PH EMBASSY AND THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD FOUNDATION CELEBRATE 75 YEARS OF PHL-ROK TIES THROUGH MAGSAYSAY LEGACY EVENTS
02 May 2025, Seoul - In celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in partnership with the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF), successfully held a series of events highlighting shared values of leadership, service, and youth empowerment.
These initiatives brought together Korean Magsaysay laureates, youth advocates, community leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and media to honor the enduring legacy of President Ramon Magsaysay and promote meaningful dialogue on contemporary challenges.
On 22 April 2025, the Embassy and RMAF delegates, led by former Foreign Affairs Secretary and RMAF Trustee Delia Domingo Albert, held the Magsaysay Legacy Exchange – South Korea: Leaders, NextGen, and Friendship Laureate Reunion at Lotte Hotel, Seoul. The event reconnected Korean Magsaysay laureates and brought together stakeholders to reflect on the values of courage, integrity, and service to the common good.
In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador. Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of the Ramon Magsaysay Award as a living legacy of principled leadership.
Ambassador Delia Albert shared with participants the unique and storied history of the Magsaysay Awards and how the Foundation hopes to connect the awards and the “greatness of spirit” of RMAF laureate with the youth
The program featured messages from notable Korean awardees and concluded with the unveiling of the RMAF Laureates’ Exhibit and the ceremonial turnover of the Greatness of Spirit book series to the Philippine Embassy and institutional partners.
In a related activity, the Embassy collaborated with RMAF, the Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute (RMTLI), and the Blue Tree Foundation for a Youth Dialogue titled “Growing Together for a Better Asia: Promoting Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age” held at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Embassy on 23 April 2025. The dialogue tackled mental health challenges facing young people, especially in the context of digital transformation, cyberbullying, misinformation, and the growing digital divide.
RMAF President Susan Afan opened the forum by calling for greater inclusion, empathy, and multi-stakeholder support for youth mental wellness. A panel discussion moderated by RMTLI’s Simone Sales featured Kim Jong-ki (2019 Magsaysay Awardee), Joon Shin Amangan of the ASEAN Youth Network, and Jiho Kim of the Blue Tree Foundation, who shared perspectives on building resilience and holistic care systems. An open forum followed, where youth and educators discussed practical approaches to supporting mental health in schools and communities.
Chairman Min Byoung-chul of the Sunfull Foundation shared with the audience the importance of building inclusive support networks in Korea’s increasingly multicultural society.
The event concluded with former Secretary Delia Albert presenting the Ramon Magsaysay Children's Book Series to Mr. Kim Jong-ki. Mr. Kim’s story is among those included in the book series which promotes the inspiring stories of Magsaysay laureates as learning tools for future generations.
In honoring the legacy of the Magsaysay laureates, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing people-to-people connections and promoting the values of courage, compassion, and transformative leadership—empowering the next generation to carry forward a legacy that continues to inspire hope across borders. END
Magsaysay Legacy Exchange - South Korea: Leaders, NextGen, and Friendship Laureate Reunion
Youth Dialogue - Growing Together for a Better Asia: Promoting Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age
Philippine Book Donation Made to Namsan Library Under the Books as Bridges Program
27 April 2025, Seoul. In commemoration of Philippine National Literature Month, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul donated a set of books to the Namsan Public Library on 25 April 2025.
The donation, under the Embassy’s “Books as Bridges” program consists of Korean-language versions of works by National Artist Nick Joaquin such as “The Women with Two Navels” and “Tales of the Tropical Gothic” and popular young Filipino author Mica de Leon’s best-selling contemporary romance “Love on the Second Read” all published by the HanseaYes24 Foundation. Other donated books include the Philippine Embassy in Seoul’s 75th anniversary of Philippines-Korea relations commemorative publication “dáyo 이민자: Stories of Migration” and dual language children’s books in Filipino and English.
Namsan Library Director Mr. Go Young-gap and the Namsan Library team accepted the book donations from Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario in a simple ceremony at the library.
After the turnover, Director Go led the Philippine Embassy team through a tour of the library’s main facilities including its multicultural readings section and its digital publications center. Namsan Library is one of the largest public libraries in the Yongsan-gu area and is a popular reading center for both Koreans and international residents being located in a scenic spot near the iconic Namsan Trail and Tower.
The Philippine Embassy is scheduled to hold other book donation ceremonies under its “Books as Bridges” program with other Korean institutions for Philippine Independence Month in June. END
Philippines Supports Nurturing Biodiversity and Green Living at International Horticulture Expo 2025, Goyang
28 April 2025, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the International Horticulture Expo held in Goyang Special City on 25 April 2025. The Expo is the largest horticulture-themed expo in the Northeast Asia and is a major attraction for global companies, planters, and gardening enthusiasts.
The opening ceremony was participated in by Mayor Lee Dong Whan of the Special City of Goyang, Members of the Goyang City Council, Members of the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Council, and Ambassadors and representatives from over 40 Embassies.
Ambassador Dizon-de Vega shared that the Horticultural Expo goes beyond “horticulture’s aesthetic and agricultural aspects but likewise serves as a vital bridge connecting cultures, nurturing biodiversity, and enhancing the quality of life by promoting green living practices.”
She added that, “the Philippines continues to contribute to the global dialogue on green practices and sustainable living as well as enhancing the bio-industry such as through the use of coconut by-products for the horticulture industry.”
The Philippines has taken part at the Horticulture Expo highlighting coconut by-products such as coconut coir which can be used for flowerbeds and nature trails, coconut husk chips that can be used as an effective planting medium to help plants retain moisture, and coconut shell charcoal used for various industrial and gardening processes, among others. END
PHL EMBASSY CONDUCTS FIELD PRE-VOTING ENROLLMENT AND ONLINE VOTING ACTIVITY IN MONGOLIA
22 April 2025, Ulaanbaatar. As part of its efforts to increase accessibility and encourage voter participation, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul conducted a Field Pre-Voting Enrollment (PVE) and Online Voting (OV) Activity in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from April 19 to 20, 2025. The outreach aimed to bring voter registration services closer to Overseas Filipinos in Mongolia.
During the Field PVE and OV, the Embassy rendered assistance to a total of 43 Overseas Filipinos, including several community leaders whose participation is expected to help cascade vital electoral information throughout their respective Filipino communities. To ensure broader awareness and facilitate the enrollment process, the Embassy also distributed printed materials containing important dates for the 2025 National and Local Elections and a step-by-step guide to the PVE.
All registered and active Overseas Voters must complete the pre-voting enrollment until 07 May 2025 only, as required to verify their identity and ensure their access to the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) or online voting during the official Overseas Voting period which will open on 13 April 2025, 7:00 AM Mongolia time / 8:00 AM KST, and close on 12 May 2025, 7:00 PM Mongolia time / 8:00 PM KST. END
Embassy News
- Saturday, 07 June 2025 FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL-ARROYO CHAMPIONS INCLUSIVE INNOVATION AND REGIONAL COOPERATION AT 2025 JEJU FORUM
- Saturday, 07 June 2025 PHILIPPINE ATHLETES COMPETE IN THE 26th ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 IN GUMI – EJ OBIENA WINS GOLD
- Saturday, 07 June 2025 PH EMBASSY AND THE BUSAN UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN STUDIES SIGNS DEED OF DONATION FOR THE PHILIPPINE STUDIES PROGRAM
Announcement & News Updates
- Sunday, 08 June 2025 ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE NEW PHILIPPINE VISA POLICY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS
- Tuesday, 03 June 2025 Livelihood Skills Trainings at Health & Wellness Programs, July-December 2025
- Sunday, 01 June 2025 REQUEST FOR QUOTATION FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF CONTRACT FOR LEASE OF VENUE (ACCOMMODATIONS) FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE NIGHTINGALES FOR THE COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS OF THE 127TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
