A “small" delegation of 63 people will accompany President Benigno Aquino III in his upcoming four-day visit to Japan, Malacañang said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said the Philippines can expect to gain lessons from the Japanese people's civic-mindedness and disaster preparedness.
“The official delegation is composed of 63 people, so including the president, it’s 64," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
She did not disclose the names of those accompanying Aquino to the Japan visit, which is aimed at “fostering stronger relations" between the two countries.
Aquino is to leave the country on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Valte said Filipinos can expect to learn from the Japanese people civic-mindedness, a virtue "that should be followed by everyone."
According to her, the Japanese struggled to pay their taxes days after a devastating magnitude-9 quake and a 10-meter-high tsunami that hit the country last March 11.
Another lesson Filipinos should learn is disaster preparedness. She said “President Aquino is mainly interested in disaster preparedness, particularly in how the Japanese managed to cope with the twin tragedies that hit them." — LBG
