The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

HIGH VALUE PHILIPPINE SEAFOOD AND FISHERY PRODUCTS FEATURED AT THE BUSAN INTERNATIONAL SEAFOOD AND FISHERIES EXPO 2022

Philippine Ambassador joined by representatives of participating PH companies at the Philippine booth of the BISFE 2022. [Top right photo] Ambassador Dizon-De Vega with Mr. Joeven Lee, CEO of Mayon Marine Products. [Bottom right photo] Agriculture Attaché Ms. Maria Alilia G. Maghirang in a B2B meeting between Blue Marine Trading Corp and Coupang.

29 November 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul (PAO Seoul), successfully organized the Philippines’ participation in the biggest seafood exhibition in Korea - the 2022 Busan International Seafood and Fisheries Expo (BISFE) held from 2 to 5 November 2022.

A country pavilion featuring the Philippines' in demand high-value seafood and fisheries exports to Korea such as octopus, abalone, sea cucumber, shrimps, crabs, among others emphasized the Philippines’ rich marine life and aquaculture at the BISFE.

PAO Seoul, in close partnership with BFAR Region 7, successfully organized and facilitated the Philippine seafood business delegation's participation to BISFE 2022, composed of leading Cebu-based exporters, such as the Phil-Union Frozen Foods Inc with their crab, octopus, and shrimp products; Blue Marine Trading Corp with their frozen boiled octopus, fresh frozen cuttlefish fillet, and fresh frozen sea tiger shrimp products; Mayon Marine Products with their dried sea cucumber; and Siargao Bounty Seafods Corp with their frozen fresh cuttlefish, frozen cooked octopus, frozen raw octopus, frozen raw poulp squid, frozen cooked blood cockle meat, frozen cooked abalone meat, and frozen fresh giant squid. A special display of bottled seafood products from LNS and Potters from Tarlac province was also included in the exhibition.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega lauded this first onsite participation in BISFE after the pandemic. "The Philippines generated USD21.8million estimated total booked/negotiated sales from participation in BISFE 2022. We hope to see more initiatives like this to further boost Philippine agri-fisheries exports to Korea", said Ambassador Dizon-De Vega. END

Filipinos Win Awards at the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities

PR MTD 149 2022 PHOTOCARD

Rafael Manuel, John Crisostomo Ballesteros, Exikiel De Vera, Bryan Rayos, Miguel Franco Ramirez bag awards and citations at the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities held in Seoul; Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega takes part in the event

30 November 2022, Seoul. Philippine participants won awards and citations in the annual Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) held in Yeouido, Seoul from 15-16 November 2022.

The GITC, now on its 11^th year aims to reduce the digital divide and realize the full potential of youth with developmental and physical disabilities by promoting their access to ICT. This year’s edition was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea with private sector support from global Korean company LG.

Around 320 youths with disabilities from 16 countries took part in the competition conducted in hybrid format. Filipino participants Rafael Manuel, John Crisostomo Ballesteros, Exikiel De Vera, Bryan Rayos, Miguel Franco Ramirez won awards in the eTool Powerpoint Challenge, eLife Map Challenge, eContent Challenge and the popular eCreative Smart Car Challenge.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was on hand to take part in the awarding ceremonies and to re-affirm the Philippines’ support for these development initiatives benefitting vulnerable sectors. The next edition of the competition is slated to be held in the United Arab Emirates in 2023. END

Philippines Participates in 1st IEVEXPO on Electric and Autonomous Agriculture

PR MTD 148 2022PHOTOCARD

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega takes part in the 1^st IEVEXPO on Electric and Autonomous Agriculture; Agriculture Attaché Alilia Maghirang presents prospects for Agri-machinery electric and autonomous farming cooperation between the Philippines and Korea

28 November 2022, Seoul – The Philippines participated in the 1^st IEVEXPO on Korea-ASEAN Agriculture Electric and Autonomous Forum organized by the Global EV Association Network (GEAN), ASEAN Federation of EV Associations (AFEVA), and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA), and International Electric Vehicle Expo (IEVE) on 09 November 2022, at the Jeju Agricultural Research and Extension Services Complex.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered congratulatory remarks and spoke of the latest law on the EV industry in the Philippines during the opening ceremonies while Mr. Edmund Araga, concurrently Chairperson of the AFEVA and the Philippine EV Association, was the featured Keynote Speaker. Agricultural Attaché Alilia Maghirang delivered a presentation on the current state of agri-mechanization in the Philippines as well as prospects for cooperation between PH and ROK in this field. END

AWARD-WINNING PHILIPPINE FILM “JOHN DENVER TRENDING” OPENS IN KOREA

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega, Korean artist Jung Hoseung, and NEWONE CEO Sony Won welcome guests at a special screening of “John Denver Trending” at CGV Apgujeong

27 November 2022, Seoul – Internationally-acclaimed Philippine film "John Denver Trending" opened this week at the CGV Apgujeong, Lotte Cinema World Tower and Megabox movie theatres located in key Korean cities. It is the first Filipino film to receive a wide commercial release throughout Korea.

A special screening organized by Cinema NEWONE, the Korean distributor of "John Denver Trending", was held on 23 November at the CGV Apgujeong theater. NEWONE CEO Mr. Sony Won welcomed the viewers and hoped that this would be the first, among future commercial screenings of Filipino films in Korea. Mr. Won is a film producer, director, and specializes in the distribution of Asian films in Korea.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon– De Vega with Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista, Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista, and Assistant Vivienne Velasquez lent support at the screening and thanked the Korean audience for viewing the film as well as acknowledging the efforts of Mr. Sony Won in actively promoting and distributing “John Denver Trending” to a wider audience in Korea.

"John Denver Trending" has won 15 awards at film festivals around the world, including notching a nomination for Best Film in the New Currents competition section of the 24th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and 6 awards including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Original Song, Editing, Cinematography, and the NETPAC Jury Award at the 15th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (2019). It likewise won Best Project at the 5^th Hanoi International Film Festival (2018). The movie was shot entirely in the Municipality of Pandan, in Antique, Philippines. The film’s production received support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Film Director Arden Rod Condez wrote a screenplay based on various events that emerged through social media and created a thought-provoking film with a social message based on true stories. In particular, the film depicts the complex problems of modern society, which is undergoing rapid digitization, along with a strong message on online and physical bullying that will resonate across generations. END