Pinoy superstars in Japan pay respect to quake victims

Two Filipino superstars in Japan — Marlene dela Peña and Jay Vergara — joined embassy officials in commemorating the 113th Philippine Independence Day and in paying respect to the victims of the Japan quake and tsunami in March. A statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said the two Filipinos performed during the recent Independence Day rites in Japan that were intentionally kept simple as a way of showing respect to the quake and tsunami victims. The Philippine Independence Day was on June 12 but was celebrated in Japan a day later. The Japan magnitude-9 quake and tsunami happened last March 11 this year. The number of people confirmed dead or listed as missing in Japan was over 30,000, according to Japanese government's data. Dela Peña, touted as a superstar in the Japanese jazz and fusion music industry, has released almost 30 albums under Japan’s biggest music label. Vergara, a known romantic soul singer in Japan, on the other hand, has several albums that filled the shelves of many Japanese record stores. Appreciation for donors The DFA said a flag-raising ceremony was held in celebration of Philippine Independence Day. It was followed by an appreciation luncheon for donors and volunteers who helped the embassy provide relief and assistance to disaster victims. “These include organizations which offered food, relief goods, and shelter to evacuees, volunteers who assisted in the embassy’s consular missions to devastated areas, and those who helped man the embassy's 24-hour telephone hotline numbers," it noted. In his speech thanking the donors and volunteers, Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez said they played an important role in helping the embassy respond to inquiries and requests for assistance coming from the large number of Filipinos in Japan as well as their families back in the Philippines. He noted there are around 300,000 Filipino nationals in Japan. In the evening, Lopez hosted an informal reception for more than 100 members of the Filipino community. In his message to the community, he said the simplicity of this year’s Independence Day celebration was a result of the Philippines’ “solidarity with the people of Japan." Lopez encouraged the Filipino community to continue to help those in need within their capabilities, and sought the community’s collaboration on future activities. — VVP, GMA News