As of January 1 of this year, the consular office of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines in Cebu City was upgraded to a Consulate General.
The consular office is just a stone's throw away from Ayala Mall in Cebu City, and I've been there twice to have my marriage documents prepared.
It's just an ordinary building, but there are security guards on the first floor who ask me where you are going. and there are also guards in front of the consulate office, which doesn't surprise me since there are guards in shopping malls in the Philippines.
I remember being a little impressed by the chrysanthemum crest on the signboard of the consular office.
I'm not sure what will change with the upgrade from consular office to consulate general.
Since at least a consul general will be appointed and staffed, I think that some of the work done by the Consular Section of the Japanese Embassy in Manila will be handled by the Consulate General in Cebu.
The Consulate-General of Japan in the Philippines was previously only in Davao, but the establishment of one in Cebu is a welcome development.
Many of the Japanese who stayed in Cebu due to the corona disaster have returned to their home countries, but I'm sure the number of Japanese people will increase again once this fiasco is over.
Although it may not be often that we need to visit the Consulate General, it is certainly psychologically reassuring to have a Japanese Consulate General nearby in case something happens.
When I was looking for a marriage partner, I thought it would be good to be from Cebu because of the direct flights from Japan and the Cebu Consular Office.
It takes about two hours by car to get to the Consulate General from the place where I plan to move to.
It seems that administrative procedures such as passport renewal can be done, so I would like to submit a residence report once I immigrate so that I can receive the necessary information.
