Overseas performing artists (OPAs) and local recruiters rallied at the Japanese embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Pasay City. This is in protest of Japan's plan to tighten its hiring policy on foreign entertainers.

The Confederated Associations of Licensed Entertainment Agencies (CALEA) and Filipino entertainers rallied for two reasons:

* They would like to ask the Japanese government to reconsider and suspend the implementation of new employment regulations.

*They considered it a prayer rally for the Philippine government to help them make their case.

Today, there are around 80,000 OPAs in Japan, making the Philippines the largest source of entertainers there while CALEA is the largest association of duly licensed agencies in the Philippines deploying artists and entertainers abroad.

The local entertainers sent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo saying the new policy of Japan in issuing "entertainer’s visa" is much too difficult.  Moreover, they brought up concerns over the thousands that could be lose their jobs when the Japanese government implements rigid immigration laws.

One of the OPAs said, "They will do this by way of removing their Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which is the provision recognizing the standard certification given by our government to OPAs as primary proof for having an entertainer’s visa". "This has been the "standard" basis for OPAs to acquire visas and work in Japan in the past 10 years".

The new hiring policies came about in an effort to curb incidents of human trafficking in the Philippines, as many OPAs end up being prostitutes. 

On "hostessing"

DOLE had said the Philippine government is sending only legitimate Filipino entertainers and not "hostesses" to Japan. "Definitely, hostessing is not included in the employment contract of our overseas performing artists," acting Labor Secretary Manuel Imson said.

An International Labor Organization report entitled "Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in Japan" defines hostessing as a job "usually involving conversation, pouring drinks, lighting cigarettes but no physical contact or sexual services."