GOVPH

PHILIPPINES PROMOTES GREATER FILM COOPERATION WITH BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Ambassador De Vega with (left) BIFF Asian Contents and Film Market Director Oh Seok Geun and (right) BIFF Chairperson Lee Yong-Kwan 

18 April 2022, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Chairperson Lee Yong-kwan on 15 April 2022 at the BIFF Headquarters in Busan, South Korea.

Ambassador De Vega conveyed the message of appreciation of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair Liza Dino-Seguerra for the close cooperation extended by the BIFF as an important platform for multilateral cooperation with ASEAN film commissions. Chair Dino-Seguerra likewise added that the FDCP looks forward to more Philippine and Asian film content at future editions of BIFF.

In response, Chairperson Lee remarked that Philippine films continue to be a welcome presence at the BIFF and that Filipino filmmakers such as the late National Artist Lino Brocka continue to inspire Korean filmmakers. He added that “BIFF hopes to see more Filipino film submissions in the future.”

Former Korean Film Council (KOFIC) Chair and now BIFF Asian Contents and Film Market Director Oh Seok Geun relayed that they would also like to see active Philippine participation in other BIFF film development programs particularly on content and story development.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega thanked the BIFF officials for their continued interest in and support for film development in the Philippines and also cited the assistance provided by the BIFF’s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) to Filipino filmmakers such as Director Carlo Francisco Manatad, a 2014 script development grantee, whose film “Whether the Weather is Fine” screened successfully at the Locarno and Toronto International Film Festivals in 2021.

Championing the development of international cooperation and partnerships for the Philippine film industry as well as helping to develop larger audiences for Filipino films is part of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul’s cultural and economic diplomacy thrusts. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega has served on the FDCP’s Film Incentives Committee. END

PHILIPPINES AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA SIGN MOU TO CREATE SMART CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES

15 April 2022, Seoul – A Development Cooperation MOU between the Philippines’ Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Republic of Korea’s Land and Housing Corporation (LH) was signed on 15 April 2022 in Songdo, Korea. CDC President Manuel Gaerlan led the CDC Delegation at the signing ceremony  which was witnessed by Post’s Economic Officer and Third Secretary Reisha Olavario and Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay. Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega also met with CDC Officials separately to discuss future PH-ROK cooperation projects and investment promotion for the Clark Freeport Zone.  

Under the signed agreement with Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) will build a smart city in the Clark Freeport Zone. The proposed smart city will be linked to the Clark International Airport and is envisioned to become a logistics hub city with infrastructure for tourism, recreation, and aviation maintenance. It will also use artificial intelligence and big data to process real-time information collected through sensors and allow city operators to make quick choices to resolve problems or analyze data for future plans. During the MOU signing, both sides looked forward to the closer cooperation of LH and CDC. CDC President Manuel Gaerlan looked forward to technology sharing through the MOU, especially the Korea Communications Technology network which will be used by LH Urban Development for the K-Smart City Development.

The CDC heralded the Smart City MOU as a leap forward in the Philippines’ shift to the 4th Industrial Revolution. It is likewise a testament to the Philippines and the Republic of Korea’s shared ideas on prosperity in the Asia Pacific and our increased economic cooperation. END

Photo Credit: Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH)

TOURISM PROMOTION ORGANIZATION FOR ASIA PACIFIC CITIES TO JOIN WTTC GLOBAL SUMMIT IN MANILA

Amb. Dizon-De Vega with Secretary General Woo Kyoung-Ha and officials of TPO

17 April 2022, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with Secretary General Woo Kyoung-Ha of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO) in Busan on 15 April 2022 to discuss more tourism promotion engagement between TPO and the Philippines.

TPO is an international organization established in 2022 and functions as an inter-city network to promotion exchanges and development of the tourism industry among major cities in the Asia Pacific region. Starting with an initial membership of 25 cities, it now has 36 cities and 55 non-government entities representing tourism-related sectors supporting its objectives. Ambassador De Vega and Secretary General Woo discussed fostering more active engagement between Philippine cities and the TPO.

The TPO likewise conveyed that some of its officials will be taking part on site at the World Travel and Trade Council (WTTC) Global Summit hosted by the Philippines from 20 to 22 April 2022 in Manila. The theme for this year’s WTTC Summit is “Rediscovering Travel” and will be held just as many countries continue to re-open for travel. The TPO, along with other travel and trade partners were invited by Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to take part in the WTTC Global Summit during her official visit to Korea earlier this month. While in the Philippines, TPO officials will likewise meet with tourism and cultural officials of the City of Manila. END