12 October 2022, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the participation of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) in the Korean War with a program and wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Museum in Seoul.

In her remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega recalled that the Philippines sent five Battalion Combat Teams (BCTs) from 1950-1955 with a total number of 7,420 personnel throughout the Korean War. The Philippines is the first country in Asia to do so, and the fifth in the world to respond to this very important call. According to Ambassador De Vega, PEFTOK is proof of the Philippines’ support of the principle of collective security to help the UN forces in Korea. “As a dutiful member of the family of nations, it was in fulfillment of our country’s obligation as a co-signatory of the United Nations Charter. More importantly, it was in fulfillment of our belief that for a country to have peace, a country must be free,” the Ambassador said. She also paid tribute to the legacies of PEFTOK veterans former President Fidel V. Ramos and Major Maximo Young who both passed away in 2022 and were recipients of distinguished decorations from the Korean Government.

She likewise underscored that since then, PH-ROK relations have enjoyed 73 years of cooperation in the political, defense, economic, socio-cultural, and people-to-people spheres and that the Philippines remains resolute in its commitment to elevate PH-ROK ties, as exemplified by the regular exchange of visits in defense and veterans affairs. 

Philippine Department of National Defense Assistant Secretary Joselito B. Ramos was the guest of honor during the commemorative activity. Assistant Secretary Ramos highlighted the long-standing and enduring defense and security ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea which exists today because of the PEFTOK. He likewise paid tribute to decorated PEFTOK veterans Col. Veneciano “Bonny” Serrano and Col. Conrado Yap whose lives serve as an inspiration for members of the Philippine military.

The Battle Resume of the PEFTOK was presented by Armed Forces Attaché of the Philippines Col. Enriqueto Deocadez.

Director General for International Cooperation Kang Yun-Jin of the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), and UN Korean War Allies Association (UNKWAA) Chairman Kim Dugun were likewise present to pay tribute to the heroism of Filipino troops during the war.

The wreath-laying ceremony was attended by officers of the Embassy of the Philippines and its attached agencies, defense attachés of UN sending states, descendants of PEFTOK veterans studying in Korea, and friends and partners of the PH-ROK veterans community. END