The Inauguration of Tiwi Japanese Garden

This 1970s-era black & white photograph of the inauguration of Tiwi’s Japanese Garden shows then-Tigbi Barangay Captain Edgar “Etan” Competente and Mrs. Salvacion Climaco leading the traditional ribbon cutting ceremonies.

Also in the photo were some of the prime movers and supporters that played a part in the realization of the Filipino-Japanese Friendship Garden in the heart of Tiwi— Mrs. Patria C. Gutierrez, Mrs. Naomi C. Corral, Mrs. Caring Dalde, Rev. Fr. Francisco (Parish Priest), Dr. Tomas Madrilejos, Mr. Akihiko Shimizu, Mr. Gavino Consuelo, Mrs. Salvacion Templado, Mrs. Dading Competente, Mrs. Lydia Cruel, Mrs. Pilar Consuelo, Mrs. Lydia Rodriguez and Mr. Fred Cariño.

Built with local labor and designed by Akihiko Shimizu, a Japanese landscape artist who arrived in Tiwi in 1968, the Japanese Garden is styled after the traditional strolling gardens popular during Japan’s Edo Period (1603-1868).

Akihiko Shimizu was a ceramics technician and one of the pioneering members of the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) in the Bicol Region, as well as the first of the continuous pipeline of JOCVs (now JICA) that were sent by the Japanese government to Tiwi through the years as ambassadors of Goodwill and Friendship with the mandate to share their knowledge and expertise with the people and their industries.

Naomi Climaco Corral (1992-1995) and Patria Competente Gutierrez (1996-2004), would both be elected and served as mayors of Tiwi decades after this picture was taken.