The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PH EMBASSY CONDUCTS OVERSEAS VOTER FIELD REGISTRATION IN DAEGU AND GUMI

PR MTD 83 20231

26 June 2023, South Korea. The Philippine Embassy working hand-in-hand with the Filipino Communities in Daegu Metropolitan City and Gumi City, conducted two successful field registration activities for Filipino overseas voters on 07 May 2023 and 18 June 2023, respectively.

At least 147 Filipino overseas voters were registered in Daegu Metropolitan City and 141 in Gumi City, which exceeded the Embassy’s monthly targets.

The overseas voter field registration activity in Daegu Metropolitan City was conducted with the support of Kapit Bisig Organization (KBO), Abe-Abe Capampangan Organization (Abe-Abe), Cordillera Migrants’ Association in Daegu (CMAD), Korean Filipino Community (KFC) Daegu and Confederation of Ilocano Associations - Samahang Ilocano (CIASI) in Daegu. In Gumi City, the Embassy was assisted by the Filipino Migrant Workers Association in Gumi (FMWAK) and the Waegwan Filipino Community (WFC).

In appreciation of their response to the Embassy’s call for support and cooperation from accredited Filipino Community Organizations in encouraging their members and all overseas Filipinos in Korea to register and vote in the next national elections, the Embassy awarded certificates to all KBO, Abe-Abe, CMAD, KFC, CIASI, FMWAK and WFC volunteers, as well as Korean institutions, namely Suseong University Daegu and Gumi Catholic Cultural Center, who assisted and helped made the field registration activities possible.

On the side, informational services were also rendered by the Philippine Embassy and representatives from MWO, OWWA, Pag-IBIG and Department of Tourism.

The Embassy looks forward to replicating similar partnerships with many other FCOs in bringing overseas voter registration closer to more Filipino nationals working or residing outside Seoul Metropolitan City before the end of the overseas voter registration on 30 September 2024. For inquiries, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END

PR MTD 83 20232

PHILIPPINES PROMOTES FILIPINO CULTURE AND TOURISM AT THE SEOUL FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL 2023

[Top photos] L-R: Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Enriqueto R. Deocadez Jr., Migrant Workers’ Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama, H.E. Ambassador Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Tourism Director Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo, and Second Secretary Ernest Joseph P. Diga. The Welcome Arch of the Seoul Friendship Festival in Gwanghwamun Square. [Below photos] The Philippine Booth at the World Culture and Tourism Zone, Philippine Traditional Clothing on Display at the World Costume Zone, and Philippine Booth at the World Dessert Zone.

17-18 June 2023, Seoul. The Philippines showcased the Filipino fiesta spirit at the Seoul Friendship Festival 2023 from 17 to 18 June 2023. Spearheaded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the festival invited Seoul residents on a world tour and a place of world harmony under the theme “Beyond the Borders: Coming Together, We Become One.”

To promote top travel destinations in the Philippines, the Philippine Department of Tourism in Korea (PDOT-Korea) showcased popular destinations including Bohol, Cebu, and Boracay at the World Culture & Tourism Zone through a beach themed booth complete with travel brochures and information on PH tourist destinations. The photo exhibition zone also displayed wonders of the Philippines including famous festivals, nature sites and diving destinations in Bohol, Palawan, Bacolod, and Ilocos Sur.

Philippine handicrafts and tropical fruits from the Philippines such as cavendish banana, pineapple, mango, and papaya were also displayed in the PH booth to give visitors a refreshing taste of our tropical islands. As part of our heritage displays, intricately handcrafted traditional Filipino costumes and colorful Filipino books were also displayed in the world costume and world book zones.

To welcome summer in Seoul, the Philippines also served refreshments highlighting products from the Philippine tropical islands including our famous mango, calamansi and coconut juices and our sweet dried mango and banana fruit chips through KP Line Korea.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended the opening ceremony and welcomed visitors at the Philippine booth. The Ambassador played mini-games including the crowd-drawing golf game with some of the booth visitors. Winners of the mini-games went home with prizes including Philippine bags, postcards, tomato and basil seed pens, mango and coconut chips, and Philippine tropical fruit juices.

The Philippine Embassy and its attached agencies, especially PDOT-Korea, congratulates Seoul Metropolitan Government for this successful festival. We look forward to celebrating and welcoming more guests to share the Philippine experience in future festivals. END

[Top photos] L-R Ambassador Dizon-De Vega with visitors at the Philippine booth trying the Mini Golf Game. The Philippine Photo Cube at the World Photo Exhibition Zone. [Below photos] Visitors enjoyed playing the Rock, Paper, Scissors and Roulette Games.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY COMMEMORATES THE 162ND BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF JOSE RIZAL WITH THE NEWLY-CHARTERED KNIGHTS OF RIZAL – KOREA CHAPTER

(Top) Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega delivers her inspirational message and Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel giving his opening remarks during the commemoration of the 162^nd Birth Anniversary of Rizal and Wreath -Laying ceremony held at the Sentro Rizal, Philippine Embassy, Seoul. (Below) Ambassador Dizon – De Vega is flanked by the pioneering members of the Knights of Rizal – Korea Chapter. (Photos courtesy of KOR Seoul Chapter).

20 June 2023, Seoul. On the occasion of the 162nd birth anniversary Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega delivered an inspirational message drawing upon the wealth of the national hero’s legacy that captured the imagination of Filipinos from across the social spectrum leading to the Philippine nationhood and independence in the late 19^th century. His short but fruitful life continues to attract admiration and interest from experts, scholars and students of history even as it offers much enlightenment to patriotic and freedom-loving individuals around the world.

Addressing the newly chartered Knights of Rizal – Korea Chapter, she expressed hopes for their ranks to grow and to include Koreans and other foreign nationals who may have encountered Rizal in their studies or travels in the Philippines and have been struck by his courage, intellect, and heroism.

The Knights of Rizal – Korea Chapter was officially established during the chartering and knighthood ceremonies conducted by the Manila-based KOR Supreme Commander Gerardo Calderon, KGCR, and Deputy Supreme Commander Raymundo Del Rosario, KGOR, on 28 April 2023 where 11 postulants were sworn in to help propagate Rizalian chivalry and ideals and deepen their understanding of Rizal’s teachings and his relevance to the advancement of Filipinos in Korea.

KOR-Korea Chapter Commander Romulo Victor Israel Jr., Consul General, gave his welcome remarks and, together with Ambassador Dizon-De Vega, led his fellow Knights in making a solemn floral offering to Rizal, while Chapter Chancellor and MWO Assistant Apolonio Alvarez Jr. served as emcee.

A fellowship breakfast sponsored by the KOR-Korea Chapter and viewing of “Jose Rizal: Sa Landas ng Paglaya,” a film commissioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines followed the commemorative program. END

(Top) Amb. Dizon-De Vega is joined by members of the Knights of Rizal - Korea Chapter and personnel of the Philippine Embassy and its Partner Agencies after the wreath-laying ceremony. (Below L-R) Sir Manolito Barotilla, KR; Sir Jake Velasco, KR; Sir Apolonio Alvarez Jr., KR; Sir Alex Gacrama, KR; Sir Anthony Rafael Gil Cornista, KR; Sir Romulo Victor Israel, KCR; Sir Jose Ma. Dinsay, KR; Sir Geoffrey Adiong, KR; Sir Ernest Joseph Diga, KR; and Sir Denni Carlo Marnilego, KR. The founding members of the Knights of Rizal – Korea Chapter with fraternal gesture signifying “Non Omnis Moriar”, not in photo is Sir Joeffrey Calimag, KR. (Photos courtesy of KOR Seoul Chapter).

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA ASSURES CONTINUED COOPERATION WITH WORLD SMART SUSTAINABLE CITIES ORGANIZATION

[In photo] H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega with World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) Secretary General Jung Sook Park and members of the secretariat, Head of Program Development Eunbyul Elena Cho and Program Officer Charlene Angela Sardoma at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 19 June 2023

19 June 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) Secretary General Jung Sook Park and members of the secretariat, Head of Program Development Eunbyul Elena Cho, and Program Officer Charlene Angela Sardoma on 19 June 2023 to discuss future cooperation between the Philippines and WeGo as an organization.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay of the Embassy’s economic team likewise joined the meeting.

WeGo is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP).

Several Philippine metropolitan smart cities are active members of WeGo and consistent participants in its capacity-building and training initiatives. Makati City, Quezon City, Baguio City, and San Fernando, La Union are some of the active local government units in the Philippines that work with the organization to achieve their smart city platform goals. During the call, Secretary General Jung expressed appreciation for the Embassy’s support in disseminating information on WeGo projects and activities, including people-to-people exchanges, training, and large-scale meetings to discuss smart city projects.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also assured the organization of the Philippines’ continued support for WeGo’s programs, highlighting that incentives such as the Seoul Smart City Prize promotes inclusivity and helps usher developing localities to development through improved digital and ICT platforms. She likewise welcomed WeGo’s new thrust and focus on climate change, sustainability, and green technology, aside from digital and ICT cooperation.

With its headquarters in the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Secretary General Jung agreed to work closely together for more active LGU participation in WeGo’s upcoming activities for 2023 and beyond. END