GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY LAUNCHES LIVELIHOOD SKILLS TRAINING FOR OFWS DURING NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH

02 March 2024, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) - Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), conducted the 1^st day of Skills Training for Advance Sewing to thirty-two (32) overseas Filipino workers on 02 March 2024. It was held at the Embassy’s Migrant Workers Resource Center in Seoul. This training, which will continue to run every Saturday for the whole month of March, is also part of the Embassy’s activities in celebration of the National Women’s Month.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega announced earlier that in line with the theme of the National Women’s Month this year, the Embassy will implement meaningful projects and programs that will showcase and harness the full potential of migrant workers towards more inclusive growth and development.

Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste Valderrama warmly welcomed the participants and encouraged them to develop new skills, enhance what they have learned, and to continue participating in future skills training programs. Welfare Officer Cornelia DG. Chanco advised participants to apply for or remain active OWWA members and avail of its on-site as well as in-country programs.

For the first skills training, resource person and master teacher Roger Amboy started with the discussion on the basic techniques, tips and procedures of sewing for the benefit of some participants who have no basic knowledge in sewing while the others were engaged in learning the advanced level. By the end of the 4-weekend classes, each of the participants would have completed projects such as grab bags, pillow cases, t-shirts and dresses.

Watch out for more exciting and enriching Skills Training to be conducted by the Embassy and the MWO-OWWA for the coming months. - END -

PH-KOREA CULTURAL ART EXCHANGE EXHIBITION – CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP

12 March 2024, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in collaboration with the Diplomacy Journal organized a Philippines-Korea Cultural Art Exchange Exhibition as one of the first events to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Korea. The exhibition was held at the Maru Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul from 06 March to 11 March 2024.

The exhibition featured ten artworks of Father Jason Antiquera, a Korea-based Filipino missionary and frequent art exhibitor in Korea. His earlier works from some years ago are oil on canvas featuring secular themes depicting Koreans and Filipinos while more recent works are all acrylic on canvas with spiritual themes and showcasing a shift in his style. All his artworks were completed in Korea and most have been featured in various public exhibitions. Visual reproductions of the Philippines most popular tourist destinations were also provided by the Philippine Department of Tourism – Korea. Likewise, a group of brought together by Diplomacy Journal and Damwha Media Group participated in the exhibit showcasing a mix of contemporary and traditional paintings with Korean themes.

In her brief remarks, Philippine Ambassador Dizon-De Vega touched on the strong historical bond between the Philippines and Korea, “as the first Asian country to send troops to help defend freedom and democracy on the Korean peninsula during the Korean War to the robust and dynamic relations enjoyed by both countries across many fields – in defense, political-security, economic, cultural, education, labor, and people-to-people exchanges” adding, “through the exhibit we are taking part in fostering even greater cultural exchanges through the universal language of art”.

She also conveyed appreciation to Chairman Lee Jon Young of the Damwha Media Group and the entire Diplomacy Journal Team for the collaborative project to mark the 75^th anniversary pf Philippine-Korean relations this year.

For his part, Chairman Lee shared that “the aim of the exhibition is to showcase the remarkable cultural development of Korea and the Philippines and to exchange the creative worlds of contemporary artists from both countries”. He added that “this cultural exchange exhibition is designed to introduce artworks that showcase the dynamic culture between the two countries, where diverse peoples live together and share religion and culture cultural connections”.

The event was likewise participated in by Mr. Lee Chil-young, Chairman of the Imperial Family Crafts Association and Philippine Tourism Director in Korea Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo, and the Embassy’s Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista. The artists and guests at the exhibit were given fresh Philippine-sourced pineapples courtesy of DOLE-Korea and the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Seoul. END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR MODERATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY PANEL ON CHALLENGES FACED BY MIGRANT WOMEN IN SOUTH KOREA

7 March 2024 – Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega moderated Session 2 of an International Women’s Day 2024 panel on Women in the Workplace on 7 March 2024. 

Divided into two sessions, Session 1 of the Panel discussed the Struggles of Korean Women in the Workplace. Session 2, which Ambassador Dizon-de Vega moderated, discussed the “Challenges Faced by Immigrant Women in the Workplace in South Korea”. 

The conference was organized by the Mission of the European Union to the Republic of Korea in celebration of International Women’s Day and was held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

EU Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez welcomed participants to the forum by saying International Women’s Day is a day of celebration and a day of action, and the forum encourages women to speak up on women’s empowerment and challenges that need to be addressed. 

In Session 2, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega was joined by panelists Ms. Jasmine Lee, a member of the National Assembly, Ms. Youngah Kim, Executive Director, Migration to Asia Peace, and Ms. Cassandra Talbot, freelancer and former European Chamber of Commerce manager.

The panel discussed the challenges experienced by migrant women in South Korea. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega affirmed the importance of the topic, highlighting the “current trend of the feminization of the migrant workforce in Korea, based on the ever-increasing number of migrant women joining the workforce.” She also emphasized the critical importance of evidence-based research to support efforts to empower migrant women in Korea.  

Ms. Jasmine B. Lee, who is also the first and only ethnically Filipino representative in the National Assembly, emphasized the importance of proportional representation in the legislative for migrant women and other minorities, as well as challenges in politics, gender, and culture often affecting the presence of minorities in South Korea. Ms. Youngah Kim from civil society highlighted policy gaps that prohibit refugees and migrants from finding quality work and how the lack of social support disempowers them to start new lives in South Korea. Ms. Cassandra Talbot discussed the next-generation migrant workforce, noting that they are women trained and educated in Korea and it is important to make sure that their skills are fully utilized. 

At the end of the engaging session, both the panel and the audience agreed that the face of South Korea is changing as it now includes more migrant women. The community, including both the public and private sectors, need to take an inclusive and all-encompassing approach to big-picture thinking to solve, engage, and address the challenges and opportunities that come with this change. END