Western Leyte.

In March 2016, Keigo graduated from the Philippine Studies Department with the Best Graduating Student Award.

Since joining the DTI Osaka Office in October 2019, Carlos has learned the intricacies of trade promotion under the guidance of Trade Attaché Michael Ignacio and Senior Staff Ms. Yasuko Kuniyoshi.

More recently, he has assisted during business missions involving DTI Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and Japanese business leaders. His responsibilities include coordinating business matching activities in response to Trade Opportunity Requests, facilitating participation in trade exhibitions, and organizing seminars, forums, and standalone promotional events.

Recognizing current global business trends and the Philippines' growing potential as a regional hub for trade and investment, Carlos is now pursuing a Master of Arts degree at the Graduate School of Humanities of Osaka University.

His thesis explores the ethnography of stingless beekeeping in the Philippines.

"Through this research, I'd like to deepen my understanding of the cultural aspects of doing business in the Philippines that cannot be fully understood from a government perspective alone. I hope it will provide Japanese businesses with better insights into how to engage more effectively in the Philippines," he explained.

Keigo "Carlos" Teraji may not yet have reached the "knockout stage" of his professional journey, but he continues to move steadily toward his goals, sharpening his skills with patience and determination. He firmly believes there are no shortcuts to climbing the top of the coconut tree.

"After obtaining my master's degree, I will continue striving professionally and pursue further career advancement at the DTI," Carlos said.

Indeed, he understands that success belongs to those willing to work patiently—and he surely knows which part of the bread is honeyed.

May - June 2026

“To invent an airplane is nothing.

To build an airplane is something.

To fly is everything.”

— Ferdinand Ferber

The legend of King Midas—an 8th-century ruler of Phrygia in what is now Turkey—tells of a gift that became a curse. Granted the power by Dionysus to turn everything he touched into gold, Midas soon realized the folly of his greed when even his own daughter was transformed. In the end, redemption came only after he washed away the curse in the Pactolus River.

Every year in Japan, a different kind of “Midas touch” fills the air—one that transforms ordinary days into a golden stretch of travel, reunion, and escape. Aptly named Golden Week, it is one of the busiest travel seasons in the country. The longest stretch was in 2019, lasting ten consecutive days. This year, though shorter—from April 29 to May 6—airports and train stations were once again flooded with travelers, forming long queues despite looming concerns over the Hormuz Strait, which threaten fuel shortages, rising costs, and potential disruptions in global air travel. It is, in many ways, a quiet echo of the uncertainty the world endured during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Equally admirable is Mr. Kentaro Kusamoto, the current manager of the Osaka Sales Office. A familiar presence at Philippine community events, he is known for his humility and patience. Often, he waits quietly for hours until his name is called to award a round-trip ticket prize. Yet beyond that role, he is embraced warmly by the Filipino community—invited to gatherings with or without formal duties—simply because he is regarded as one of their own.

At Kansai International Airport, Mr. Manabu Kanuka serves as PAL’s Operations Manager. True to the meaning of his name—manabu, or the pursuit of knowledge—he possesses not only strong communication skills in English and Filipino but also a natural warmth that puts passengers at ease. His welcoming smile at the departure gate has become a reassuring constant for many travelers. Recently, he was honored for 30 years of exemplary service—a testament to his dedication and professionalism.

These men are the unsung heroes behind every smooth departure and safe arrival. They may not appear in PAL’s cinematic safety videos set against picturesque haciendas, but their presence is felt where it matters most—on the ground, among the people, quietly ensuring that journeys continue.

As for Mr. Romualdo, the challenges of the pandemic shaped him into an even more confident leader. After serving as Route Manager in the Philippines beginning in 2022, he has now taken on a new role as Area Manager in Vietnam, overseeing operations in Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, and Hanoi.

And so, under vast blue skies, the colors of red, white, and blue continue to soar—not just powered by engines and timetables, but by the quiet heroism of people who rarely take center stage. Because while airplanes may carry passengers, it is men like Nagao, Kusamoto, and Kanuka who carry something far more important: the trust, stories, and balikbayan dreams of every flight. And that, perhaps, is the real first-class service—no upgrade required.

When the clock struck midnight on January 1, I welcomed the New Year in the usual, modest way—osechi ryori, cheese bread with ham, and a small plate of grapes.

On New Year’s Day, my eldest son treated the family to his signature dishes. There was, however, an empty seat at the table—for my departed husband—the very reason our celebration was subdued.

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse—said to be sensitive yet trustworthy and dependable. Coincidentally, it is also the 70th anniversary of Japan–Philippine relations, officially established on July 23, 1956, following the ratification and exchange of reparations agreements. The theme this year is “Weaving the Future Together.”

Was it merely coincidence that I was born that same year? Or was I somehow destined to witness history—like seeing Prime Minister Eisaku Sato land by helicopter on our school grounds back in 1967?

On my birthday, I flew to the Philippines on an official trip with our school administrators to meet counterparts from De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ). Given the milestone year for both nations, the timing felt auspicious.

Breakfast at Bessie’s… Cocktails and Dinner at Canopy’s at the Hilton

Bessie Vicente, a long-time caterer in Kansai, celebrated the grand opening of her restaurant in Shin-Imamiya, Osaka, last November 30. Alongside Chef Bessie’s signature dishes, the restaurant also serves well-loved Filipino breakfast favorites such as tapsilog and many more. Since opening, the venue has become a popular choice for large gatherings, hosting year-end and New Year parties as well as various special occasions.

From December 4 to 19, Philippine cuisine was also showcased at the Jaja Bar of the Canopy Hotel at the Grand Green North Tower. The photo features Mr. Jerome Diaz, Tourism Attaché of DOT Osaka, together with Mr. Koji Takehara, Mr. Diego Genobisa, and former staff of the Woven Pavilion at Expo 2025, enjoying classic Filipino dishes including adobo, lumpiang Binondo, and lechon sandwiches.