Benguet State University hosted a cultural welcome program for a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer and a student from the Tokyo University of Agriculture who will be engaging with the Universityโs Pomology Project.
The program opened with remarks from International Relations Office Director Rex John G. Bawang, who welcomed the visitors, faculty, staff, and students from the College of Agriculture. He also gave a brief introduction to the culture that the participants would be watching and experiencing during the program.
Mr. Jamesly T. Andres, Project Leader of the Pomology Project, introduced the visitors and discussed their respective engagements with the project. Ms. Kikuchi Otoha is a JICA volunteer who will be serving under the Pomology Project for two years, while Mr. Akira Tsutsui, a student from the Tokyo University of Agriculture, will observe the research activities being conducted under the project and undertake his one-month on-the-job training.
Mr. Marvin T. Valentin, Special Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, also delivered an inspirational message. He encouraged students to gain another perspective by learning about the education systems and experiences of other countries. He also encouraged them to take advantage of international opportunities similar to the engagement of the visitors.
Mr. Constantino T. Sudaypan also shared a message and briefly recounted how Ms. Otoha came to be a JICA volunteer at BSU. He shared that the engagement with JICA started through a proposal submitted in 2022. The proposal was resubmitted over the succeeding years until 2025, when a volunteer was identified for the project. In 2026, Ms. Otoha began her engagement with the Pomology Project and, at the time of the program, had already been with the project for five months.
He also welcomed Mr. Tsutsui and expressed his gratitude to both visitors for their future contributions to the project and the University. He hoped that their engagement at BSU would also become meaningful to them, so that when they return to Japan, they would continue to remember the University and their experiences here.
The program proceeded with presentations from Ms. Otoha and Mr. Tsutsui. Mr. Tsutsui introduced the Tokyo University of Agriculture and shared insights into Japanese culture and agriculture. Ms. Otoha then presented various aspects of Japanese culture, including Japanese shrines and temples, onsens, and school festivals. She also shared practices related to sustainable agriculture and the management of unsellable fruits and vegetables.
To synthesize the program, Mr. Jake L. Galian, College of Agriculture IRO Coordinator, shared that the gathering served not only as a way to welcome the visitors but also as an opportunity to consider them friends and part of the University community. He expressed hope that the visitors would have a good experience, create meaningful memories, and gain fruitful learning during their stay at BSU. He also thanked the organizers, participants, and visitors for making the activity possible.
The cultural welcome reflects BSU’s continuing commitment to internationalization by creating opportunities for students, faculty, and international partners to learn from one another and build meaningful connections through agriculture, culture, and shared experiences.
