Citing the growing Filipino community in Japan, President Marcos has encouraged Filipinos working and living in the foreign country to continue being good friends with the Japanese.

In his speech during a gathering with Filipinos in Tokyo on Tuesday night, May 26, Marcos underscored that the Filipino community has thrived and deeply integrated into the threads of Japanese society for decades now.

"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.

The President further urged them to show that "we stand beside them in facing the problems and challenges we all experience." 

"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.

There are an estimated 350,000 Filipinos living and working in Japan.

Marcos also encouraged younger Filipinos in Japan to take advantage of available opportunities and "in return, contribute positively to the society that you have taken as your own."

"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 that living in Japan requires a delicate balance, noting that Japan is a nation of profound tradition, structure, and etiquette.

"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.

The President described young Filipinos in Japan as the “torch bearers” for the next 70 years of Philippine-Japan relations and expressed confidence that they will continue to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

He also paid tribute to older members of the Filipino community who paved the way for younger generations to thrive in Japan.

The Chief Executive arrived in Tokyo at exactly 6:31 p.m. on Tuesday. He went to meet the Filipino community upon arrival.

He said his visit, undertaken upon the invitation of the Japanese government, aims to further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as labor protection, trade and commerce, defense and regional security, and people-to-people exchanges.

Marcos also highlighted the significance of the visit as the Philippines and Japan commemorate the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations this year.