NEWS

Senate salutes Japan’s enduring friendship

DT · Jul 31, 2026, 1:14 AM

70 years on Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya (seventh from left), proudly holds a copy of the resolution giving tribute to the 70th anniversary of the strong relations between Japan and the Philippines. Ambassador Endo is accompanied by (front row) Senators Panfilo Lacson, Joel Villanueva and JV Ejercito. Back row (from left) are Senators Erwin Tulfo, Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros, Bong Go, Bam Aquino, Senate President Win Gatchalian, Ambassador Endo, Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Camille Villar, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Mark Villar and Robin Padilla. — PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Embassy of Japan

The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution during its plenary session recognizing the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Japan, marking the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya attended the session as the Senate’s guest.

The resolution, Senate Resolution No. 502, commemorates the milestone and cites the deepening cooperation between the two nations across the economy, security, people-to-people exchanges, inter-parliamentary ties, and local government partnerships. It notes that this expanding cooperation is symbolized by the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Through the resolution, the Senate commended the enduring friendly relations between the two countries. It conveyed its appreciation to the government and people of Japan for what it described as their longstanding friendship, partnership, and valuable contributions to the Philippines.

Following the resolution’s adoption, several senators took the floor to express gratitude for Japan’s Official Development Assistance and Official Security Assistance to the Philippines, as well as for Japanese private-sector investment and continued people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The measure is formally titled “Expressing the Sense of the Senate in Recognizing the Enduring Friendship between the Republic of the Philippines and Japan and Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between the Two Countries.”