GOVPH

FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN SOUTH KOREA COMMEMORATES 2022 PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY AND MIGRANT WORKERS DAY

20 June 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office – OWWA in Seoul hosted the 2^nd Filipino Community Leaders Forum for 2022 in commemoration of the 124^th anniversary of the Philippine Independence and the 27^th Migrant Workers Day. The event was the first face-to-face meeting in over two years of the Filipino community leaders in South Korea representing sixty (65) Filipino organizations/associations.

In her inspirational message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega recalled the sacrifices and heroism of the forebears of the nation, and enjoined everyone to recognize the enduring contribution to nation-building of the overseas Filipinos, the country’s modern-day heroes, who consistently demonstrated resilience and sacrifices during the recent pandemic.

“The theme of our Philippine Independence Day celebration this year is Pag-suong sa Hamon ng Panibagong Bukas (or Rise Towards the Challenge of a New Beginning). As a new administration is being ushered in this month, the Embassy reaffirms our commitment to serving you better and upholding the core service values of promoting the welfare, rights and benefits, and well-being of Filipinos in South Korea,” the Ambassador said. She announced the upcoming renovation of the consular wing of the Embassy building and upgrading of the communication facilities as part of the service improvement efforts of the Embassy. “With the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers, and upon completion of its transition process, you can also expect responsive policy reforms and more integrated frontline services for our overseas Filipino workers under the incoming leadership”, Ambassador De Vega added.

The three-part program commenced with the commemorative messages from His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte; Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin of the Department of Foreign Affairs; Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III of the Department of Labor and Employment; and Secretary William Dar of the Department of Agriculture. This was followed by a forum where the Embassy officers and attached services provided updates on consular, labor, PEAK Pinoy reintegration program for returning OFWs, and new Philippine and Korea entry protocols. Ambassador De Vega led in responding to the various concerns raised by the FilCom leaders during the question-and-answer portion.

A special segment of the program featured the awarding of Certificates of Recognition to three (3) awardees from South Korea, namely, Rev. Dr. Ariel Bernardo, 2021 Banaag Presidential Awardee; Mr. Rodney Queman, 2021 Bagong Bayani Awardee for Social and Community Service; and Mr. Nash Ang, 2021 Migration Advocacy Media Awardee. The Embassy also awarded Certificates of Registration to nine (9) Filipino community organizations and enjoined the leaders to update their registration and encourage non-registered community organizations to register using the new online facility. 

The Filipino community enjoyed the musical and cultural numbers featuring the winning performances of Mr. Leo Altejos, Ms. Seneca Moraleda-Puguan, the Gwangju Jeonnam Philippine Community, and the Seoul Filipino Catholic Community. A surprise song number rendered by the Philippine Embassy and led by Ambassador De Vega brought the Filipino community leaders up on their feet and in unison sang “Tagumpay Nating Lahat”. Adding cheers to the celebration were community dancing and lucky draws and tokens of appreciation to the Filipino community leaders for their continuing support to the activities of the Embassy and valuable services to their respective communities. -END-

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CELEBRATES DR. RIZAL’S 161st BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

19 June 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul celebrated Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s 161st Birth Anniversary on 19 June 2022 at the Sentro Rizal Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed guests to the event and emphasized in her message that “[t]here is always a Rizal for everyone.” Noting the many facets of the national hero’s life, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that Dr. Rizal wore many hats - including as a poet, ecologist, artist, inventor, medical practitioner, and illustrator, among others - that made him relatable to every Filipino.

The event featured a floral offering to Dr. Rizal and a screening of Prof. Ambeth Ocampo’s Magisterial Lecture at the Ateneo de Manila University on his award-winning book “Rizal Without the Overcoat.”

The guest of honor was Dr. Jeom Suk Yeon, Professor Emeritus at the Kyung Hee University, who earned her Ph.D. in English at the University of the Philippines and taught English for more than 35 years. She has translated Rizal’s immortal poem Mi Ultimo Adios in the Korean language and published essays on Jose Rizal and Philippine literature in Korean academic journals and magazines. She shared her insights from her own experience of doing research and writing on Rizal and read a few stanzas of the poem in Korean for the audience.

Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, Jr. in closing the program said that the legacy of our acclaimed national hero is universal and still relevant today. With the help of fraternal orders and societies, such as the Knights of Rizal, he said that Filipinos can better be guided in learning more from Rizal’s life and works and in our quest to live up to his ideals and aspirations for our country.

The event was attended by Embassy personnel, heads of attached agencies, and guests including Filipino scholars who are presently studying in South Korea. END. 

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA PARTICIPATES IN KGS-ACS GAS SAFETY MEETING

SEOUL, 19 June 2022 — Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega participated in the Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS) and the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) Gas Safety Meeting, held on 15 June 2022 at the KGS Corporation Headquarters in Chungcheongbuk-do.

The Members of the ACS met with KGS Officials to discuss the gas safety management system in ROK, and to explore potential cooperation on gas safety between the ASEAN and the ROK. ACS participants were also given a tour of industrial and toxic gas safety related facilities. END