GOVPH

Filipina Writer and Illustrator Fran Alvarez Wins Nami Is. International Children’s Book Festival

12 May 2023, Nami Island, Korea. The Philippine Embassy congratulates Filipina writer and illustrator Fran Alvarez for winning the “Green Island” Prize in the 2023 Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival for her short story and illustration entitled “Fishing Jin.” The Philippine Embassy’s Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jilliane De Dumo-Cornista and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista were on hand to witness the awarding ceremony.

Ms. Alvarez’s award-winning work is about a boy named Jin “who absolutely adores fish and loves learning about the different kinds of fish. Whether he’s happy, sad or undergoing some other feeling he can’t describe, the fish are always there to keep him company. One day, he meets someone who is as interested in fish as he is.”

Now in its 11th year, the 2023 Nami Island World Book Festival, which began in 2005, features an arts and culture festival that combines various elements such as literature, art, music, experience and nature under the theme of “picture books.” At least 1,600 entries were submitted from all over the world and screened by a panel of experts.

Ms. Alvarez’s work is part of the Nami Concours Winning Works Exhibition which is currently available for viewing at the Nami Concours Gallery, Nami Island. For more information, please visit www.nambookfestival.com. END

“KAIN TAYO!”, PH EMBASSY INTRODUCES PHILIPPINE CUISINE, FRESH FRUITS, TROPICAL DRINKS TO KOREAN SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS

11 May 2023, Seoul – Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega warmly welcomed Korean vloggers and digital influencers to a special spring cocktail reception celebrating the rich and unique taste of Philippine cuisine. In celebration of Filipino Food Month in April, the event featured a mix of both popular Filipino dishes and those not too familiar to Koreans. The various offerings were made using Filipino food products and fresh Philippine fruits and vegetables available in major food outlets in Korea.

Guests enjoyed the Philippines’ famous dishes such as pork sisig in a wonton cup, pork liempo, crispy adobo flakes, vegetable lumpia, chicken inasal, and Filipino-style roast pork belly prepared by Gimpo-based Filipino Chef Belgium Villanueva. Philippine liquor and drinks including San Miguel Beer, Lakan (coconut-based liquor), and tropical fruit juices were also available for guests. For dessert, Korean guests were introduced to halo-halo, with turon and homemade ube ice cream, as well as fresh Philippine mangoes, pineapples, and bananas.

As the Philippines is the only country exporting fresh okra to South Korea, the food event also featured okra kimchi especially developed by the Philippine Department of Agriculture Office in Seoul in collaboration with Narichan, a Korean specialty kimchi producer from the kimchi capital of Korea, Jeonju. END

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES AT THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE EXPO IN JEJU ISLAND, ROK

08 May 2023, Jeju, ROK – Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega together with Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Seoul headed by Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay and delegates from the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Energy (DOE) participated in the 10^th International Electric Vehicle Expo held in Jeju Island, ROK from 2 to 5 May 2023. Philippine participation in the IEVE is focused on promoting business opportunities for mineral processing, battery manufacturing, and production of other allied parts for the EV sector to Korean investors.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega delivered congratulatory remarks at the 6^th ASEAN-Korea EV Forum organized by the ASEAN Korea Centre and the IEVE. In her speech, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega highlighted the developments in the Philippines EV industry stating that “the Philippines is now in the midst of rolling out the implementation of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or the EVIDA law as well as the governance, incentives, capacity-building, and resource elements including the critical green metals supply needed for the EV industry.” She added that “the road ahead for the EV sector is fraught with challenges for the ASEAN region but also replete with opportunities for policies and incentives benchmarking, for supply chain and manufacturing technology cooperation, and consumer education and engagement particularly with Korea, one of ASEAN’s closest partners in green growth and technology and with whom countries in our region, both bilaterally and multilaterally, share a common commitment to a more sustainable and resilient future.” The Ambassador also met with IEVE Chairman Kim Daehwan who leads the overall coordination of the IEVE Expo.

The Philippine delegation from DTI headed by DTI-BOI Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa who was likewise a panelist at the 6^th ASEAN-Korea EV Forum. Executive Director Halili-Dichosa presented recent developments and initiatives in the Philippines’ EV industry in connection with EVIDA and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act as well as DTI-led government support programs for investors.  Moreover, DOE Director Patrick Aquino delivered a presentation on the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry (CREVI). Director Eries Cagatan of the DTI-BOI likewise participated in the IEVE.

Mr. Edmund Araga, an advocate of electric vehicles, founding member of the Asian Federation of Electric Vehicles Association, Inc (AFEHVA) and current President of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) and the AFEHVA was invited as a keynote speaker in the forum. Mr. Araga presented an overview of the EV industry in ASEAN. END