GOVPH

OFWS IN KOREA ATTEND WEBINAR ON VISA MATTERS

9 July 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), held on 3 July 2022 an online seminar on “Palit-Visa: How to Change from E9 to E7 and F2-99 visa” as part of its Labor Education Program. The webinar was organized in response to the numerous requests for guidance on how EPS workers can transition to a visa type that will allow them to stay and work in Korea for a longer period.

In her welcome message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon –De Vega underscored the importance of having correct information on the options available to Overseas Filipino Workers to maximize their stay in Korea in an orderly manner. “Organizing the seminar is a result of consultations with the Filipino community and other stakeholders on information that is important to them. It is also part the Embassy’s response to ensuring that the rights and welfare of our OFWs are protected”, the Ambassador said. With this learning session on visa matters, the Embassy hopes to provide important and timely information on how to navigate a viable pathway within the Korean immigration and labor point system and other regulations, Ambassador De Vega added.

During the webinar, Mr. Ernie David, a former EPS worker who recently obtained an E7 visa, shared his personal experience in transitioning to a new visa. “It was not as easy as I thought it would be. I was fortunate to have the support of my employer. If you want to change your visa category, you should demonstrate your competence as a skilled worker, plan and prepare well to achieve the labor points, and maintain a positive relationship with your employer”, advised Mr. David.

Mr. Jang Manik, a Licensed Administrative Agent, was the resource expert during the seminar. He presented in detail the basic eligibility requirements, annual quota, and quarterly schedule of application for E7 visa, and how the point system is applied. He also discussed the requirements for application in F2-99 visa which grants long-term residency to foreigners.

Labor Attache Maya Valderrama of POLO Korea and Director Katherine Corteza of the Itaewon Global Village Center (IGVC) co-facilitated the learning event which had 400 registered participants. The webinar was held in partnership with the IGVC and the Filipino EPS Workers Association (FEWA).

For interested viewers, the recorded webinar may be viewed via https://fb.watch/e6pTTxbJng/

END

PHILIPPINE SOM LEADER ATTENDS 26TH ASEAN-ROK DIALOGUE IN SEOUL

SEOUL, 07 July 2022 — Philippine ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) Leader and Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro attended the 26^th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Dialogue held in Seoul from 30 June to 2 July 2022. At the Dialogue, Senior Officials of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea renewed their commitment to broaden mutually beneficial cooperation for the success of the ASEAN-ROK strategic partnership.

PH SOM Leader Lazaro underscored the importance of regional and maritime cooperation and progress in the implementation of its action lines under the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action 2021-2025. She welcomed working with the ROK and fellow AMS in enhancing maritime cooperation between both sides through various ASEAN-led mechanisms.

SOM Leaders likewise shared views on issues of common interest and concern, with a view to promote peace, stability and development in the region. Senior Officials of ASEAN also welcomed the commitment of the new Government of the ROK to forge closer cooperation with ASEAN.

The 26th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue was co-chaired by Director-General, Acting SOM Leader of Viet Nam, Vu Ho, and ROK Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Yeo Seung-bae.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega also joined the SOM meeting as a member of the Philippine delegation. END

PH Embassy Joins Opening of ASEAN Culture House Exhibition “To a Faraway Friend: Beyond Afro-Southwest Asian Affinities”

06 July 2022, Seoul – Philippine Embassy Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista at the opening of the exhibition “To A Faraway Friend: Beyond Afro-Southeast Asian Affinities, co-organized by the Korea Foundation (KF) and the ASEAN Culture House (ACH), held from 02 to 03 July 2022, at the ACH in Busan City, Republic of Korea.

This is the third series of Afro-Southeast Asian Affinities exhibitions after Singapore and Manila. The event which was conceived as a long-term research exhibition highlighted the regional connection and exchanges between Africa and the Southeast Asia region, as well as their relation to the Republic of Korea. The exhibition was conceived to also offer opportunities to examine ASEAN’S regionalism and history re-interpreted from a geopolitical perspective along with the artworks and cultural context.

The contents and themes of the exhibition is the result of research by three (3) curators of the exhibition, namely; Mr. Carlos Quijon, Jr., (Philippines), Ms. Nayoung Jeong (Korea), and Mr. Jason Wee (Singapore).

Mr. Quijon’s Afro-Southeast Asian Affinities research covered the first large-scale Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference which was a meeting of mostly newly independent Asian and African states held in April, 1955 in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

The visit of President Diosdado Macapagal to three African countries namely; Liberia, Monrovia, Tananarive in 1963 was cited along with the visit of US Attorney-General Robert F. Kennedy to Korea and through Southeast Asia in 1964.

The ASEAN Culture House in Busan has both permanent and special exhibits focusing on ASEAN, including Philippine content year-round and is open to the public. END