GOVPH

PH AGRI-PRODUCTS A HIT WITH FOOD BUYERS AT SEOUL FOOD 2019

His Excellency Ambassador Noe A. Wong poses with the Philippine Department of Agriculture Agribusiness delegation led by Undersecretary Francisco M. Villano Jr., together with Agriculture Attaché Maria Alilia G. Maghirang during the official opening of the Seoul Food International Food Exhibition 2019.

23 June 2019, Seoul – In celebration of the 70^th anniversary of PH-ROK bilateral relations, the PH Embassy, through the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul (PAO), and the Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), steered the PH’s successful participation in Seoul Food 2019: International Food Industry Exhibition with its biggest delegation yet.

Seoul Food 2019 was formally opened by the President and CEO of the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Mr. Kwon Pyung-oh, on 21 May 2019. PH Ambassador to South Korea Noe A. Wong also graced the formal opening and led the inauguration of the Philippine pavilion.

This year’s Seoul Food saw the participation of 1,532 food and food companies from 40 countries, including 18 exporters from the PH. These Filipino food companies showcased a variety of the country’s exportable agri-food commodities to the highly competitive market in Korea. These companies include: 1. Avante Agri-Products Phils., Inc., exporter of fresh banana, pineapple, papaya, mangoes, etc.; 2. Kape Isla Coffee Corporation, exporter of specialty arabica and robusta green coffee beans, etc.; 3. Fisherfarms, Inc., exporter of frozen milkfish, frozen shrimp, etc.; 4. Martsons Food Corporation, exporter of dried mangoes and dried pineapples; 5. Wellnesscare Int'l. Corp., exporter of organic coconut products, coconut oil, and coco sugar; 6. Phil-Union Frozen Food, Inc., exporter of crab meat, tuna, shrimp, squid, and octopus; 7. Eng Seng Food Products, exporter of durian, banana chips, etc.; 8. Mardak Global Export Inc., exporter of fruits preserves, frozen fruits, vegetables, and sauces; 9. C.O.P Pili Sweets and Pastries, exporter of pili nut-filled pastries and Y-nut roasted pil inut; 10. Sunburst Balay Tablea, exporter of tablea and fine chocolates; 11. Leonie Agri Corp., exporter of food supplement, chips, sundried tomatoes, and chili in oil; 12. Prime Fruits International. Inc., exporter of banana chips; 13. Pasciolco Agriventures, exporter of organic coco syrup and coco sugar; 14. The Superfood Grocer, exporter of raw cacao nibs, coco sugar, and non-dairy ice cream; 15. Bahaghari Global Food, Inc., exporter of banana chips, calamansi concentrate, and coco vinegar; 16. B G Fruits and Nuts Mfg. Corp, exporter of banana chips and coconut flour; 17. Amley Food Corporation, exporter of dried mango and mango juice; and 18. Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc, exporter pf fruit flavored liquer, wine, whisky, and cocktails. In addition to the above agri-food commodities, the Philippine pavilion also introduced okra to the Korean public.

The Philippines’ participation in the Seoul Food Expo was a resounding success as the Philippine agri-products showcased during the event attracted the keen interest of the public and potential buyers. END

2019 PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Philippine Embassy Seoul Flag Raising Ceremony

Seoul, 16 June 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul celebrated the 121^st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on 12 June 2019 with a flag-raising ceremony at the Embassy grounds, followed by a traditional Filipino breakfast and a Freedom Hike at Namsan Trail.

The flag-raising ceremony, led by Ambassador & Mrs. Noe Wong, was attended by the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy. Eighteen (18) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) student officers and cadets who are currently attending the Joint Forces Military University, Korean Defense Language Institute, ROK Military Academy and ROK Airforce Academy also joined the celebration. Ambassador Noe A. Wong delivered the Independence Day Message of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte while Consul General Christian L. De Jesus read the message of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. The United Nations Command (UNC) Filipino Honor Guards raised the Philippine flag during the ceremony.

Following the traditional Filipino breakfast held at the Sentro Rizal Seoul, the Philippine Embassy officers and staff, the AFP Student Officers and Cadets and the UNC Honor Guards joined the Freedom Hike at the Namsan Trail which was organized by the Embassy’s Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (ODAFA).END

Freedom Hike participated in by Embassy personnel, AFP Student Officers and Cadetsand UNC Honor Guards

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SOUTH KOREA HOSTS LEADERS’ FORUM

Ambassador Noe A. Wong (center), Philippine Embassy officers and staff, and leaders of the Filipino Community in South Korea.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 10 June 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in South Korea hosted a Leaders’ Forum held on 08 June 2019 at the Emerald Ballroom of Lotte Hotel Seoul. The event was attended by about a hundred officers of Filipino organizations, Filipino religious workers, various local partners, and Philippine Embassy officers and staff and was an opportunity for Ambassador-Designate to South Korea Noe A. Wong to meet and talk with the pillars of the Filipino Community in the country.

During the Forum, the Embassy provided the attendees with the latest consular and labor updates. Consul General Christian L. De Jesus briefed the community on the Philippine accession to the Apostille Convention and the resulting changes in the authentication process. Labor Attaché Maya M. Valderrama disseminated the latest labor news, apprised the attendees on the progress of the livelihood programs conducted by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), and read the message of DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III on the occasion of Migrant Workers Day.

The Leaders’ Forum was an opportunity not only for the Embassy to touch base with Filipinos in South Korea but also for the leaders of the Filipino Community to meet, connect, and share experiences and best practices.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador-Designate Wong thanked the Filipino Community in South Korea for their continued support to the Embassy’s thrust to foster unity and cohesiveness within the various groups as well as in engaging and collaborating with the Embassy in bringing responsive government services to our kababayans living and working in South Korea and their families

The Leaders’ Forum was widely welcomed by the leaders present during the event. Galvanized by Ambassador-Designate Wong’s emphasis on supporting each other, Pilipino Iskolars in Korea (PIKO) president Jerre Mae Tamanal shared her enthusiasm to work hand in hand with fellow leaders to maximize the expertise of Filipino students in the South Korea for a more active community. Ms. Gennie Kim of Radio KISS expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to meet Ambassador-Designate Wong as well as other Filipino Community leaders and for the continued responsiveness of the Embassy to the needs of kababayans in South Korea.

Likewise, Pastor Ariel Cruz Bernardo, Secretary-General of POIMEN, appreciated the meaningful face-to-face updates on consular, labor, and other migrant-related matters. He also appreciated the opportunity for the leaders of Filipino organizations in South Korea to get acquainted with each other and share their respective advocacies with Ambassador-Designate Wong and other Philippine Embassy personnel.

This is the Philippine Embassy’s second Leaders’ Forum for the 2019 and the first meeting of Ambassador-Designate Wong with the Filipino Community since arriving in May. END