The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN ASEAN WEEK 2023 WITH CRAFTS BY BURI METRO AND UGO BIGYAN CREATIONS

(PHOTOS – Top: Ambassadors from the AMS and Secretary-General Kim Hae-yong of the ASEAN-Korea Centre at the Opening Ceremony of the 11 Pots 11 Colors Exhibition. Below left: Secretary-General Kim delivers his opening message. Below right: Lao PDR ACS Chair Ambassador Songkane Luangmuninthone delivers his congratulatory remarks.)

13 November 2023, Seoul - The ASEAN Week 2023, the main public and cultural diplomacy activity of the ASEAN-Korea Center (AKC) and 10 ASEAN Embassies in Korea, took place from 8-11 November 2023 at COEX in Seoul.

The anticipated annual event focused this year on ASEAN and Korean crafts through an exhibition entitled: "11 Pots 11 Colors: Colorful Heritage of ASEAN Crafts: Capturing the Light". The exhibit featured crafts which may be used as containers such as baskets, brassware, ceramics, glass, porcelain, rattan, pewter, and silverware throughout the ASEAN region and in Korea. AKC Secretary General Kim Hae-yong and ASEAN Committee in Seoul Chairperson Lao PDR Ambassador Songkane Luangmuninthone delivered remarks at the exhibit opening.

The Philippines' featured container items were from the Buri Metro collection, a handwoven crafts line featuring baskets, light fixtures and similar items made of buri palm leaves combined with leather. The items are designed and made by hand by women weavers from Negros Island. The items were praised for their natural look and feel making them attractive products for homes and interiors.

(PHOTOS - Left: Philippines Buri Metro Collection. Top right: Brunei glassware. Bottom right: Cambodia brassware.)

A unique feature of this year's exhibition was a section showcasing personal pottery and related items from collections of ASEAN Ambassadors. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega exhibited a trio of pottery pieces by famed Filipino artist Ugo Bigyan. Ambassador Dizon-de Vega shared that she has been following the career of Ugo Bigyan for some time and has been collecting some of his unique pieces inspired by nature as well as the colors and textures of Quezon Province where the artist is based. END

(PHOTOS – Top: from the collection of Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega Ugo Bigyan pottery creations. Below left: Lao PDR silverware. Below right: Thailand crafts.)

(PHOTOS – Left: Indonesia rattan baskets. Top middle: Malaysa pewterware. Top right: Myanmar lacquer containers. Below: Vietnamese ceramics.)

PH DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROMOTES FILIPINO INNOVATION; WINS AWARDS AT THE SEOUL INTERNATIONAL INVENTION FAIR (SIIF) 2023

[Top Photo] Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and DOST PNRI Scientist Ms. Charito T. Aranilla at the Philippine booth in the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2023. [Below Photo] Philippine Embassy’s Political and Economic Section team visited the Philippine booth (L) and DOST delegation led by Atty. Marion Ivy Decena receives gold award at the SIIF 2023.

06 November 2023, Seoul. The Philippines through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) took part in the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2023 which was held from 01 to 04 November 2023 at COEX Seoul. SIIF is an official exhibition of the government of the Republic of Korea hosted by the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) bringing together innovative ideas, new technologies and original patented inventions from participating countries around the world.

A team from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) and Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) led by Director Marion Ivy D. Decena spearheaded the Philippine participation in the SIIF 2023.

Bringing with them Filipino inventions from textile, medical devices, manufacturing and agriculture innovations, the DOST featured eight new technologies, namely, the Kayumanggi: Stabilized Brown Rice, Flavored Salt and Food Seasoning, Salt Washer Machine, New Plant Growth Promoter, New Hemostat Technology, Industry-Scalable Natural Dyes, Lyocell/Natural Textile Fiber-Blended Yarns, and Shoe Insole Made of Natural and Bio-based Materials.

Competing at the SIIF 2023 were around 500 new technologies from 26 countries. The Philippines DOST Team won a total of 2 golds, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes, and 5 special prizes at the SIIF. Specifically, the PNRI-developed New Hemostat Technology and ITDI-developed gourmet salt won gold awards, PTRI-developed Lyocell Technology and PNRI-developed New Plant Growth Promoter won silver awards, and the FNRI-developed brown rice and ITDI-developed salt washer were awarded with bronze awards.

The team also received additional special awards such as “Excellent Efforts in Creating an Invention” from SIIF Korea and “Excellent Invention” award from the National Research Council of Thailand for the PNRI-developed New Hemostat technology. The ITDI-developed gourmet salt and FNRI-developed brown rice likewise received special awards from Singapore and Indonesia, respectively. Lastly, the PTRI-developed Natural Dye and Shoe Insole technology received special award from Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations or VIFOTEC).

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and the Political and Economic Team of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul were on hand to support the DOST delegation in their first-ever participation in the SIIF. This is part of the Embassy’s initiatives to facilitate and encourage more active Science and Technology engagement with Korea.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is proud of the DOST’s achievements at the SIIF 2023 and all the inventors who worked tirelessly behind these exemplary innovations that illustrate world class Filipino creativity and resourcefulness. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN THE 6TH KOREA FOUNDATION (KF) PUBLIC DIPLOMACY WEEK

(PHOTOS – Top Left and Right: Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega joins Ambassadors from Brazil and Canada in a panel discussion. Below left: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomes visitors to the PH booth. Below right: Vice Consul Jilliane De Dumo-Cornista (right), ATN Officer Fatima Tabio (middle) and Consular Assistant Chariz Ballaran (left) at the Philippine booth.)

30 October 2023, Seoul – The Korea Foundation (KF) held recently its 6^th Korea Foundation (KF) Public Diplomacy Week from 13 to 15 October 2023 at the Central Square, Understand Avenue, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, a trendy and popular events venue located in Seoul.

Ambassador Dizon - De Vega welcomed the visitors to the Philippine booth that showcased traditional muslim attire and handicrafts. Local sweets, travel brochures and postcards from the PH Tourism Office in Seoul were also offered to the guests. The popular game “sungka” was also a hit with the crowd while the “salakot” photo booth was a favorite among the multi-cultural visitors at the event.

The KF also organized a public diplomacy roundtable discussion with the theme “A Connected World A Joint Future” participated in by the Ambassadors from Brazil, Canada and the Philippines. The wide range of topics covered in the discussion were experiences of a female diplomat in Korea, exploring career opportunities in public diplomacy, cultural and public outreach programs, introducing world cultures to the Korean public, among others.

(PHOTOS – Visitors and Members from the Diplomatic Corps in Seoul attending the 3-day event visit the PH booth.)

The Embassy also participated in the on-site cooking show/class wherein Ms. Rina Marquez, a Korean language student in Korea introduced the pancit bihon (rice noodles) and chicken & pork adobo (marinated and braised chicken & pork) to the selected audience. Chicharon (fried pork rind), dried mango fruit, peanuts and corn snacks were also offered to the audience.

(PHOTOS – Top Left and Below: Ms. Rina Marquez, a Masters student from the Academy of Korean Studies participating in the KF Philippine cooking show. Top Right: Ms. Iris Kim, (left most) a Philippine-born Korean/Tagalog/English speaker from the Global Hope Foundation teaches visitors how to play the “sungka”.)

About a thousand visitors attended the event while fourteen embassies based in Seoul participated in the 3-day event. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS ASEAN FAMILY DAY 2023 IN SEOUL

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega together with Philippine Embassy personnel and family members joined the Embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in Seoul in celebrating the ASEAN Family Day 2023. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega played the game of HOM pétanque (Pétang) with Ambassadors of AMS in Seoul.

25 October 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega led the Philippine Embassy Team comprising of personnel and their family members in the first post-pandemic celebration of the ASEAN Family Day 2023 on 22 October 2023 at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. The event was organized by the Embassy of the Lao PDR as the Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), in cooperation with ASEAN embassies in Seoul.

Participants from the Embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in Seoul enjoyed the festivities and participated in games such as HOM pétanque (Pétang), Ping Pong Ball Race, Dancing Chair and Tug of War. To showcase the flavors of the Philippines, the Philippine Embassy served pancit (a noodle dish), banana turon (Filipino fried banana rolls), and chicken inasal (Filipino-style chicken barbecue) for guests to enjoy.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul remains steadfast in its commitment to advance ASEAN interests and in promoting ASEAN identity in the Republic of Korea. END