The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES JOINS CALL TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES FOR PANDEMIC RESPONSE IN THE WORLD BIO SUMMIT 2023

[LEFT PHOTO] Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega (center) together with Atty. Charade B. Mercado-Grande (right), Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health – Health Facility and Patient Support Team and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha L. Olavario (left) represented the Philippines in the World Bio Summit 2023. [RIGHT PHOTO] Philippine delegation with Commissioner Jee Young-mee of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

05 December 2023, Seoul. Philippines participated in the World Bio Summit (WBS) 2023 held from 20 to 21 November 2023 at the Conrad Hotel Seoul. The summit was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) of the Republic of Korea and the World Health Organization (WHO) under the theme “Strengthening Capacities for Pandemic Response: Preparation of Workforce, Business and Civil Society,” to discuss strategies in response to another potential pandemic and infectious disease threats.

Department of Health Assistant Secretary Atty. Charade B. Mercado-Grande and Ms. Jessabelle E. Basa, Head of the Quality Assurance Department – Biologicals Manufacturing Division – Research Institute for Tropical Medicine represented the Philippines in the summit. Philippine Embassy officials Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha L. Olavario also attended the summit.

The two-day summit convened four sessions with in-depth discussions on strengthening vaccine, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics manufacturing and regulatory oversight, accelerating pandemic therapeutics development and manufacturing, international support strategies for the growth of the global In Vitro Diagnostics industry and strengthening global preparedness through the 100-Days mission program, a Coalition for Pandemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) program supported by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) envisioned to reduce the time taken to develop safe and effective vaccines. Bilateral meetings and workshops were also held at the sidelines of the summit.

The World Bio Summit, now on its second edition, is a constructive platform for governments, international organizations, industry stakeholders and civil society to share experience, knowledge and insights from the COVID-19 pandemic. It further aims to lay a solid foundation to enhance global cooperation by establishing a secure health system capable of addressing threats to human health and responding to infectious diseases. The summit encourages stakeholders to take a proactive response to health crisis that may arise in the future. END

PHILIPPINES FIRST PRIZE WINNERS IN THE TALK TALK KOREA CONTEST

PHOTOS – Left: Francis “Aya” Nacionales receives her award from Eric of the boy band The BOYZ. Right: Amiel “Giann” Surla a.k.a. Sunshine Myung.

30 November 2023. Seoul – The 2023 K-Wave Festival recently held the Talk Talk Korea Contest, an annual international competition organized by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), established to promote Korea’s national image and cultural heritage on a global stage. KOCIS is also an affiliate of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

With this years’ theme "Unveil the Diversity of Korea", Talk Talk Korea received over 52,000 entries worldwide which were in the form of photographs, webtoons, essays, videos, and drawings which highlighted various aspects of Korea such as K-Culture, K-Music, K-Food, and K-Beauty.

First Prize winners from the Philippines were Francis "Aya" Nacionales in the K-Culture category with her essay on the Korean culture in Subways and Amiel Giann Surla aka Sunshine Myung in the K-Music category for her Creative Conceptual Dance Cover.

Aya is presently working on her Masters degree in Medicine (Biomedical Science) at the Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul while Giann who virtually attended the awarding ceremonies is currently a student at the Clark College of Science and Technology in Pampanga, Philippines.

The contest ran from July 17 to September 17 and the awarding ceremony was held at the National Theatre of Korea last November 4, 2023 in Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Korea congratulates Aya and Giann on their achievements. END

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Photo: Winners of the 2023 K-Wave Festival - Talk Talk Korea contest.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH SERVICE AND OVERSEAS VOTER MOBILE REGISTRATION IN CHANGWON AND PYEONGTAEK

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03 December 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted consular outreach missions in Changwon, the capital city of Gyeongsangnam Province, and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on 22 and 29 October 2023, respectively, with the cooperation of and in partnership with the Filipino organizers of the Migrant Multicultural Festival in Changwon through Ms. Anna Sumayod, and the Pyeongtaek Migrant Welfare Center. Led by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. and Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista, the consular teams rendered a total of 29 units of consular and Assistance to Nationals services to members of the Filipino community.

Representatives from Pag-IBIG and OWWA also joined the outreach and rendered a combined 58 services, including information dissemination and renewal of OWWA membership, and opening of Pag-IBIG regular and MP2 accounts. The Embassy also conducted an Overseas Voter Mobile Registration and processed the application of 24 Overseas Filipino Voters.

As it did earlier this year with Filipino Community and religious organizations, the Embassy looks forward to working with more Filipino Community organizations as partners in promoting Overseas Voter Registration among the growing Filipino population in Korea. END

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SHIPBUILDING OF THE PHILIPPINE NAVY’S FIRST CORVETTE COMMENCES

[top photo] Steel cutting for the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 2 [second photo] Keel laying for the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 1 [Third Photo] Delegation members of the Philippine Navy VADM Toribio Adaci Jr. PN, Capt. Emilio Orio Jr. PN, Capt Marco Buena PN, with Seoul PE’s DAFA Col. Don Templonuevo PA paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.

04 December 2023, Seoul – Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command VADM Toribio Adaci Jr. PN visited the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Shipyard in Ulsan City on 22 November 2023 for the Keel Laying Ceremony of the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 1, and the Steel Cutting Ceremony of the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 2. The Keel Laying and Steel Cutting ceremonies formally commemorate and recognize the beginning of the ship building process. Attended by senior officials and dignitaries from both sides, it demonstrates the strong defense modernization partnership of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. During the visit, VADM Adaci conveyed the Philippine Navy’s strong expectations and determination for the successful completion of the Corvette Acquisition Program with the Republic of Korea.

On 23 November 2023, VADM Adaci called on Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega to relay the outcome the ceremonies and his meetings with ROK counterparts on common maritime interests and strengthening mutual cooperation. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of continued active exchanges between the Philippine Navy and the ROK Navy for Philippine defense modernization. She looked forward to a continued and more substantive Navy-to-Navy talks, and conveyed her appreciation for the Philippine Coast Guard’s active participation in maritime cooperation activities, including the 2nd PH-ROK maritime cooperation dialogue held last October 2023. END