A joyous Moment with Joji Ilagan-Bian

Cultural Potpourri 

BY MICHAEL EBRO DAKUDAO ON AUGUST 18, 2019, Mindanao times

Joji Ilagan-Bian with her Lion King birthday cake

“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As King, you need to understand that balance and respect all creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.” Mufasa in The Lion King.

“This is my favorite quotation. Everyone who works for me is important; no matter how small and humble their positions are. They continue to contribute to the success of the so called circle of life…That’s why I chose The Lion King as theme of my belated birthday party. That is aside from the fact that I love the movie and the Broadway show. I can identify with Mufasa in terms of leadership style in my daily life of managing my businesses,” so expressed the lioness spirit in Purita Arsenia “Joji” Ilagan-Bian when she invited “family and close friends that matter most to me” to her 64th belated birthday celebration last August 9, 2019, held at the grand lobby of her IMS I-CHEF institution. And the Lioness Queen instructed me to be the secret judge in choosing the 10 ladies with the nicest animal prints on their outfits.

The Ledesma and Bian families

“We give small gifts lang,” she told me. But one “small gift” was an Art Deco-inspired necklace with diamonds and semi-precious stones coming from no less than her dear tita Emilia Sorongon vda. de Sitjar. The grand dame of jewellery came in a two piece outfit with zebra stripes; and was accompanied by her devoted son, Emil.

Having achieved success in no small measure, Joji Ilagan-Bian is particularly known for her ability to strongly inspire people to share her passion and advocacy in education and involve them in making positive change happen. “No doubt about it but my palangga is a respected leader in both business and education as she continuously transforms lives especially that of the youth. She truly makes a difference as a true educator, an effective woman leader, and a successful and hardworking business entrepreneur,” commented Joji’s buena amiga, the restaurateur Lena Benedicto, with whom I shared a table with.

Davao’s Diplomatic Corps

This “babaeng walang pahinga” holds leadership positions in many organizations: President of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines; Treasurer of the Asia Pacific Council of Hotel Educators; Past Deputy Chair of the East ASEAN Business Council; Chairman of the Mindanao Business Council (2000-2008); Past President of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Founding Chair of the Mindanao Technical Vocational Schools Association and Philippine Call Centers Alliance. It’s a hard life that Joji leads but this amazing and always well-dressed woman would rather “je vois la vie en rose.”

The impact of her services transformed the lives of fellow Filipinos that Pres. Joseph Estrada (1997) and Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo (2005) awarded her Medals of Recognition for her various contributions in business and education.

Joji Ilagan-Bian with her colleagues in business and tourism

“As a businesswoman-entrepreneur, Joji Ilagan is a prime example of what an empowered woman can do for her family and community,” admires the equally admirable Hon. Consul of Hungary Baby Maceda-Montemayor of her dear friend. Joji Ilagan-Bian, the Hon. Consul of Bangladesh herself, has established five hospitality colleges with international linkages: the Joji Ilagan College of Business and Tourism; International School Hotel Management (General Santos City); Institute International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF); Stockbridge American International School; and the International Management School. These international schools have come to form the network of the JIB International Schools, all of which are offering transnational, international and industry standards, skills-based education and training which allow its respective students to earn certifications that are recognized internationally.

Joji Ilagan-Bian with the 10 Best in Animal Print attires

Joji Ilagan Bian has a solid track record in community engagement in the fields of education, business, politics, civic and religious movement that spans more than 30 years. Various institutions have given her awards for her excellence in the field of education and business development. Among these are the Datu Bago Award in Business and Education (1997) which is the highest award conferred by the City of Davao; the Kabalikat Laang Bisig Presidential National Award for the promotion of Development of Technical Vocational Training in the Philippines and for the hundreds of scholarships that her schools have given to the out-of- school youth conferred by the President of the Republic of the Philippines in 1997; the Presidential Service Medal of Merit (2005) conferred by Pres. Gloria Arroyo; University of the Immaculate Conception Centennial Outstanding Alumni Award in Dec. 8, 2005; Patnubay Award in NGO Work for Education (2010); the prestigious Patnubay Award given by Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines (COHREP); the Mindanao Jaycee LEAD Award (2002); the Outstanding ASEAN Woman Entrepreneur Award given by the ASEAN Women Network (2017); 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award from Global Filipina Network in Toronto Canada; and the Australian Excellence Award for Alumni of the Year 2020.

JIB with the JIB students

In spite of her countless achievements and commendations, Joji’s dedication to continuing her personal advocacy has not waned or slowed down a bit. This lioness’ tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit come from the drive to help others as evidenced in her continuous involvement in education, tourism, religious affiliations and business.

Cultural Potpourri in Davao City

Celebrating the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito of Japan’s Reiwa Era

BY MICHAEL EBRO DAKUDAO ON MAY 26, 2019 @ MINDANAO TIMES

When Kotaishi Naruhito Shinno or Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan married the Harvard and Oxford educated Japanese diplomat, Masako Owada, in June 9, 1993, in an ancient Shinto wedding tradition, I was among the foreign students in Tokyo who celebrated with the rest of the Japanese.  The love story was like the Japanese version of Prince Charles of England marrying Diana.  It is a known fact that the Crown Prince persevered in pursuing the bright and pretty Masako and even proposed to her three times.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of the Reiwa era of Japan

Last May 1, 2019, the Crown Prince ascended to the Chrysanthemum throne as Emperor Naruhito replacing his father, Emperor Akihito of the Heisei (Achieving Peace) period of Japan’s history.  Emperor Akihito abdicated on April 30, 2019, owing to old age and failing health.  The Reiwa (Beautiful Harmony) era ushered by Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement begins this May, 2019.  He is the 126^th Emperor of Japan.

Emperor Naruhito was born on February 23, 1960, as the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.  He earned his degree in History at the exclusive Gakushuin University in Tokyo.  The Emperor spent two years to study overseas at Merton College, Oxford, England.  He is actively involved in international environmental issues.

Japanese ConGen Yoshiaki Miwa

Japan’s Emperor performs a symbolic role rather than a political function as stipulated in the Japanese Constitution.  He is the “symbol of the state and of the unity of the people.”  In the past, the Emperor was considered the “living embodiment of gods.”

Last May 23, Japanese Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa invited various representatives of the Davao Community, including the diplomatic corps and Japanese nationals based in Davao, to celebrate belatedly “the Enthronement of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and the 100^th Anniversary of the Davao Japanese Community” held at the Ballroom of Marco Polo Davao.

A toast to the new Japanese Emperor Naruhito (l-r): Asec. Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Councilor Mabel Acosta and Japanese ConGen Yoshiaki Miwa

“During the 30-year Heisei era of His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus, relations between Japan and the Philippines greatly strenthened and, on behalf of the government of Japan, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your support and cooperation for the past era.  I am confident that the “Beautiful Harmony,” which is the essence of Reiwa, will continue to flourish in both our countries as we work together and further advance the Philippine-Japan strategic partnership,” said Consul Yoshiaki Miwa in his message.

The Japanese Consul General in Davao also informed the guests of the 100^th Anniversary of the Davao Japanese Community in Davao’s history.  “The Japan-Davao relationship started in 1903 when the first group of 30 Japanese immigrants arrived in Davao to work in an agricultural plantation.  This eventually started the continuous flow of immigration from Japan to this area.  The early Japanese immigrants were mainly engaged in the production of abaca, a prime commodity at that time.  In 1918, the Davao Japanese Association was organized; then in 1920, the Japanese Consulate was established to look after the welfare of the Japanese settlers in Davao.  At its peak, the Japanese community then reached twenty thousand; and Davao came to be known as the Little Tokyo of the Philippines.”

Japanese ConGen Miwa with the VIP guests

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio failed to take part in the historic affair.  Her message was read instead by Councilor Maria Belen Acosta:  “A centennial of friendship built in confidence is what brings us together tonight–a friendship that has led to numerous promising engagements both in our homeland and yours.  Thus, Davao City is eternally grateful to Emperor Akihito for his warm reception of Davao and Japan’s bilateral relations for the past years.  His goodwill for Davaoenos will forever be etched in the heart of Davao’s history.”  The Mayor believes that Emperor Naruhito “would deliver an outstanding leadership like his father” and that friendly ties with Japan will  continue to blossom under Emperor Naruhito’s reign.

Giving a short congratulatory message as well that evening was Ambassador Uriel Norman Garibay, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Mindanao.

While attending the special event that evening, I couldn’t help but think of my family’s personal attachment to Japan.  It was in Tokyo that my grandfather, Dr. Santiago Pamplona Dakudao, Sr. earned his medical degree as one of the earliest Filipinos to study in the Land of the Rising Sun.  It was while he was working at the St. Luke’s Hospital near the Ginza that he met my grandmother, Carmen Lacson of Silay City, Negros Occidental, who was then having her eczema treated.  They fell in love and eventually got married in the Philippines.  My grandfather was then hired by Ohta Kyosaburo to work as resident physician at the Ohta Development Company’s (ODC) Mintal Hospital where he delivered at birth a generation of Japanese born in Davao.  My grandmother, on the other hand, taught Spanish and English to Japanese laborers of the ODC.  After my grandfather retired from his hospital duties, he became successful in operating his abaca plantations with the help of Japanese laborers led by Kenichi Migitaka who were recommended to him by Ohta Kyosaburo.  He had an awesome plantation house built in Tugbok utilizing Japanese carpenters and masons.

Japanese ConGen Miwa and former Consul Dodo with the guests

Among the Dakudao grandchildren, it was only I who managed to study and graduate at the premier University of Tokyo as a Japanese Government scholar during Emperor Akihito’s Heisei era.  It was while studying in Tokyo that I got to learn more about my grandparents through stories narrated to me by their former Japanese employees.  My stay in Japan was made comfortable with the valued help with of the late Kenji Migitaka family who served as my foster family.   I am truly grateful and will always take pride in my family’s Japanese connection.