Travel : Japan Eases Visa Requirements for Filipinos

Mount Fuji - Japan's highest peak

Many countries do not require visa for Philippine nationals to visit their country; but other countries require Filipinos to get an entry visa, and some of them have very stringent requirements. One particular country that is quite strict in issuing visa to Filipinos is Japan. This is understandable because some Filipino tourists overstay in Japan to find jobs when their visa expires. The high exchange rate of the Japanese yen, the high-paying blue collar jobs, and job referrals from friends/relatives who are already working there, are some of the  reasons  why these Filipino visitors are enticed to find jobs in Japan. 

There are also thousands of overseas Filipino contract workers all over Japan (working mainly in the entertainment industry) and it would not be an easy task for Japanese immigration to apprehend these overstaying visitors, so this could also be one reason for them to strictly qualify visa applicants from the Philippines.  For whatever reason, getting a Japanese visa is a hurdle to many Filipinos.

A couple of weeks ago, there were "unofficial" news that Japan would be easing up on visa requirements, and many Filipinos welcomed the news with anticipation. But last  Tuesday (June 17, 2014) the Japanese embassy in Manila released the news officially :

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has approved “substantial relaxations of visa requirements” for tourism visas issued to nationals of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

The policy move is just an “initial step” of the ministry's “endeavor to realize the exemption of visa requirements,” the embassy also said.

A report by Kyodo News on April 15 said the Japanese government is “making arrangements” to waive visas for tourists from the three Asian countries.

A report on Nikkei Asian Review quoted a Japanese Tourism Agency official as saying that for the Philippines and Vietnam, Japan will launch "a substantive visa exemption" by simplifying visa acquisition procedures for participants of tours offered by the travel agencies designated by the Japanese government.

Tourist visa requirements were relaxed to help achieve Japan's goal of attracting 20 million foreign visitors by 2020, when Tokyo will host the Olympics and Paralympics, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun.

“For national of the Philippines multiple-entry visa requirements will be substantially relaxed, and requirements for single-entry tourism visas will be relaxed to a quasi-exemption-equivalent level when applied via specified travel agencies,” the embassy said in its statement.

However, other details, including “the beginning date of application” are still being worked out, the embassy said.

According to The Yomiuri Shimbun, visitors from overseas surpassed the 10 million mark for the first time in 2013 due partly to the yen’s weakening.

It said Japanese officials believe that by making it easier to obtain a visa, the number of foreign tourists to Japan will double from the 2013 level by 2020.

New Source : GMA News

Indeed this is a welcome development specially to Filipinos. Japan is geographically so near to the Philippines but it seems so far to many Filipinos because of this visa impediment. 

For the three countries specifically mentioned (Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam) who would be benefitting from this development, it is obvious that economic and political reasons had been considered for their inclusion------These three countries are the fastest growing economies in Asia these past years; and Vietnam and the Philippines are Japan's allies in fighting China's expansionist scheme in East Asia.-----

Japan is a very beautiful country with a unique and ancient culture; and the Japanese people are admired for their kindness and courteous manner. Many people would love to visit the country if given the opportunity. With the easing of visa requirements (and maybe even a complete waiving of visa requirements soon) this will give more people a chance to visit Japan. Im sure many Filipinos are already excitedly planning for a Nippon adventure. 

Let's forget Hong Kong (who likes unfriendly people anyway?). As one travel writer puts it : Japan will now be the "New Hong-Kong" for Filipinos. 

Picture Sources :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10029963/Mount-Fuji-to-get-World-Heritage-status.html
http://www.tourist-destinations.com/2011/06/kyoto-japan.html
http://www.japanfreeclassifieds.com/

Technology : Demolishing a Building by Shrinking

How do you demolish a building without noise, smell and dust?  . . . . SHRINK IT!
That's what the Japanese do.

When it comes to innovation and technology, the Japanese are still on top of the game. They may not be making much noise on the tablet and smart phone technology race nowadays, but Japan who started all these innovations on miniaturization and digital technologies is not resting on applied research and technology yet.

Here's a video of another innovation by the Japanese on building demolition and deconstruction technology.

News Source :

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/55500/video--japan-presents-the-incredible-shrinking-building

Video Source :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_4G_8gEjng
http://www.reuters.com/news/video

People : "The Korean Invasion Part II"

Last week I posted an article about the migration of Koreans to the Philippines, my admiration of the Korean people and the possibility of the Philippines having a Korean First Lady in the person of Ms. Grace Lee whom our President P-noy is courting. I also mentioned my wish that some Koreans learn more from the Japanese on humility. It was a subtle remark on something which I think some Koreans can improve on, on the almost perfect Korean image as an Asian model country. In the 70's up to the 90's Japan had been our Asian model country, now it is Korea. We look up to both countries not only in terms of economic progress and development but also in terms of  their character and values as a nation.

I guess I was a little bit out of touch on what's going on lately, primarily because I had been avoiding  reading the news due to an overdose on the semi-comedy show called CJ impeachment trial.
Yesterday I accidentally read on-line an article of respected Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo entitled "The Ugly American" which was old news already. This was about a Korean-American diplomat who almost ran over and verbally abused a young Filipina here in her own country. I hope it's not true but if the incident really happened, then this diplomat is despicable and should be treated as "persona non grata" :


persona non grata  (pɜːˈsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtə)

— n  , pl personae non gratae
1. an unacceptable or unwelcome person
2. a diplomatic or consular officer who is not acceptable to the government or sovereign to whom he        or she is accredited

The  diplomat may be an American national but his Korean ethnicity and that of other Koreans will definitely be besmirched by his misdeed  and arrogance. Unfortunately, whether this incident is true or not,  it didn't help change the general impression that, to put it bluntly, many Koreans are boorish in their behavior and manners. Maybe some of them forgot to put their good manners and discipline in their luggage when they left Korea to migrate to other countries. But I still believe that the majority of Koreans are gentle and well mannered people.


Related News Link :
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/125295/the-ugly-american

http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2012/01/people-korean-invasion.html


Source Dictionary : Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
News Source : Philippine Inquirer