Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
NETWORK
News Magazine of the Nagoya University Filipino Scholars and Alumni Association
Souvenir Issue on the Occasion of the Establishment of the
Philippine Branch of Nagoya University Alumni Association on December 20, 2014
MEIDAI-12
MEIDAI
NETWORK
Contents
Im A MEI-DAI Graduate and Proud Of It! by Resty Collado ..... 6
A Former Frontier by Tess Galamay ..14
My Pursuit of Higher Education at Nagoya University by Lanie Alvarez ... 16
A Reflection of My Days as a Student at Nagoya University by Felino Cagampang 19
My Japan Experience: Beyond SCIENCE by Dante Simbulan .. 21
My Nagoya University Stint: A Quest for Academic Excellence by Maria Amelita Estacio..23
My lifelong friend, Joe by Akira Yamauchi .. 24
Reconnecting with Nagoya University Civil Engineering by Andy Oreta .... 26
Comics: Evolution of a Foreign Student in Japan by Jerry Velasquez ... 27
Philippine MeiDai Alumni List ....... 28
Photo-Journal .... 31
Acknowledgements: Mr. Isamu Suzuki (Japanese translation of titles), Prof. Yoshito Itoh (NUAL list), Cynthia Saloma &
Amie Estacio (NUFSAA list), Bong Salvador & Renan Tanhueco (DVD production) and all contributors to this magazine.
---- Andy Oreta
Cover Story
A CHANCE MEETING. September 13, 2013 was a chance meeting at the Sapporo Station, Hokkaido during the EASEC-13 held at
Hokkaido University between me and Prof. Yoshito Itoh, my former professor at Nagoya University. Prof. Itoh, who is the
executive coordinator of the Nagoya University Alumni Association (NUAL) exchanged calling cards with me and mentioned to me
that he will contact me regarding NUAL. Hence during my visit at Nagoya University on May 1-3, 2014, Prof. Itoh and Prof. Tomio
Nakano., NUAL Chief of Liaison Committee discussed with me the proposal to organize the alumni from the Philippines. Our
meeting ended with me promising them that I will initiate the meeting that will trigger the formation of the NUAL Philippine
Branch.
MESSAGES FROM NUAL. On May 26, 2014, Prof. Itoh and Prof. Nakano sent a letter giving information about common activities
between NUAL and the overseas branches. These activities include NUAL updates and announcements at the NUAL website
(http://www.nual.nagoya-u.ac.jp/english/index.html) and through the Alumni Information System, meeting with senior level
executives of Nagoya University (e.g. NU President) and invitation of NUAL branch representatives in the Homecoming Day Event.
On August 19, 2014, another email was received informing me about the planned visit of Dr. Hamaguchi, President of Nagoya
University and the President of NUAL on Dec, 18-21, 2014. The names of our sempai, Dr. Joseph Masangkay and Dr. Cristino
Collado were mentioned as key people for organizing the Filipino alumni.
SOCIAL NETWORKS. An informal social network group dubbed as Nagoya University Filipino Scholars and Alumni Association
(NUFSAA) was created using social networks. To serve as sort of website is a blogsite (http://nufsaa.blogspot.com) which I
created. The NUFSAA blog serves also as an online registration site for the alumni to input information such as name, email,
contact numbers, degree and year at NU and present job. NUFSAA social network groups in Facebook and yahoo group were also
created for easy dissemination of information and linking with alumni.
The MEIDAI-12. On September 27, 2014, the first meeting and reunion was held at the De La Salle University Science &
Technology Complex, Canlubang, Laguna with Prof. Pag-asa Gaspillo, Vice President of the DLSU STC as host. MEIDAI-12,
the twelve alumni and scholars who responded to the call and attended the meeting were: Back (L-R): (1) Dr. Pag-asa
Indette Gaspillo (D.Eng. 1995), (2) Dr. Cynthia Palmes Saloma (BS Molecular Biology 1993), (3) Daisy Montesa
(Japanese Language 1989), (4) Dr. Lerma San Jose Maldia (D. Agri. Sci. 2010 ), (5) Dr. Ma. Amelita Amie Estacio (M.
Agri. Sci. 1996, D.Agri.Sci. 2004), (6) Dr. Joseph Jing Masangkay (M.Agri. Sci. 1975, D.Agr.Sci. 1983), (7) Dr. Renan Ma.
Tanhueco (M.Eng. 1993), (8) Dr. Cristino Resty Collado (PhD. Agri. Sci. 1982), (9) Dr. Andres Andy Oreta (M.Eng 1991,
D.Eng. 1994). From (L-R): (10) Gerardo Gerry Augusto (M.Eng. 1996), (11) Dr. Florante Bong Salvador (Japanese
Language 1991), (12) Ruth Palanca (Japanese Language 1991).
COORDINATING COUNCIL. The MIEDAI-12 formed a coordinating council composed of seven members during the meeting on
Sept 27, 2014. Dr. Resty Collado was tasked as the council member who will contact and coordinate directly with the NUAL Office.
The other members are Dr. Jing Masangkay, Dr. Indette Gaspillo, Dr. Cynthia Saloma, Daisy Montesa, Dr. Amie Estacio, Dr. Lerma
Maldia and Dr. Andy Oreta who was appointed as the branch secretary.
NUAL-PH INTERIM OFFICERS. Another meeting was held on Nov. 16, 2014 at UP Los Banos hosted by Resty Collado and Willie
Abasolo. The group made preliminary plans for the ceremony establishing the Philippine Branch of the Nagoya University Alumni
Association (NUAL-PH) which will be held on Dec. 20, 2014 at the EDSA Shangrila Plaza Hotel. The interim officers were also
appointed among the coordinating council members: Resty Collado (President), Pag-asa Gaspillo (Vice President), Andy Oreta
(Secretary), Daisy Montesa (Asst. Secretary), Amie Estacio (Treasurer), Lerma Maldia (Asst. Treasurer), Cynthia Saloma (PRO)
and Jing Masangkay (Auditor).
The MEIDAI-12 has put in place the connection to Nagoya University. The ceremony on the formal establishment of the NUALPhilippine Branch on Dec. 20, 2014 with President of Nagoya University, Dr. Hamaguchi and President of NUAL, Dr. Toyoda as
guests has been finalized. Meanwhile, connecting with more Philippine Meidai alumni continues. Andy Oreta ( 12/8/2014)
Nov. 16, 2014. Group Photo of the Philippine Meidai alumni after the meeting at UP Los Banos. The meeting was hosted by
Resty Collado and Willie Abasolo. Front (L-R): Renan, Willie, Resty & Andy. Back (L-R): Bambi, Amie, Marian, Daisy, Ruth &
Cynthia. Photo taken at the UPLB Japanese Garden. Not in the photo: Jing Masangkay.
Even before graduation from my undergraduate DVM course I was already reserved by my
thesis adviser Dr Meliton Novilla to join the faculty of the UP College of Veterinary Medicine. It
was during my senior year that I met a team of Japanese researchers who were conducting a
joint cooperative research with UP CVM. I was deeply impressed with their work ethics and
diligence by working long hours in the laboratory.
Television programs in Nippongo also helped me a lot. The head of the family Mr. Norio Kobayashi is a horse race
tipster (yosoya in Nippongo) and the family always invited me to join them when they go out for dinner. One time a
sumo wrestler was invited in the house and I was introduced to him over dinner and lots of drinking. A very expensive
Japanese menu is Fugu sashimi. Fugu is puffer fish known for its potent neurotoxin that can kill a person. Fugu sashimi
is only served in selected restaurants prepared by a licensed cook. I was hesitant to eat the Fugu sashimi when I was
invited because during that time a famous Kabuki player named Bando-san died of Fugu poisoning. When the sashimi
was served I thought it was a nice decoration that looked like a very beautiful flower. I let the family eat first while I
observed for more than 30 minutes. When nothing happened to them I took my first bite of the Fugu sashimi and it was
delicious, sweetish and soft that melts in the mouth. Nothing happened to me so I kept on eating. Later on I learned
that the neurotoxin is a long-acting toxin that will exert its fatal effect hours after ingestion. Nothing happened to us
even after coming back home so I said it is safe to eat Fugu sashimi as long as it is served in a recognized restaurant
prepared by a licensed cook.
Just before the end of 1974 the Sakurayama Ryuugakusei Kaikan dormitory was built and we were the first
occupants of this dorm. Even after transferring to this dorm I still keep contact with the Kobayashi family. Living in a
dormitory is challenging and enjoyable because one needs to be independent and sociable at the same time. I was
elected as President of the Aichi Foregin Students Association (AFSA) and the first challenge for me was the
International Night Festival. I was really proud of the Filipino group because of the strong cooperation that I got from all
of them which made the presentation a success.
I learned from the administration office of Nagoya University that I was the first Filipino student in the university
which makes me the DAI SEMPAI for all the Filipino students in Nagoya University. With the guidance of Kondo sensei
and Namikawa I was able to finish my
MS with flying colors. I presented my
thesis in Nippongo but the manuscript
was written in English. I had a contract
with UP CVM so I need to return to the
Philippines to serve my contract. Three
years passed and I qualified again for a
Mombusho scholarship to pursue my
PhD. This time I went to Japan with my
family. I stayed in the Ryuugakusei
kaikan alone for 9 months after which
my family came. I really considered
myself lucky because of a vacancy for
2 slots in the nearby hoikuen (nursery
school) for my 2 sons. Kids are
amazing when it comes to language
learning because they absorb the
language very naturally. In just 2 weeks In front of Meidai bus stop. Jordan (left) my eldest son finished DVM
my 2 sons Jordan and Jason were able while Jason (right)graduated as Agricultural Engr.; both from UPLB.
to speak fluent colloquial Nippongo. In They are now staying in Canada with their families.
fact I learned a lot of new phrases and
words from them.
My PhD program was not difficult for me because I just built up the data from my MS program. Nagoya University
has no Veterinary Medicine unit but my adviser Kondo sensei is a veterinarian who finished his DVM from Todai. Again
I was lucky because my adviser is both a veterinarian and an animal scientist. My PhD dissertation was tailored for me
because I concentrated on the use of animal models for human diseases that included diabetes. Just like in my MS
thesis I presented my PhD dissertation defense in Nippongo. The writing of the manuscript took some time because I
had to include several publications in international journals. My practical joke for my PhD manuscript was: I started
writing the manuscript using IBM electric typewriter and finished the complete manuscript in Microsoft Word program.
Housing accommodation for foreign students in the Ryuugakusei kaikan is getting tough and competitive and we
were allowed only to stay for 2 years after which we had to move out. Again the Kobayashi family accepted us. They
owned a Kendo Gym in the neighboring city of Owariasahi City and we stayed in the second floor. Luck is with us again
because I was able to enroll my 2 sons in the neighboring hoikuen to continue their basic education. Again the
Kobayashi family did not charge us for rent, we just paid the utilities. My wife Julie was a big help because she was in
charge of bringing and picking up my 2 kids from school. She was also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of
the gym. The distance from Meidai was far and I had to commute by bus and transfer to the chikatetsu. Just like all of
us Filipino students who are very diligent I spent most of my weekdays in the laboratory. My Japanese classmates
work late in the morning and I took this opportunity to come early and use the limited numbers of instruments. I was the
first one to come to the lab and open the key to the room and also to work in the nezumi goya (rodent hut). When my
Japanese students come I am already
finished with my lab work and can start
with my writing and library work. Coming
home after a days work was equally
rewarding when I talk to my wife Julie
and hearing from my two sons the things
that happened during the day. I tried to
see to it that work and play are balanced.
Weekends are for my family and it seems
that my wife has a built-in radar and can
detect any bazaar or sale wherever they
are. Riding bicycles around the park with
my two sons are the best moments of
bonding I will forever cherish.
In both my MS and PhD programs
a tandem research project was planned
which enabled me to visit the Philippines.
We had a research project under the
Southeast Asia Research on Native
Animals (Tonan Asia Zairai Kachiku Kenkyuukai) wherein we collected specimen samples from native animals in
different countries of Southeast Asia. I was the representative of the Philippines and together with the team I was able
to go to different places in the Philippines from North to South. The Japanese concept of nurturing education is still
on-going at present in UPLB CVM. At present I am doing research collaboration with the Meidai group for the native
goat and red jungle fowl (labuyo) and with the Todai group for diseases transmitted from bats.
I will always be indebted to my late adviser Kyoji Kondo sensei, my co-adviser Takeshi Tomita sensei and my
colleague Takao Namikawa who became Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. Likewise my sincerest thanks to the
Kobayashi family and my family- Julie my wife and my two sons Jordan and Jason. My chonan Jordan also graduated
DVM from UPLB CVM.
I retired in 2012 after serving UP for 42 consecutive years and at present I continue my tenure as Professor
Emeritus.
JOSEPH S. MASANGKAY, DVM, PhD
Professor Emeritus, UPLB (11/04/2014)
Im
Im a MEIMEI-DAI Graduate
Graduate and proud of it!
Cristino M. Collado (Ph.D. Agri. Sci. 82)
Spring of 1978. That was when I first set
foot on the grounds of Nagoya University (or
Mei-dai for short). All at once, I was awed
by its vastness. I was fascinated by the
highway inside it. I thought at first that it
was the boundary, only to be told that it was
only a divider. Then I wondered how much
biking I would have to do to negotiate the
distance between each of the many
buildings scattered around.
I was an incoming student of Mei-dai. But in
a sense, I could not be considered new
inasmuch as I had been staying in Japan
already. First at Osaka Gai-dai for my
Nihongo language training. Then at Gifu-dai
for my Masters degree. For this reason, I
was allowed only two weeks at the Foreign
Students House in Tosei-cho. Finding a
place of my own thus became a priority.
This was my first taste of Mei-dais
cooperative spirit.
Everyone in my
Laboratory took it upon himself to help me in
my apartment hunting. Finally, we found a
16-tatami house close to the university. It
was serendipity at work;
the former
occupant had just been promoted and must
move to Tokyo.
10
11
12
Hanami at Ishikawabashi
13
A FORMER FRONTIER
Teresita O. Galamay (D. Agri. Sci. Major in Agronomy Crop Science 1993)
Two decades ago, when computers and internet were not yet in demand in the Philippines, newspapers were the only
way someone could get information. A scholarship announcement from the Embassy of Japan in Manila caught my
eye while reading the Philippine Daily Newspaper. The competition was open to anyone who wanted to study in Japan.
My hand written applications were sent via mail, which included a write up of my academic plans. A telegram from the
Embassy of Japan arrived with an invitation to be interviewed for that scholarship. Despite a typhoon that made
weather conditions difficult, I rode a bus bound for Manila from the province of Isabela, thirteen hours away to arrive at
the 8:00 AM interview on time.
Nearly a year later, another notice arrived. A letter and telegram from the Embassy of Japan congratulated me for
being an awardee of the Monbusho Scholarship. The letter said that I was scheduled a flight in April 1987, and while in
Japan, would have to do a six month Intensive Japanese Language Course at Nagoya University. Needing to learn a
language with a different alphabet was an intimidating thought. I was excited and looking forward to the trip to Japan. I
thank God for the honor of being an awardee. It was
such a boost to my morale to know that I would be
studying in another country with such a different
language and culture than my own.
The four hour flight brought me to Osaka, Japan
around seven in the evening. It was cold enough to
make my lips feel frozen. We were met by Japanese
Monbusho Scholars Coordinators who led us to the
lounge to receive our allowance and took us to our
hotel near Osaka International Airport. Everything to
me was foreign. The Japanese signs written around
me were abstract scribbles. At this time, I did not
know how to read Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana,
which are Japanese characters. During the overnight
stay at Osaka International Airport Hotel, I ate udon
and miso shiro-wakame. This was the first time I ever
used chopsticks. Five fellow Filipino Scholars were all
Prof. Yasohiri Kono presents my diploma
bound for Nagoya University Foreign Student House.
We were met by a Foreign Student Adviser and our
senior mentor, who we referred to as Sempai. They started all the processing of our Resident permit, Health and
Medical information.
The six month Japanese Intensive Language course was a challenge since I never had the chance to learn any basic
Japanese before flying there. The language instructors were all nice and did all their best to make sure we learned
well. My role was a Research Student under the Crop Science Department under the Faculty of Agriculture. I made a
lot of Japanese friends and practiced my Japanese with conversations. It was hard to mingle with other Japanese
students as well as some of the sensei due to the language barrier, but I was able to adapt to the new environment that
I was. Over the years, I learned the language, the culture and learned to appreciate the simplicity of living alone and
studying Japanese. I joined the Foreign Student Association and participated in many activities to fully immerse myself
in the culture. Fellow Filipino scholars were like brothers and sisters to me. We encouraged and supported one another
in many ways. We visited parks, saw the cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, hot springs, Ikebana, Bon-dori and joined
trips sponsored by Aichi Prefecture, Toyota, and Honda. We also stayed at the homes of a few Japanese families.
14
After one year of being a non-degree research student, I passed the Graduate Entrance Examination. I studied to be a
Doctorate in Agricultural Science, under the direct supervision of Professor Ebata. Because Professor Ebata was
retiring, Professor Yasuhiro Kono became my adviser until I was awarded the degree. Professor Kono was very helpful
and ensured that all the research studies we made were published in scientific journals, locally and internationally.
Professor Kono spent so many hours on our research and would even assist me on late evenings with my
experiments.
After so many years of spending sleepless nights studying, preparing my examinations, thesis, and dissertation,
everything came to fruition. I graduated with the Degree of Doctorate in Agricultural Science specializing in Crop
Science. After earning my degree, I stayed a little while in Japan before I flew back to the Philippines and reinstated my
academic position and continued serving Isabela
State University as a Professor. I became the
College Research Coordinator and Scholarship
Committee Coordinator. I was also the Regional
Training Coordinator for the Research and
Development of the Isabela State University and
the Cagayan Valley Agriculture Research
Resources and Development (CVARRD).
After several years of serving Isabela State
University, Philippines, I moved to California, USA
to live with my family. I was first hired by the Travis
School District to teach science subjects. Two
years later, I was hired by the County Department
of Agriculture as an Agriculture Biologist
contractual. Later, I became a Research Assistant
at the UC Davis School of Medicine. After the
research project, I transferred to the University of
California Cooperative Extension- Department of
Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCCE-DANR)
as a Nutrition Educator and a Program
Coordinator for Fish Mercury Project under the
FSNEP-USDA.
The research and travel experiences in the
Philippines, Japan, Australia, Malaysia and the
USA, as well as my language skills in Japanese,
Spanish, and two Philippine dialects helped me
earn a position in the US Federal government as
At UC Davis School of Medicine
an Agriculture Specialist. This career armed me
with expertise in the natural sciences and
discipline from working in a fast-paced environment. I served as an expert and technical consultant in the area of
agricultural inspection, quarantine, intelligence, analysis, examination, and law enforcement activities related to the
importation of agricultural commodities.
Being a Scholar of the Japanese and the Philippine government groomed me to be who I am today. Someday, I will go
back to visit Japan and continue serving my community in the Philippines. Teresita O. Galamay October 28, 2014
15
I thought I just wanted to stay at UP Banos and work for many years. One
year after graduation from my long Masters degree (because I was working
as a University Research Assistant at the Institute of Food Science and
Technology (IFST) while studying part-time in the same institute), I had to
make a serious decision to pursue doctorate studies in Nagoya University.
As a research staff of IFST, I did product development and applied classical
food science in my research work; however, in Nagoya University, at the
Laboratory of Molecular Bioregulation, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, I had
to apply molecular biology techniques 80% of my time. Since that was not
part of my past study and research experience, I had to exert extra effort in
studying the basics up to the advanced, including signal transduction, the
immune system, inducers, up and down regulators, gene regulation, etc., for
me to catch up on seminars among students of our laboratory.
Filipino foreign students were many during those years (1992 - 1995). How
I wanted to join them during Sundays and holidays! It is amusing to say
now that the laboratory was my niche, my partner, especially during my first and last years. Nevertheless,
despite the limited time we had to get together, we became close. I cherish their friendship and value those
occasional events we participated in. Many shared my experiences so they also gave valuable advice to me.
Life and study in Japan had not been easy. Many times, I wanted to give up because of my inability to speak,
read and write the Japanese language, the pressure to get results from my experiments and write papers
for publication in scientific journals. My professors could speak English; however, they silently hope that I
could speak Japanese. The students in the laboratory hardly spoke English. At those times, I had created
an invisible shield around me to transiently separate me from the overwhelming hurdle. I guess that it was
because of so many factors besides language, such as culture, my personality, my opinions, and my ability.
Nevertheless, I have discovered a lot about myself which I would not be able to achieve had I not come to
Japan to pursue doctorate studies. I would like to explain as I continue this reflection. I have learned to
challenge myself, to refute what I believe was my limit, and to inculcate in my mind that I could succeed
despite the impediment. In addition, with my simple and frugal lifestyle, even without any part-time job, the
scholarship that I got from the Japanese Government was more than I needed. It was a great help because
the only thing that I had to worry then were my seminars and experiments. During those years, I have learned
to be more independent and wise in my expenditures. My Filipino friends shared with me their excess items
so even I could not join bazaars, I had the things I needed. I was able to save some which I spent after my
graduation and return to the Philippines. I've learned to value friendship and understand differences in
cultures and beliefs. Nagoya University life has exposed me to a colorful world for which I shall remain
grateful.
16
My pursuit of higher education, especially in the field of molecular biology as it applies to food science and
technology, has deepened my understanding of God's power, His encompassing brilliance and greatness.
Why? It was when I studied the most minute of things, the tiniest structures in the system of plants, animals,
and humans, and the components of living cells, that I learned the wonderful order in everything God had
created, and their super roles to achieve and sustain the mechanisms of life, the DNA or RNA that is made
up of only four nucleotides, A (adenine), C (cytosine), G (guanine) and T (thymine, U - uracil for RNA), which
produce amino acids that are building blocks of proteins and intermediates in the metabolism of different
bodily functions. They have struck me with amazement. Nagoya University has addressed the quest for
knowledge and offered us the best of facilities for excellence in our fields of study. The Monbusho
scholarship has provided the vessel to reach our goals.
Nagoya is a very safe place so I could work long hours in the laboratory and safely walked back home an hour
before midnight my daily "lab. Life" was usually 13 to 15 hours, including short breaks of lunch, tea time and
supper. I don't mention this to brag but to state that long hours in the laboratory don't guarantee good
experimental results; yet, I gambled time because longer hours mean more experimental hours and higher
chances for success. Thus, my life was practically home and school only, although occasionally, I enjoyed
walking inside the campus or sneaking to Motoyama or Yagoto alone to refresh myself. I could not cease
praising the Japanese artistic sense in food, clothes, and decorations, in addition to the cleanliness,
orderliness, and discipline in Japan. I hardly watched TV because of lack of time ; but, I enjoyed going to the
supermarkets to see and buy different kinds of foods. Cooking had been an occasional favorite pastime since
I would usually eat at the school cafeteria. Foods were abundant and delicious. I gained 10 kilos from a
mere 40 kilo/164 cm. built because I really enjoyed eating in Japan. The scholarship had sustained my
health and given me extra kilos to achieve my ideal weight during those challenging years.
I must admit I did learn the hard way but at that time, I thought, everything was too much for me to handle.
Looking back, I could see a stronger, a more disciplined, a more diligent, and a more broad-minded me. I have
had to suppress negative emotions and divert my time into more productive hours in the laboratory. I have
developed inner strength of character due to the kind of training the school has given me - to aim for specific
results and to realize those aims in short time frame. I have learned to schedule works in order to share the
usage of equipment and facilities. I have learned the true meaning of cooperation and sharing. I have
gained a lot of experience presenting topics and reports, which developed my self-confidence, honed my
spoken English and improved my Nihonggo. My professors jubilated when I was able to communicate and
present in Nihonggo. They were supportive of my every effort to produce papers for publication. They were my
mentors during the writing of my papers and thesis. Dr. Ryo Nakamura, Dr. Tsukasa Matsuda, Dr.
Takahiro Adachi, and Dr. Naohito Aoki were all supportive. Most of all, I am very much indebted to Dr. Ikuzo
Uritani followed by Dr. Kazuko Oba, and Dr. Norio Iwatsuki, for being the first people who believed that I could
make it in Meidai. They had been our research collaborators back in UPLB under the JSPS-DOST
exchange program. My first visit to Nagoya University was in September, 1988 lasting for only 2 days. I
stayed long for experiments at the Nagoya Women's University. Since the start of my studies, NU Professor
Emeritus Dr. I. Uritani, along with his wife, had been my constant adviser. His home was just across from my
apartment so when I had problems, I visited him. He and his wife were like my second parents. They invited
me for dinner at lovely Japanese restaurants and introduced me to other Japanese professors and those with
high positions in civic organizations as well. They taught me Japanese manners and culture as well.
17
Looking back, I say that struggles in life as a foreign student have molded my character, built my confidence,
and caused me to completely trust God. The most important step of faith that I did was had to follow exactly
the opposite of the old adage "to see is to believe." I completely trusted God in my thesis experiments and
courageously embraced the "dictate" or leading of God, i.e., to believe is to see You might not understand
this so I would like to add some statements to support this. I was desperately trying to get the genes coding
for the allergenic proteins in rice grain. I tried to follow protocols to the letter thus, consuming a lot of time,
which meant long period of painstaking experimentation only to find nothing at the end of the procedure.. The
very last step of checking the bands of DNAs under UV illumination was the most crucial step and sad to say, I
found no bands. Nobody could advise me anymore on what to do next. That was the time I surrendered
everything to God and a small voice seemed to tell me to apply everything that I knew even if I could not see
anything during the confirmatory steps until the last step, more so, even without seeing anything from the tiny
eppendorf tube. I did it, I must admit that at certain lapses of time, my logic got in the way.; but, I also set my
mind of possible failure and inability to graduate. What you would read would give you goose bumps. I did
every step, not skipping anything, and just trusting God. When I checked the result, all the fragments of
DNAs that I needed to graduate were there! This happened after a year of effort. Those results then became
the foundation for other sub-groupings of allergenic protein-coding genes in rice. With the results, I did further
experiments, which have become the subject of my scientific papers.
With all these, therefore, I can say that it was not all academics that I have learned from Nagoya University.
In my solitude, in my most vulnerable and trying years, it was also a renewal of faith in my God and a
wonderful awakening to appreciate His creations, from the tiniest nucleotides to complex living systems, with
every mechanisms in between, and having the
order that God has made in all His creations.
I am grateful to Monbusho, to Nagoya
University, to my mentors and professors,
including my former boss, Dr. Virgilio V. Garcia,
of the Food Biochemistry Laboratory, Institute
of Food Science and Technology, UP Los
Banos, for believing in me. I thank my fellow
Filipino scholars, too. We were together with
the aim of making something out of ourselves.
We have built a long and lasting friendship, a
sweet camaraderie since we have met and
known one another at the university. Nagoya
University upholds freedom to explore
knowledge. It evokes professional achievement
and molds character. Hence, it is indeed a
privilege to have been an alumna of this
university. Osewa ni natte, Doumo arigatou
gozaimashita.
18
19
accomplish my research work and finish my degree. My Japanese professors were also enormously
helpful in enabling me to gather field data that I was able to use for the Masteral studies I left behind
at UPLB, while concurrently on my other Masteral studies at Nagoya University. Thus, in 1989 I was
awarded two Masteral degrees (from UPLB and from Nagoya University) preceding my Doctoral
studies. Outside the laboratory, I also still vividly remember the hospitality of so many of my homestay
family and my Japanese friends who opened their homes to me, and later on to my wife.
Finally, I found the Japanese to be hardworking people and who tend to work well in a group. I am
awed with Japanese who went on to universities and probably remember very little of their youth
except preparing for entrance exams. I remember having to work late with the other students in most
evenings conducting our experiments, with only
portable kerosene heater for heating during the winter
months. Together, wed go for lunch, have a drink
every once in a while, celebrate successes including
the acceptance of a paper, play baseball, or go on
excursions and for karaoke. On the flipside we also
commiserate and support each other in times of
failures or disappointment. I have been fortunate, as I
was considered one of them. This is a clear sign that
once friendship is developed with the Japanese, the
relationship is for life. I continue to nurture these
With members of the Reproductive Physiology Lab
human ties by meeting former Japanese
contemporaries and professors at international
conferences, and my other Japanese friends through social media.
I have always been interested in my field of study, but I found myself gradually spending time
understanding and interacting with the Japanese people, learning the language and in comprehending
the Japanese culture and history. It was important for me not to let my studies interfere with my
education. I therefore made effort to meet as many Japanese from diverse background as I could and
travelled to as many places around Japan with the hope of deepening my knowledge of the country.
Japan is a beautiful country, with a rich history and such wonderful people.
After obtaining my Doctorate,
I went on to do post-doctoral
research work
at the
Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of
Life Sciences in Tokyo
before moving to the United
Kingdom for further postdoctoral research stints at
Kings College London and
at
the
University
of
A very proud moment - receiving my Doctorate diploma
Manchester. In 2002 I joined
the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton where I am currently an Associate Professor
in Integrative Physiology. My years as a student in Japan have unquestionably moulded my career
and who I am today. I continue to apply the work ethic instilled in me by my Japanese professor and
try to inculcate these values with my own students - this is the legacy of my years in Japan.
20
21
22
23
I met Joe (Jose Roca Pardales Jr.) for the first time when he joined the Graduate School of Agricultural
Sciences of Nagoya University as a graduate student for his Ph D study in 1988. He was an assistant
professor of Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA, currently Visayas Sate University (VSU)) and
was able to obtain Monbusho scholarship. At that time, I was also a Ph D student and we had a
common academic adviser, Prof Kono of the Crop Science laboratory. We naturally shared common
research interests on the physiology and
development of root system and its
functional roles in growth and production of
crop plants under environmental stress
conditions. Although many crop as well as
plant scientists are interested in studying
roots, only few researchers have been
involved in the root science as roots are
very difficult to study. He was the most
diligent student regardless of nationality in
the lab, and produced outstanding outputs
in root science. As a result, he published
three papers that were the requirement for
the Ph D degree, and surprisingly further
published two more papers after he
submitted his doctoral dissertation to the
Joe and the author in front of the Philippines Root Crop Research
University while he was still a student. All
and Training Center of ViSCA, Leyte, Philippines
these
papers
were
published
in
internationally reputed scientific journals in
the field of plant science. The Ph D program of the Nagoya University is for three years while he was
able to complete the requirements shorter than such period. He was the first student to whom such a
special arrangement was made, which is allowed to be applied only to outstanding students. His pe
rformance in research had great impacts on other students in the lab in such a way that many students
started to challenge to publish their works in international journals while many of them had been
confined domestically till Joe came in. He was the student and at the same time researcher who greatly
contributed to the establishment of the foundation of internationally-recognized plant-root lab in
Nagoya.
After he came back to ViSCA in 1991, he started working in the Philippines Root Crop Research and
Training Center, and served as the Director in 2000. This research center is quite unique, which
specifically focuses on root crops and thus plays key roles in this field. He had made this research
center to be the national and international key center leading agronomy, breeding, and genotypic
preservation/collection on root crops. I obtained my Ph D in 1988 (it took me four years!!) and joined in
Nagoya University in 1990 after I did my postdoc in US. Then, we started collaboration in joint research
projects, as we were successfully able to obtain research fund from ViSCA as well as external sources
like the Japan Society of Science promotion. Especially, we studied cassava and sweet potato that are
known to be very tolerant to drought while its physiological mechanism had not yet been known. We
were able to find several novel roles of root development and functions in the drought resistance
mechanisms, which were published as various papers. We made mutual visits for many times. Every
24
time I visited him in the Philippines, on the way from Tacloban to Babay, first I visited his mother in Palo,
and then proceeded to ViSCA, Baybay, and the first meal I had there whether it was lunch or dinner,
was at his house, being always very warmly welcomed by his beloved wife, Andreli, children, relatives
and friends. That had been my routine for a long time. It was in June, 2002 when I asked him to deliver
a lecture as an invited resource speaker in an international conference that was held in Nagoya
University, which we co-authored and was entitled as 'Rootcrops as Food, Feed and Industrial
Materials: The Challenge to Address Their Production and Post-harvest Needs'. He was not feeling
well at that time but forced himself to come to Nagoya. That was the last I saw and talked with him.
Not only the attitude towards the works, but also his exceptionally good personality including sincerity,
honesty, thoughtfulness, and passion, and the style of self-disciplined life influenced a lot of students
as well as faculty members, and thus he was so loved by everybody. It was not only me but also so
many people who had ever interacted with him enjoyed being friend with him including my family. I
really enjoyed any moment and activity we shared. Joe invited Andreli to Nagoya when he was almost
completing his study, who interacted so closely with the lab members as well as my wife Bebe. Since
then, Andreli and Bebe have been close friends, and our family visited her and the bereaved family. We
attended the wedding of their son in Baybay as one of the main sponsors although Joe had already
been gone. We became godparents, which had sealed us being a part of Joe's family.
Joe is not just a colleague and friend to me. He is really close to my heart. Without him, I would not
have been what I am now. I have promised him that I do my best to inherit and develop what we had
completed in research in the field of root science, and strengthen the relation between the Philippines
and Japan in general, and VSU and Nagoya University in particular. After him, I have had several
Filipino advisees in my lab of Nagoya University. I do hope they would further strengthen the ties
between the two countries and their people. Thank you, Joe.
Dr. Jose Joe Pardales, Jr. (April 22, 1953 - June 23, 2002.) in his classic cross-legged pose. He graduated
D. Agri. Sci.,Major in Crop Science 1991 under Professor Yasuhiro Kono. He was an outstanding researcher at
the Philippine Root Crop Research & Training Center, ViSCA, Leyte.
25
The Nagoya University Global Environment Leaders Program (NUGELP) workshop organized by
Dr. Victor Muhandiki in Manila on November 8, 2011 was a spark for reconnecting with NUCE.
Meeting Dr. Muhandiki who is a professor from NUCE and Filipino graduate students under the
NUGELP made me excited to share my memorable experiences as a graduate student and to
explore conducting collaborative activities with NUCE. This meeting has triggered a series of
events which benefited both our students and institutions.
In November 2012, Dr. Muhandiki accepted my invitation for him to be one of the keynote
speakers in the International Conference on Civil Engineering Education (ICCEE 2012)
organized by DLSU Civil Engineering Department (DLSU CIV) The following year on August 31,
2013, Dr. Muhandiki invited me as keynote speaker at the International Forum on Civil
Engineering Infrastructure Technology Transfer organized by the Infrastructure Technology
Development and Transfer Chair (INTEDTEC). The forum was very fruitful since I was able to
meet my sempai at the Tanabe Concrete Laboratory, Prof. Hikaru Nakamura who is now the
head of the lab and the present chair of NUCE. When I visited Nagoya University with my
26
family on May 1-3, 2014, Prof. Nakamura invited me to deliver a lecture in the graduate course
for NUCE M1 students about civil engineering research. I presented an overview of the thesis of
DLSU CIV undergraduate and graduate students. On May 21-23 2014, Prof. Nakamura visited
the Philippines as he accepted my invitation for him to deliver a lecture to my graduate class on
Disaster Risk Reduction and Infrastructure Development on May 21 and to present a plenary
paper on May 22 at the ASEP Convention on Concrete Engineering, Practice and Technology
(A.CONCEPT 2014) organized by the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines.
When DLSU CIV submitted a proposal to the AUN/SEED-Net to host the Regional Conference
on Natural Disasters (RCND) in 2015, Prof. Nakamura and his colleagues supported our bid.
The good news is that AUN/SEED-Net officially agreed to select DLSU as host for RCND 2015
on September 2015. Hence, I am looking forward to the active support and participation of
NUCE professors and students in this conference. The link between NUCE and DLSU CIV is now
in place. May the bond connecting the two institutions become stronger and result into a
fruitful and beneficial relationship.
Evolution of Jerry: (1) Jerry as a student enjoying the AFSA Trip at the Little World Museum of Man (1990s).
(2) Jerry with his family (2013). (3) Jerry is presently the Chief of Section, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction based in
Geneva. He worked for various UN agencies for 20 years now since graduating at Nagoya University in 1994.
27
NAME
Subject of Study
International Development
3/26/2001
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2002
International Development
3/25/2013
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/27/1995
International Development
3/25/2002
International Development
3/31/2001
International Development
3/26/2012
Bioagricultural Sciences
5/23/1995
Electrical Engineering
3/25/1987
International Development
3/26/2001
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/27/2000
Environmental Studies
3/2010
International Development
3/31/2007
Mechanical Engineering
3/31/1999
International Development
3/25/2009
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/26/2001
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1989
International Development
3/25/2013
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/27/2000
Environmental Studies
9/27/2013
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/27/2000
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2009
23 BENEDICT O, Raoul
International Development
3/25/1997
International Development
3/31/2002
Social Science
3/25/2010
Environmental Studies
27 CABRIDO, Erwin
Science
3/31/2002
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1992
International Development
3/25/2009
Business Administration
3/25/2009
International Development
3/31/2009
Science
9/30/1999
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2008
Science
3/31/2011
Agricultural Science
3/25/1982
Science
3/25/1992
Environmental Studies
9/27/2013
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2004
Science
12/24/1980
International Development
3/31/2005
28
NAME
Subject of Study
Science
3/25/1991
International Development
3/25/2008
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2004
Law
3/25/2002
Civil Engineering
3/25/1986
Civil Engineering
3/25/1989
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1992
Chemical Engineering
1995
International Development
3/25/2009
Environmental Studies
3/25/2011
International Development
9/27/2013
Civil Engineering
3/26/1984
Medicine
3/31/1991
International Development
3/25/2002
International Development
9/27/2013
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2002
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/27/1995
Environmental Studies
9/27/2013
Environmental Studies
9/27/2011
International Development
3/25/2002
International Development
3/25/2004
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/27/1995
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/26/2012
Environmental Studies
2010-2011
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2010
International Development
3/31/2007
International Cooperation
3/25/2013
Environmental Studies
2012-2014
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1983
Bioagricultural Sciences
4/30/1992
Medicine
3/26/2001
Law
3/27/2006
Japanese Language
1988-1989
Law
3/27/2006
75 NARCISO, Josefina O.
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1996
3/25/2014
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/26/2012
Science
3/25/2005
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2010
29
NAME
80 ORET A, Andres Winston Coronel
Subject of Study
Civil Engineering
3/25/1994
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1993
International Development
3/25/2008
Japanese Language
1991
International Development
3/23/2007
Science
3/25/1993
86 PARAC, Ev Agudo
International Development
3/25/2013
Bioagricultural Sciences
12/25/1991
International Development
9/27/2013
International Development
3/25/2003
International Development
3/25/2014
Science
3/27/2000
International Development
3/25/2003
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/26/2001
Bioagricultural Sciences
2014
Civil Engineering
1995
International Development
2012-2014
97 SALAPARE-CRAWFORD, Elsie
Bioagricultural Sciences
1991-1992
Japanese Language
1991
99 SANCHEZ, Leandro M.
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1993
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2002
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2011
Medicine
3/25/1993
Medicine
10/31/1990
International Development
3/25/2008
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1996
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2010
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2008
Civil Engineering
3/25/1988
Environmental Studies
9/25/2014
Civil Engineering
1991-1993
111 T EODORO, RR
Civil Engineering
9/25/2002
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1993
Economics
4/30/1992
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/2010
Environmental Studies
9/25/2014
Civil Engineering
3/25/1994
Social Medicine
3/25/1996
Bioagricultural Sciences
3/25/1987
International Development
3/25/2014
Business Administration
3/25/1985
83 PALANCA, Ruth S.
84 PALILEO, Maria Corazon Patindol
85 PALMES-SALOMA, Cynthia Pedregosa
98 SALVADOR, Florante, R.
30
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JUST GRADUATED LATEST MEIDAI ALUMNI: The Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource
Development Scholarship (JDS) - Philippines 10th Batch during the graduation ceremony on 29 September
2014 together with the Nagoya University President, Prof. Michinari Hamaguchi. The JDS scholars were sent to
Nagoya University to obtain masters degree based on component program related to the mandate of
government agencies they are working with. From L-R: Engr. Leoncio T. Tabuzo (DPWH: M.Eng.); Ms.
Marianne Faith G. Martinico-Perez (DENR-PCSDS: M. Envi. Studies); Mr. Herminigildo Daytoc (DOLE), Ms.
Dominique Nikki Rustia (DTI) and Mr. Theodore Velasco (LGU-Sabangan) obtained M.A. International
Development; and Ms. Sherry Ivy Valenzuela (MMDA: M. Envi. Studies). Photo by Nikki. Rustia.
31
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1990s. Filipino scholars gathering at Nagoya University Foreign Students House, Sakurayama with the late
Dr, Koh (Univ. of Maryland) and his wife, back-left. All of the Filipino scholars here completed their respective
degrees and are now holding important positions in the government, universities and private institutions. The
Nagoya University education is indeed a boost to ones career!
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