GOVPH

Call Hero Foundation Honors Filipino Veterans of the Korean War

[TOP L-R] Rep. Kim Sung-won, President of the Korea-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Association delivers a special message. DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino recalls the contributions of
the PEFTOK to the Korean war effort. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivers appreciation remarks to the organizers of the event. [BELOW L] CFO Chairperson Romulo V. Arugay delivers a tribute address. [RIGHT MIDDLE] Members of the Call Hero Foundation led by President Hwang Hak-Soo and the Philippine Delegation pay tribute to Filipino veterans of the Korean War. [RIGHT BELOW] Filipino and Korean community members pay tribute to the heroes of the Korean War.

05 October 2023, Seoul. The Call Hero Foundation of Korea, an organization composed of current and former Korean government officials, legislators, businesspeople, artists, retired military officers, and civic leaders, held a Commemoration ceremony for the naming of Filipino heroes during the Korean War on 24 September 2023. The event was held at the War Memorial Monument dedicated to Filipino veterans located in Goyang City, Korea.

The event, attended by nearly 200 people from the Filipino and Korean communities, featured a special naming segment where names of the 116 Filipinos who were killed in action during the Korean War were recited by representatives from the Philippines and Korea.

In his Opening Declaration, Call Hero President and former National Assembly Member Hwang Hak-Soo recalled the tremendous debt of gratitude of the Korean people to the Philippines for helping defend democracy and freedom during the war.

Adding to the voices of appreciation, National Assembly Member and current Chair of the Korea-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Association Rep. Kim Sung-Won delivered a tribute message and said that Korea would always consider the Philippines a close friend and ally. ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Director General Kang Yunjin delivered a message on behalf of MPVA Minister Park Min Shik

Tributes to the bravery of Filipino and all other soldiers during the Korean War were likewise delivered by DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino and Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Sec. Romulo V. Arugay. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega, along with Ms. Jovena Damasen, President of the Descendants of PEFTOK veterans gave congratulatory remarks. Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel and Defense Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez were likewise present at the ceremony.

Secretary Arugay provided the Call Hero Foundation with a reproduction of a rare photograph taken during the Korean War from his province mate in the Philippines. Senior Undersecretary Espino and Ambassador Dizon-de Vega recalled the bravery of the Filipino soldiers and the deep kinship forged between Korean and Filipino veterans through the decades since the war.

The written messages of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairperson of the Senate National Defense Committee and Representative Raul C. Tupas, Chairperson of the HOR National Defense and Security Committee were likewise provided to all the guests in the official program.

During the ceremony, the Call Hero Foundation announced the awarding of financial assistance grants to descendants of veterans in the Philippines.

The event included a community singing of “Arirang” by Filipino and Korea guests, a tribute poem, and a rendition of famous Filipino pop song “Anak” in Korean. The evening was capped by a fellowship dinner.

The activity served as a reminder of the shared sacrifices between the Philippines and Korea and the enduring bonds which help define the robust relations the two countries enjoy up to the present. END

PHILIPPINE CULTURAL DAY HELD AT SEOUL CITY HALL

04 October 2023, Seoul - The International World in Korea (IWIK) with the support of the Philippine Embassy in Korea, the Pinoy Iskolars in Korea (PIKO), and members of the Filipino overseas community, presented a “Philippine Cultural Day” at the Taepyeong Hall of the Seoul City Hall on 03 October 2023. The event was held to commemorate the 74^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea in 2023 ahead of the 75^th anniversary in 2024.

IWIK Founder Sol Kim along with other friends of the Philippines including ROK National Assembly Member Hong Ik-Pyo, Chairperson of the Committee on Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Seoul City Councilman Lim Kyu-Ho, Prof. Kim Won-ki former Vice Chair of the Gyeonggi Province Council, Chairman Lee Ja-yung of the Hanboek Foundation, and Director Hwang Jung-Hee of the Geongbuk Cultural Center, all delivered special messages. Popular Korean idol, actress, host, influencer, and friend of the Philippines, Ms. Sandara Park sent a congratulatory video message.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega thanked the IWIK for continuing to champion multiculturalism and understanding in Korea and stated the one of the strengths of Philippine-Korea relations is rooted in “our historic and vibrant people-to-people relations which further promotes cultural understanding and an appreciation of what makes us unique and what binds our two nations together.”

PIKO President Kenneth Lagamayo gave a presentation on “Do You Know the Philippines?” and Ms. Erlinda Mae Young, another Filipino graduate student and descendant of Filipino Korean War Veteran Major Maximo Purisima Young, likewise spoke on “The Reasons Why You need to Travel to the Philippines”.

The engaging presentations were followed by guests taking part in interactive booths featuring dress-up activities in Filipiniana, learning to dance the Tinikling, writing their names in the ancient Philippine script called Baybayin, tasting Philippine snacks, and reading about Philippine tourism spots. Volunteers from PIKO and the Filipino Community led by Nympha Balawan assisted in the booths.

Over 100 guests from different embassies, student groups, and cultural organizations took part in the event.

IWIK Founder Sol Kim shared that the organization was honored to feature the Philippines and its culture in recognition of “the contributions of Filipinos to the realization of Korea today and the shared values between the Philippines and Korea.”

The Philippine Embassy’s Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista were likewise on hand to talk about the Philippines at the event. END

Manila Wins Human-Centricity Prize at the Seoul Smart City Prize

28 September 2023, Seoul. The City of Manila won the Silver Award under the Human-Centricity Category of the Seoul Smart City Prize organized by the WeGO (World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization) in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government during the 6^th WeGO General Assembly held from 25-27 September 2023 in Seoul, Korea.

The General Assembly which was held alongside the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum (WCSMF) in September brought together delegates from 50 cities across 30 countries. The WCSMF discussed ways to enhance the livability and sustainability of cities around the world. It likewise provided a platform to learn about best practice approaches to city governance as well as various examples of innovation in cities worldwide.

Manila was cited for its enhanced virtual information platforms to bring services and information closer to the public. Building on lessons learned from the pandemic, Manila is taking major steps to make services and information more easily accessible to constituents. By championing the needs of its residents first, the city received the recognition from a distinguished international jury of urban planning, technology, and governance experts.

The award was handed over by Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-Hoon to Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin (Yul Servo) Cruz Nieto. Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-de Vega and other senior officials from the Manila City Government were likewise on hand to witness the event.

Joining the WeGO General Assembly were other Philippine local government officials including La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega David, and Quezon City Administrator Michael Alimurung.

The Philippines is one of the active country members of the WeGO with several major cities across the different regions being engaged with the organization. END