Japan launches J-Pop Anime singing tilt anew to mark RP-Japan Friendship Day
By Gloria Jane Baylon
MANILA, March 5 (PNA)--The
annual Philippines-Japan Friendship Month in July will be celebrated
with the Japanese embassy in Manila holding for the second time the
successful and much-in-demand J-Pop Anime Singing Competition across the
Philippines.
The grand final is calendared on July 24, Saturday, at the
Cyberzone Event Center, SM North EDSA, Quezon City, the embassy said.
Registration has opened and application forms to register
for the contest are available at the Japan Information and Culture
Center (JICC) Library, Embassy of Japan, 2627 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay
City or can be downloaded at www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp. Registration ends
on May 20.
Philippines-Japan Friendship Month used to be held in
February but is now celebrated in July to commemorate the designation of
July 23 as “Philippines-Japan Friendship Day” by President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo in 2006. That year was the Golden Jubilee of
diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
The contest is one of the month-long activities in July. It
is open to all Filipino amateur singing groups composed of three to
five members. It could include a Japanese as long as the latter will
play only a supporting role in the number such as being
instrumentalist, back-up vocal, or dancer.
The competing groups will perform one song popularized in
J-Pop or anime in the original Japanese language. Following initial
screenings, 10 groups will be invited to perform at the grand finals.
Top winners will bag free lessons from Nihongo Center
Foundation and Center for Pop Music Philippines and exciting prizes from
Ajinomoto, Canon, Heritage Hotel, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba and Yakult.
At the grand finals, the participants can also enjoy special treats,
courtesy of Yoshinoya restaurant.
The embassy said the contest aims to further promote
appreciation of the Japanese language and culture among Filipinos and to
strengthen the long-standing friendship between Japan and the
Philippines.
The J-Pop and Anime Singing Contest is presented by the
embassy in cooperation with the Japan Foundation-Manila in partnership
with SM Supermalls, SM Cyberzone, TOEI Philippines, Nihongo Center
Foundation, Center for Pop Music, Yoshinoya, Animation International
Licensing Philippines, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of
the Philippines, Inc., Ajinomoto, Canon, Heritage Hotel, Panasonic,
Sony, Toshiba, Yakult, and HERO TV and MAX FM 103.5 as media partners.
For contest mechanics and further details, please visit
www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp or email jicc-mnl@ma.mofa.go.jp or call 551-5710
local 2318. (PNA)
RMA/GJB
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