The members of Batch 1997 were Ms. Chitose Yamasu, Mr. Naotaka Kawamura, Ms. Chisato Takeishi, and Ms. Yuko Sekisawa.

Aside from visiting tourist sights in Tacloban, the participants were fielded in the towns and a few villages of Palo and Santa Fe. The climb to Hill 522 (Guinhangdan Hill) in Palo, a literal and figurative high point, was described in the reports of the three females in the group.

This is my first visit to the Philippines, so I am very tense. But the Filipino smile is very, very nice.

I think that there are many people in the Philippines. Some are rich, but some are poor, like in Santa Fe (town). We cannot see in Japan (a house) with no toilet, no (piped) water. Why is there (such a socio-economic) distance (with)in the same country?

After I go back to Japan, I will study more about the Philippines.

(The climb to) Hill 522 (Guinhangdan Hill in Palo) was very, very hard. But after we had climbed, the view was very nice. I think that the (Japanese) soldiers' (experience here during the war) was harder than (what we went through).

I cannot believe that Leyte was a battlefield. Now, Leyte has many greens and smiles. They (people) do not have much money, but they have rich heart. The people that I met were very, very kind.

In World War II, many people died. We must not forget that. It is necessary to live.

I thought ODA (official development assistance of Japan) was bad. But now I think some ODA is bad and some ODA is good. I think ODA is necessary for the Philippines. But I think (the extension) of this help (ODA) alone is not good. It is also important that we study (and learn) together. We (Japanese) can learn from the Filipinos.

I am sorry that my English is bad. If I can understand English (better), I can learn much more. I want to visit the Philippines again, after I study English and history. But I am (already) very happy that I met many people.

I will tell my family, my friends, and many people (about) things I have seen. And I want to discuss about Philippines and (the Second World) War.

Thank you for your kindness.

This is my first visit to the Philippines and I got good and very important experiences from this. I will write about these shortly to make the memory unforgettable.

Before I came here (to Leyte), I read a book written about the Battle of Leyte during World War II by Shohei Ooka. I knew how terrible the war was, and was also surprised that many people were killed (not only Japanese but also Filipinos, Americans, and Chinese!). And I thought the Filipinos must hate the Japanese.

In Leyte, I could meet many people who had various ideas. And they were all very kind and friendly. My (previous impression) of the Filipinos was immediately destroyed. Of course, I do not think that there are no Filipinos who do not hate the Japanese. But at least, there are many Filipinos who want to keep friendship with us Japanese.

We should learn the history of the relation between Japan and the Philippines, or U.S. and the Philippines, because history shows us (how) the situation today was made. We cannot understand reality (fully) without history.

The most important thing is to view history from the citizens' point of view. During the war, many Filipinos were killed by the Japanese and the Americans. Some Japanese were also killed by Americans and Filipino guerrillas. If we know these facts that a lot of people had to kill each other, we will not be able to hate each other. Instead, we will be able to consider how terrible the war was for all citizens. We will also be able to become kind to everyone.

Anyway, I can see Filipinos as humans. There is not (just) one Filipino and one Japanese. They are many original people who have various ideas.

I was very surprised when I came to Leyte because (the place) is very (much) different from Manila. I like Leyte so much. It has many beautiful greens and the view is so nice. I do not want its nature to be (destroyed).

So I think (the implementation) of Japanese ODA projects such as bridge, port, etc., must be (done with) care.

I am so happy that the Marcos (San Juanico) Bridge is useful to the people of Leyte. According to a book I read in Japan, ODA is really bad and just interrupts other countries' life. But there are some (ODA) projects that make Leyte's people happy. That is the good point. I discovered it.

But I think the Japanese (including me, of course) should think about what (projects) are good to support or improve.

When I went to Hill 522 to see the (Japanese wartime) bunkers, the day was too hot for me. At that time I thought about the Japanese soldier (during the war). They were tired and hungry. It was so hard for them to climb this mountain and to hide from the U.S. soldiers.

We must not have war!! No more wars!! People do not have to hide in bunkers. They do not have to kill each other.

Thinking about his made me feel it is really important to know the correct history (of the war) and to have good relationship with other countries.

Sometimes I am angry at what our (Japanese) government is doing in other Asian countries. We (individual Japanese) can be very good friends with the Filipinos. Why can't our government be like that? It is simple: try to understand each other.

I know a little about the many difficulties of relationships. But (it seems) we (Japanese) are all much thinking about ourselves, our money, our convenience. This (type of selfishness) is one reason why war breaks out.

I was very interested I could go to Santa Fe and meet the mayor, his secretary, (municipal health) doctor and many (other) people.

I hope they (people of Santa Fe) can solve their water problem and they will have clean drinking water. And I hope I can help something. I want to give some good ideas to improve the problem in Santa Fe. I should think about it.

This is my first time to come to the Philippines and to Leyte. Before coming here, I wanted to know and look at the real Philippines, because Japan has a (long) relation with the Philippines in terms of development, economics and World War II. So I wanted to study the real Philippines as one of the developing countries.

I could see and hear about World War II, ODA buildings, and so on. You took me to some places (Hill 522, Palo's town hall, Santa Fe, SHS, an elementary school). I think I could get knowledge and understand some problems of the Philippines. It is good for me to think about the relations of the Philippines (also Leyte) and Japan, and also the relations between the Philippines, Filipinos and me.

I thought of just one thing every time, everywhere (here). This is about real peace and richness. What is true peace? What is real richness?

Of course, I was born in Japan and I grew up there. So I think Japan is a rich country. There are lots of material (things) and money. These things are needed for us to live, but I think they are not the (source of) true peace and richness.

The Philippines is a developing country. Maybe you need assistance and help from advanced nations like Japan. But all Filipinos have big smiles and they seem happier than the Japanese. Why?

I think the Philippines lack medicines, money, engineers, ambulances, water, bathrooms and so on. But their hearts are very warm and their eyes are too bright. So I think all Filipino people have "a richness of heart." It is more important than richness of money.

I learned about "having a richness of heart" from you and the people of Leyte. I want to be a "true rich woman."

Yet the Philippines has "basic human needs" like enough water, bathrooms, houses, food. So I thought I want to do something for the Filipino people. But I have no great power and enough money to do so (ex., to make some pipes of water and build schools). So sometimes I felt helpless, powerless.

But I though of this as my problem. I can write about this experience in our report. I have to tell many people about the problems of the Philippines. It is my work to do now.

So thank you for your kindness. I learned a lot of things from you and the Filipino people.

Really, thanks a lot. I will never forget the Philippines and my experiences.

Lastly, I want to send you these words, "I shall return!"