Your Excellency Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki
Secretary of Finance Gary Teves
Excellencies, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to convey, on behalf of the Philippine Government and the Filipino people, our warmest felicitations to the Government of Japan and to the Japanese people on the occasion of Japan’s National Day and the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor.

We join you in the celebration of this very special event that epitomizes Japanese nationhood and unity.  We acknowledge the significance of the Monarchy of Japan as a national symbol and it is through the Imperial Throne that the Japanese people identify themselves as truly Japanese.

The Philippines attaches great importance to our close relationship and partnership, which is clearly manifested in the five visits by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Tokyo since 2001.

Japan remains our second largest trading partner, and the leading source of imports.  Japan is also the Philippines leading source of overseas development assistance (ODA), accounting for about 60% of our total ODA.

The forthcoming conclusion of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is considered a milestone in our current bilateral cooperation.  The agreement, which would be the first free trade agreement for the Philippines, will open and liberalize trade in goods and services and facilitate the flow of  investments between our two countries.

The cultural exchanges and the people-to-people visits have strengthened the bond of friendship between our two countries and peoples, based on mutual respect and understanding.

We look forward with great anticipation to our two countries’ celebration next year of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of  diplomatic relations.  Even as early as now we have already lined up activities to mark the occasion and that will serve to further enhance and improve our bilateral relations.

We sincerely hope that the partnership between  our two countries will continue to flourish in the years to come.

On this note of friendship and cooperation, may I invite Your Excellencies, distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen to join me in a toast:

· To the continued good health of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan;
· To the continued peace and prosperity of Japan; and
· To the enduring friendship of the Filipino and Japanese people.