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Pocari Sweat : Returning to Homeland
July 25-30, 2007
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Pocari Sweat recently sponsored an educational trip
to Japan which sent 5 doctors namely Drs. Gener Becina,
Butch Bautista, Sally Dijamco, Zen Lu and Luz Mangahas
with 4 journalists namely Ms. Owen Alcaraz, Alexa Bacay,
Ruby Anne Rubio and Kathy Moran, for a 5 day tour (July
25-30) which included a visit to the Pocari Sweat Factory,
Otsuka Museum of Art, and Soy Joy Factory all located
in Tokushima, Japan. They also visited the Tomato Hall
and the Otsuka HRDI Office which is part of Otsuka Headquarters.
The tour was highlighted by watching the FIBA-Asia Championships
held at the Asty Tokushima Stadium. |
| The first day in Tokushima consisted
of the tour in the Otsuka Museum of Art where everyone
had a chance to see replicas of famous works of art around
the world. The group also had a cruise to see the famous
Whirlpools under the Naruto Bridge where the boat went
within the area where the crazy waves and whirlpools are.
The first night in Tokushima was highlighted with an overnight
stay at the Otsuka Guest House (Shiosaiso). They were
treated to a sumptuous authentic Japanese dinner by the
very hospitable Otsuka Guest House staff. |
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Second
day in Tokushima was a very memorable one especially
for Dr. Becina as he was chosen as the best Awa Odori
dancer during a show. Awa Odori is a traditional dance
in Tokushima imitating the movements of a bird and the
moon. The Awa Odori Festival is held every August where
people go out of the streets to celebrate and dance
the Awa Odori.
After the tour around Tokushima, the group watched and
cheered for the Philippine National Basketball Team
which had a bid for the Beijing Olympics slot in 2008
at the FIBA-Asia Games. Pocari Sweat was one of the
sponsors of the FIBA-Asia Championships held at the
Asty Tokushima Stadium which had the best basketball
teams in Asia competing for a slot in the 2008 Olympics.
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Last day for the group was in Osaka where they toured
the Osaka Castle and had a whole afternoon of shopping.
The tour was capped by a dinner hosted by no other
than Mr. Masayuki Umeno, Otsuka’s Senior Operating
Officer & Director for International Asia-Arab
Division. Everyone was delighted and very thankful
especially to OPPI’s President and GM, Mr.
Hirofumi Inoue, who personally attended to the guests
from day 1 until their departure. |
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