Text by Charmaine Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit

Japanese students from partner universities in Japan visited the University of the Philippines Manila as part of ongoing collaborations in public health education and training, on August 13, 2025, at the UP Manila President’s Office. Accompanied by Dr. Geraldine B. Dayrit, CPH Local and International Linkages Coordinator, the two students, Kao Kobayashi from the University of Tsukuba and Kana Tashiro from Teikyo University’s Graduate School of Public Health paid a courtesy visit to Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Bernadette Heizel D. Reyes.

Kobayashi will be enrolled in selected BS Public Health courses at UP Manila for Academic Year 2025–2026 through a student exchange program in the field of public health. She was earlier received by Dr. Fernando B. Garcia Jr., Dean of the College of Public Health (CPH) and Director of the SEAMEO TropMed Philippines Centre, and Dr. Dayrit. The University of Tsukuba, an Affiliate Member of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), maintains an active academic agreement with UP.

Ms. Tashiro is conducting her international public health field training from August 7–22, 2025, which includes visits to barangay health stations, rural health units, and other health facilities to observe community health practices in the Philippines.

VC Reyes emphasized that the holistic welfare of students is a priority for the university to ensure a conducive learning experience. She added that creating a supportive environment for visiting scholars would encourage more international exchange students to come to UP Manila.

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