Have papers ready, mothers of Japanese-Filipino kids told
By Germelina Lacorte
http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20080812-154025
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.