Speaker Arroyo joins PHlapan ties celebration
HOUSE Speaker Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo has
,oined other govemment
officials in
celebrathg
the Philippines-Japan
ties in a new era ulldel
Ernperor Naruhito.
Together wi fi A-mbas-
sador of Japan to the Phil-
ippinesHis ExcellercyKoii
Haned4 Speaker A4oyo
celebrated the ascension of
Emperor Na.ruhito to the
Chrvsarthernum Throne
as a'sign of shengthenint
the new age of Philippine-
Japanese friendship.
Alongside SpeakerAr-
royo were former First
G6ntleman Jose Miguel
Arrovo and H.E. Hareda's
wife iheka Haneda.
The event was also at-
tended by Foreign Affairs
SecretaryTeodoro l-ocsin,
Senator Aquilino Piment-
el, former Prime Minister
Cesar Virata, and other
Filipino and Japanese dig-
nitaries.
T.ocsin said that the
Philippines is one with Ja-
pan in looking Iorward to
the Reiwa Era under the
new emperor as time oI
peace. and prosperity.
"!Ve share theJapanese
people'shope tlut the Rei-
wa Era heralds a time of
harmonyfodapanand our
region as we ride the wave
of unbridled opportunity
froln gain dd loss,'a Loc'
', li.
sin'said. nership," Haneda said.
He also stated that this The Ambassador ex-
new era shall further pressed confidence that
strengthen bilateral rela- theharmoniousfriendship
tions as fapan is consid- between Philippines and
ered a true ally of the Phil- Japan will continue as Ja-
ippines. pan ente$ its Reiwa Ela.
"On the bilateral front, J6ter M ala3tas
we are confident that the
Reiwa Era will impaft a
sbonger impetus to our
PageT
strate#c partnership. Ja-
panhas animportantplace
in our pantheon of real
friends. It is, in the words
of His ExceJJerrcyPresidmt
Rod rigo Duterte, 'a friend
closer- than a brother."'
Locsin added.
H.E. Haneda said that
tlrc robus?diplo'm'atic ties
of the Philippines ard Ja-
pan is at its golden age.
"Across the 30 vears of
the Heisei Era of Iiis Maj-
esty Emperor Emedtus
Akihito, the relations be-
tween Japan and the Phil-
ippines were immensely
shengthened. We are now
here en jolng the golden
. agF.of .our strateglc parf
..1