Have papers ready, mothers of Japanese-Filipino kids told

By Germelina Lacorte
Mindanao Bureau
Posted date: August 12, 2008

DAVAO CITY – A Japanese lawyer has urged the Filipino mothers of children of Japanese fathers to take advantage of a new law that would grant Japanese citizenship to the children.

Hironori Kondoh of Tokyo-based Japanese Filipino Children Lawyers Association told a roomful of Filipino women here the June 4 ruling of the Japan Supreme Court reversed the previous law which only granted nationality to Japanese-Filipino children whose parents were legally married.

“The Japanese Supreme Court has pronounced such ruling as unconstitutional,” said Kondoh, who was in the city last week for a forum with Japanese-Filipino children and their mothers. “It’s not the fault of the children if their parents are not married.”

“Children and mothers living in Davao can apply at the Japanese Embassy once the law takes effect,” he said.

He said applications must be filed before a child’s 20th birthday.

“Japanese-Filipino children from 16 to 19 years old [are urged] to prepare their documents as soon as possible,” Kondoh said.

The new law is expected to open the door to Japanese citizenship for tens of thousands of Japanese-Filipino children.

“All they want is recognition more than anything else,” said Sister Celine Cajandig, executive director of the Center for Overseas Workers Davao Inc. (Cowfi).

Jean Bingcoy, president of Samahan ng Kababaihan para sa Karapatan ng mga Japanese Filipino Children (Women’s Association for the Rights of Japanese Filipino Children), said her 11-year-old son was not recognized under the old law, although his father has been sending financial support occasionally.

“The new law can help a lot,” she said, “Parents do not need to get married to have the children recognized.”

She said that with the law, children abandoned by their Japanese fathers would be looking for a chance to go to Japan.