The Emperor Akihito of Japan had gathered on Wednesday January 27th in the largest military cemetery in the Philippines, during the first very symbolic event of its historic five-day visit in the archipelago.

After the morning was formally received by President Benigno Aquino at the presidential palace in Manila, Akihito, 82, went to bow to the hero Cemetery, erected in 1947 in memory of Filipinos killed in action during World War II.

The Japanese imperial couple on Tuesday began a historic visit to the archipelago to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

This Friday, January 29, on the eve of their return to Tokyo, the Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko honored in Manila memory of Japanese soldiers killed during World War II during the brutal occupation of the Philippines by Japanese Imperial army.

After Wednesday, January 27 gathered in the largest military cemetery in the Philippines, the hero of the cemetery, built in 1947 in memory of the fallen Filipinos, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid tribute, two days later to their fellow patriot. They lost twice at the memorial erected for the Japanese dead in Caliraya, a resort located near a lake about three hours drive from Manila, and have laid wreaths of white flowers. The imperial couple then spoke to the descendants of the soldiers killed during the war.

The Emperor and Empress arrived in Manila Tuesday, January 26 for a historic five-day visit to the archipelago to mark the 60th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Philippines, which were previously under American domination, suffered between 1942 and 1945 a very harsh occupation of the Japanese army and were the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the war in Asia.

Akihito, who was 11 when the war ended with the nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, made tributes to Japanese and non-Japanese victims of the war a pillar of his reign of nearly three decades, called Heisei or "achievement of peace." The emperor of Japan has already visited other places where Japanese soldiers and civilians have led desperate fighting on behalf of his father Hirohito, like last year in Palau, a string of islands to the east of Philippines.
Photo Credits: Paris Match

Sur un dimanche en fin d'après-midi, Sa Majesté la Reine Mathilde a mis de la musique classique sur son ordre du jour. La belle reine des Belges a assisté dans la périphérie de Bruxelles, un concert qui a mis les jeunes musiciens en premiere plan.
Le Janvier 31 concert de gala a eu lieu à Flagey (l'ancien radio maison située à Ixelles, une commune de Bruxelles) du concert de gala des Jeunes Cordes belges. Cet orchestre de chambre nationale est, comme son nom l'indique, composée d'étudiants de différentes classes d'instruments à cordes et les conservatoires dans toutes les écoles de musique belges. Comme un amoureux de la musique elle-même, la reine Mathilde était la première dans le théâtre pour montrer son soutien aux jeunes talents et de comprendre leur intérêt pour la musique classique.

Vêtue d'une robe de dentelle, parfaitement adapté à son embrayage et ses pompes, elle a été présentée avec un bouquet de fleurs blanches par une jeune fille, n'a pas manqué de poser pour une photo de groupe à côté de ces musiciens prometteurs.
Photo Credits: Paris Match

On a late Sunday afternoon, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde put classical music on her agenda. The lovely Queen of the Belgian attended in the outskirts of Brussels, a concert that put young musicians on central stage.
The January 31st gala concert took place in Flagey (the old house radio located in Ixelles, a joint Brussels) of the gala concert of the Young Belgian Strings. This national chamber orchestra  is, as its name suggests, composed of students from different classes of stringed instruments and conservatories in all Belgian music schools. As a music lover herself, Queen Matilda was first in the theater to show her support to the young talents and understand their interest in classical music.

Dressed in a lace dress, perfectly matched to her clutch and her pumps, she was presented with a bouquet of white flowers by a girl, did not fail to pose for a group photo alongside these promising musicians.
Photo Credits: Paris Match