The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES JOINS ACTIVITIES IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 73RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR; PAYS TRIBUTE TO PEFTOK

Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (Upper left photo, in blue) is joined by the descendants of Korean War veterans at the commemorative ceremony for the 73^rd anniversary of the Korean War held at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on 25 June 2023. (Upper right photo) Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. delivers a special message in the commemoration of the 73^rd Anniversary of the Korean War at the Korean War Monument in Goyang City on 25 June 2023. Ambassador Dizon-de Vega (Lower left, 3^rd from R) and PH Embassy officials with the representatives of the Korea Focus Institute and Best Advance Society. (Lower left) Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. (3^rd from R) and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez Jr. (2^nd from L) are joined by Goyang City Mayor Lee Dong-Hwan (2^nd from R), Goyang City Vice Mayor Park Won-Seok (3^rd from L) in a photo opportunity.

SEOUL - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is one with the Republic of Korea in commemorating the 73^rd anniversary of the Korean War. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended the commemorative ceremony for the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War hosted by the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs that was held at the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on 25 June 2023.

The event was attended by Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, Minister of Defense Lee Jong Sup, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Minshik, Minister of Justice Han Doong Hoon, representatives of the UN Sending States, veterans of the Korean War, and their descendants. At the end of the event, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega joined descendants of Filipino veterans of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) who are taking part in a camp organized by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

On 23 June 2023, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega with other Philippine Embassy officials attended the 8^th Annual Ceremony of the UN Allied Countries Flag Garden in commemoration of the Korean War. In her remarks the Ambassador paid tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives to the efforts to defend democracy on the Korean Peninsula. She likewise congratulated the Best Advance Society and Korea Focus Institute which established the flag garden for their continuing tribute to the countries who helped in the Korean War. The civic groups are composed of mainly of Yonsei University faculty and alumni.

Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez Jr. also attended the commemoration of the 73^rd Anniversary of the Korean War hosted by the Goyang Special Administrative City at the Korean War Memorial in Gwansan-dong, Deokyang-gu on 25 June 2023. Goyang City is home to a large Korean moment built in honor of the Filipino soldiers who served during the Korean War.

During the solemn activity, Minister and Consul General Israel Jr. offered flowers and lit incense, and in his message, expressed appreciation and respect to the sacrifices made by the war veterans.

It is important for the Philippines to continue to honor the valor and sacrifice of the 7,420 Filipino officers who served under the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK). Our Filipino soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Korean military personnel and soldiers from other countries to valiantly fight for freedom and democracy during the 1950 Korean War. Our shared sacrifices during the war paved the way for the deep, historic, and dynamic partnership the Philippines and the Republic of Korea enjoy today. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AND MWO-OWWA HOST PISTANG PINOY SA KOREA 2023 IN CELEBRATION OF THE 125TH PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY AND THE 28TH MIGRANT WORKERS DAY

(Top photos) OFW Party-list Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino and Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega deliver their messages on the occasion. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega presents to Rep. Magsino a Certificate of Appreciation, witnessing the presentation is Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, Jr. and Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama.

11 June 2023, Seoul - On the occasion of the 125^th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood and the 28^th National Migrant Workers Day, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered a message to the almost 1,000 strong overseas Filipino Community on the significance of the 2023 Independence Day theme of Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise congratulated the Filipino Community for their resiliency and their hard work, assuring that the Philippine Embassy will continue to expand services and programs for the community.

On the part of Rep. Magsino, she commended the overseas Filipino workers for their love of country and pride in their professionalism. Rep. Magsino also assured the overseas Filipino community of her office’s commitment to working for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers through on-going initiatives in the health, livelihood, upskilling, and social services, among others.

OFW Party-list Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino and Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega with some of the 34 Filipino Community organizations that participated in the celebration at the Marronier Park in Seoul.

The day of festivities spearheaded by the Embassy and Migrant Workers Office - OWWA (MWO-OWWA) with the participation of other attached agencies, was participated in by 34 Filipino community organizations numbering around 1,200 Filipino and foreign guests. This was the largest public gathering of the community since the pandemic. The activities commenced with an Independence Day Parade, followed by Filipino games, a traditional folkdance contest, song numbers by FilCom members and surprise lucky draws sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and other companies. END

Filipino community organizations that participated in the traditional dance contest featured numbers representing the different regions of the country.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS THE FILIPINO NATION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONHOOD

(Top photos) Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivers her Independence Day message followed by the Independence Day remarks of Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino of the OFW Party-list. (Bottom) Ambassador Dizon - De Vega reads the Independence Day message of His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

12 June 2023, Seoul - On the occasion of the 125^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood the Philippine Embassy held a flag-raising ceremony at 8:00 am at the Philippine Embassy grounds.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega led the flag-raising ceremony attended by Embassy Officers and staff members and Officials of the attached agencies. OFW Party-list Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino who was on official mission in Korea, joined the occasion and delivered a special message.

Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, Jr. read the Independence Day message of The Honorable Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, while officials from the attached agencies read the messages of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Labor and Employment, National Defense, Trade and Industry, Tourism. The Independence Day message of His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. was read by Ambassador Dizon- De Vega.

The ceremony culminated with a simple traditional Filipino breakfast prepared by Filipino chefs based in Seoul.

The Flag-raising ceremony was streamed live to the Filipino Community in Korea via the Embassy’s official Facebook account. END

(Top photos) Officials from the Embassy and Attached Agencies together with Staff members attending the flag-raising ceremony. Minister and Consul General Israel reads the message of DFA Secretary Enrique A. Manalo. (Bottom) Team Philippines in Korea family photo with Representative Magsino, as special guest at the rooftop of the Embassy with the Seoul Namsan Tower in the background.

PH EMBASSY CONDUCTS OVERSEAS VOTER FIELD REGISTRATION IN DAEGU AND GUMI

PR MTD 83 20231

26 June 2023, South Korea. The Philippine Embassy working hand-in-hand with the Filipino Communities in Daegu Metropolitan City and Gumi City, conducted two successful field registration activities for Filipino overseas voters on 07 May 2023 and 18 June 2023, respectively.

At least 147 Filipino overseas voters were registered in Daegu Metropolitan City and 141 in Gumi City, which exceeded the Embassy’s monthly targets.

The overseas voter field registration activity in Daegu Metropolitan City was conducted with the support of Kapit Bisig Organization (KBO), Abe-Abe Capampangan Organization (Abe-Abe), Cordillera Migrants’ Association in Daegu (CMAD), Korean Filipino Community (KFC) Daegu and Confederation of Ilocano Associations - Samahang Ilocano (CIASI) in Daegu. In Gumi City, the Embassy was assisted by the Filipino Migrant Workers Association in Gumi (FMWAK) and the Waegwan Filipino Community (WFC).

In appreciation of their response to the Embassy’s call for support and cooperation from accredited Filipino Community Organizations in encouraging their members and all overseas Filipinos in Korea to register and vote in the next national elections, the Embassy awarded certificates to all KBO, Abe-Abe, CMAD, KFC, CIASI, FMWAK and WFC volunteers, as well as Korean institutions, namely Suseong University Daegu and Gumi Catholic Cultural Center, who assisted and helped made the field registration activities possible.

On the side, informational services were also rendered by the Philippine Embassy and representatives from MWO, OWWA, Pag-IBIG and Department of Tourism.

The Embassy looks forward to replicating similar partnerships with many other FCOs in bringing overseas voter registration closer to more Filipino nationals working or residing outside Seoul Metropolitan City before the end of the overseas voter registration on 30 September 2024. For inquiries, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. END

PR MTD 83 20232