President Marcos urges Filipinos to stay good friends with Japanese communities

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos in Japan to strengthen their ties with the local community, as he highlighted the expanding Filipino population in the country during a gathering in Tokyo on Tuesday night, May 26.

In his address, Marcos said the Filipino community has long become part of Japanese society, growing and integrating across generations.

"Manatili po tayong tunay na kaibigan ng mga Hapon sa ating mga komunidad at pamayanan nang sa gayon ay maipakita at maipabatid natin sa kanila ang pagiging tunay na Pilipino (Let us continue to be true friends to the Japanese people in our communities and neighborhoods so that we may show and convey to them what it truly means to be Filipino)," Marcos said.

He encouraged Filipinos to remain supportive of their host communities, especially in times of shared challenges.

"Naniniwala po ako na kung maayos at naaayon sa batas ang ating pamumuhay, patuloy na yayabong ang pamayanang Pilipino dito sa Japan (I believe that if we live properly and in accordance with the law, the Filipino community here in Japan will continue to flourish)," Marcos said.

"As our community grows across Japan— from Hokkaido all the way to Okinawa— our strength lies in our firm adherence to our faith and our national identity," he added.

An estimated 350,000 Filipinos currently live and work in Japan.

The President also urged younger Filipinos to make the most of opportunities in their respective fields while also contributing positively to Japanese society.

"It is my fervent hope that you succeed in all your endeavors in your chosen careers. Whether it be in business, the arts, the professional arena, the service sector, or in sports, I urge you to make a good account of yourselves and be proud of your heritage as Filipinos," Marcos said.

He emphasized the importance of adapting to Japanese society while maintaining a distinct Filipino identity, noting the country’s strong cultural traditions and social structure.

"For us to thrive here, we need to be masters of the art of integration. We must respect the local laws, embrace the culture, and learn the language. However, integration does not mean assimilation," he told them.

“It does not mean forgetting your roots and abandoning who you are. Our greatest asset is our unique identity,” he added.

Marcos also described young Filipinos in Japan as future “torch bearers” who will carry forward and strengthen Philippines-Japan relations over the next decades. He likewise acknowledged older members of the community for helping pave the way for younger generations.

The President arrived in Tokyo at 6:31 p.m. on Tuesday and met with members of the Filipino community shortly after landing.

He said his visit, upon invitation from the Japanese government, aims to further deepen cooperation between the Philippines and Japan in labor protection, trade, defense, security, and people-to-people exchanges.

The trip also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.