10 years and continuing

In 2007, Toyo University and UP Cebu started a workshop together. Through the initiative of Toyo University Professor Fujii, Professor An, and Professor Takahashi, students of the Regional Development Studies came to Cebu to learn more about poverty and Philippine urban communities. One of the earliest student participants then, Ms. Jung yeon Hwang, is now the teacher of the 10th batch of Toyo University students completing their field exposure and study for understanding community needs in Cebu. To date, this spring workshop is the longest, continuing program in Cebu for Toyo University, thanks to the continuing partnership and assistance of UP Cebu, now an autonomous university, through the dynamic leadership of Chancellor Atty. Liza Corro.

The Japanese workshop participants get to travel across several islands; Mactan, mainland Cebu, Camotes, and Bohol. They will visit Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Consolacion town. They do their field research in a selected urban community in Cebu City. They also get the opportunity to interact with those who live in coastal communities in San Francisco, Camotes.

It is a beautiful joint program that allows for valuable cultural bridging. The Japanese student participants bring back to Japan their memories of their encounter with those in the various Philippine communities. Friendships are also forged for life.

Precious lessons about essentials of life are also etched in the hearts of the participants. Many Japanese are surprised to see so much clear signs of class divide where they go, yet they see smiles among the conspicuous poor and so much drive and enthusiasm for life among the Filipino children. And the Japanese guests learn the precious lesson that poverty is not just material. Filipinos may not have enough to eat, not have proper clothes, or secure homes but they have their families, they have each other. They are always surrounded by those who care for them and by those they care for.

On the part of the Filipinos who get to meet the Japanese participants, they learn the differences in culture and lifestyle. Day care children are exposed to various types of Japanese games and arts. Priceless are the moments when Japanese students and Filipino children play happily together! Residents and leaders are also glad to know the results of the field research of the Japanese students about their communities. Some proposals for improving lives and the condition of the residents and the communities offered by the Japanese students are very simple and doable. Someday, we hope that when some of these Japanese students return to the communities they previously visited for their workshop, the communities will have followed the proposals about improving their lives and their communities.

Take waste management, for example. The Japanese group proposed that different daily schedules can be agreed upon, different types of garbage to be collected per day, and with neighbors and residents deciding on a collaborative scheme to organize, to clean their respective areas, to sort out and manage the garbage more effectively. The Japanese students also shared the importance of simple information to be relayed for all to understand about what garbage to dispose of, how, and where. With simple colored drawings, the Japanese students emphasized that anyone should be guided to properly manage their waste through understandable and clear guidelines that even children can follow.

Garbage collectors also have to be given proper orientation so that they honor the segregation practiced by the residents. Every step of the way, clear, simple guidelines, discussion, and organization have to be done so that everyone understands their important role in keeping their community clean, with their garbage properly managed daily.

Cross-cultural exchanges such as the yearly Toyo University-UP Cebu workshop should be encouraged so that more will sustainably join hands to better understand each other despite the cultural and class diversity, and together, slowly but surely, build a better, happier world for all.

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