GOVPH

PHL CALLS FOR ENHANCED WORKERS PROTECTION AT THE 2024 EPS CONFERENCE

21 August 2024, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega joined the 2024 EPS Conference and Seminar organized by Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) on 12 August 2024 in Lotte Hotel World, Seoul.

The conference was chaired by Minister Lee, Jung Sik of MOEL and co-chaired by President Lee Woo Young of the Human Resource Development Service Korea (HRDK). It was attended by the Ambassadors, Labor Attaches, and sending entities of the 17 EPS sending countries. During the meeting, the Labor Minister announced the direction and plans of the EPS towards a sustainable foreign workforce policy that will adequately support labor standards supervision across all types of foreign workers, and adaptable to the growing needs of the industry.  

In her statement, Ambassador de Vega said that the 20 years of cooperation on EPS is an important hallmark of the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea, particularly on people-to-people ties. She commended the MOEL and HRDK for considering important reforms towards skills-based and longer-term employment of workers under the EPS. “As a pioneer sending country, we have seen how the EPS continually improved its processes and evolved in positive ways as it responded to the changing labor market needs and recommendations from its partner countries through regular dialogues”, the Ambassador said.

With continued expansion of the EPS in terms of number, new occupation and sectors, Ambassador de Vega proposed measures to further enhance the social protection and working condition of workers, particularly on repatriation, enforcement of leaves, and registration procedures for jobseekers. The MOEL responded positively to the views and recommendations of each of the participating Embassies.

As part of the program, Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers provided a recorded congratulatory message to the MOEL and HRDK on the occasion of the 20^th year of EPS. The story of Ms. Noname Pinggoy, former Filipino EPS worker, who was among the first batch of EPS workers who arrived in Korea 20 years ago, was also featured during the conference. On the other hand, Mr. Jayson Espana, former EPS worker and Ms. Josephine Infante of the DMW received citations for being a successful EPS returnee and best employee of the sending organization, respectively.

Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama of the Embassy’s Migrant Workers Office joined the Ambassador during the meeting.  END

Philippines Joins ASEAN Trade Fair 2024

21 August 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Korea and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) participated in the ASEAN Korea Centre’s 2024 ASEAN Trade Fair which took place from 08-11 August 2024 at the Seoul COEX.

Opening on 08 August which coincides with the foundation date of ASEAN, the event featured promotions of a total of forty-four (44) companies in the snack food and beverage sector from the different ASEAN member countries. The Philippines had one of the largest representations with the participation of five (5) food companies.

The companies included Bahaghari Global Food Inc, Fitrite Inc., New Asia Oil, Inc., YeloYolo International Inc., and JQ Global Pte. Ltd. Among the PH products promoted at the trade fair include dried fruits, fruit chip snacks, flavored healthy snacks, organic oils and condiments, coconut-based products, and banana-based products.

Some of the Philippine-made products are now available in groceries and convenience stores in Korea while others are undertaking engagements for future distribution in the Korean food sector.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea and current ASEAN Committee in Seoul Chairperson Theresa Dizon-de Vega joined AKC Secretary General Kim Jae-Shin and Ambassadors and representatives of other ASEAN countries at the opening ceremony. END

2024 ESKWELAHAN SA EMBAHADA, PALARONG PINOY AT FAMILY DAY

August 18, 2024, Seoul. – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul proudly unveiled the 2024 edition of "Eskwelahan sa Embahada," a cultural and educational initiative that seeks to promote Filipino heritage and foster multicultural understanding among Filipino-Korean families in South Korea. The program, running throughout August, is a flagship activity that coincides with the celebration of Buwan ng Wika and the commemoration of 75 years of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations. 

In her opening remarks for the 2024 Eskwelahan edition, Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized the significance of the program and said that the initiative, which is designed to provide multicultural children with a deeper understanding and appreciation of their Filipino heritage, is crucial in creating an ecosystem of empowerment for Filipino marriage migrants and their children, as well as a supportive environment where they can explore and embrace their cultural identity, while also fostering integration and cultural exchange within the broader South Korean community.

The series of events kicked off on August 4, 2024, with "Pagkaing Pilipino," a cooking demonstration held at Sentro Rizal Hall. Led by the instructor Ms. Cathy Israel, participants learned to prepare iconic Filipino dishes such as Adobong Matua, Pancit Canton, and Halo-Halo. The event brought together at least 18 families in person, while 12 more families from Gwangju participated online, who all received cooking kits and equipment. 

On August 10, 2024, the program continued with “Kulturang Pilipino,” a cultural collaboration with the Philippines National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Gyeonggi Children's Museum. The participants were given by the Museum a special tour of their DMZ Flora and Fauna exhibition, where they learned about the historical ties between the Philippines and South Korea, particularly during the Korean War.

The participants also visited the Philippine cultural exhibit mounted by the Embassy which included interactive displays of the kulintang (a traditional Filipino musical instrument), kadang-kadang (a Filipino traditional game), and traditional clothing such as the Baro't Saya and Barong Tagalog, among others. Later, they participated in a Maskara (Mask) Making activity inspired by the Philippines Masskara Festival of Bacolod at the museum's Eco Atelier, led by culture enthusiast, Filipino graduate student, and influencer, Ms. Rina Marquez, and witnessed the ceremonial turnover of the Embassy’s donation of traditional Filipino children’s clothing to enrich the museum’s cultural exhibits. 

Another key feature of the day was the theatrical performance by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, which captivated over 200 attendees with presentations of beloved children’s stories, including "Ang Buwan at ang Diyosa ng mga Bituin" (The Moon and the Star Goddess), "The Origin of the Sun and the Moon," and "The Trial Among Animals." This was followed by a puppet-making workshop led by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas on August 11, 2024 at the Sentro Rizal, where children explored their talents in creative puppet design and storytelling.

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The month-long celebration wrapped up with a vibrant Palarong Pinoy and Family Day event on August 18, 2024, held at Wolcheon Park, Gwangju Metropolitan City. Conducted in cooperation with the Gwangju Metropolitan City and Gwangju International Residents’ Center, the lively event featured traditional Filipino games such as Luksong Tinik and Patintero, along with board games like Sungka and Dama. An estimated 500 Overseas Filipinos and their multicultural families participated in the event, making it one of the largest gatherings of Overseas Filipinos in South Korea.

The event was further enlivened by a special appearance from WISHBUS South Korea, which featured performances by the K-POP group DREAMNOTE, as well as local Filipino talents JPS Band, Shela Saveron, and the BAGONG BAYANI OFW Band.

In addition to the cultural activities, the Embassy also offered a two-day consular and assistance-to-nationals (ATN), labor and OWWA outreach service and mobile overseas voter registration, in cooperation with the Gwangju Jeonnam Philippine Community and the Gwangju Filipino Catholic Community, in an effort to reach out to the increasing number of Overseas Filipino in Jeollanamdo Province.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul expressed its gratitude to all the participants and community partners who contributed to the success of Eskwelahan sa Embahada 2024. This year’s program not only strengthened the bonds within the Filipino community in South Korea but also played a vital role in promoting cultural pride and integration among multicultural families. For more information on future Embassy activities, please visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PHinKorea. END