GOVPH

Amb. Dizon-De Vega Delivers Talk on 75 Years of PH-ROK Relations at Royal Asiatic Society of Korea

05 August 2024. Seoul. As part of the commemoration of the 75^th Anniversary of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivered a talk before the Royal Asiatic Society of Korea (RAS Korea) on 25 June 2024 in Seoul.

The lecture covered the highlights of over seven decades of relations from the Philippines’ role in the United Nationals Temporary Commission on Korea (UNTCOK) to the Philippines participation in the Korean War. Likewise, highlights of the Philippines and Korea’s robust partnership from the post-war reconstruction period to the present in a wide range of areas was covered.

The RAS Korea was established in 1900 as the world’s first Korea studies organization and provides a platform for scholarly research, discussions, and talks on the history, natural landscapes, and culture of the Korean Peninsula. It publishes an annual journal entitled “Transactions”. END

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS CHAIR VISITS KOREA

30 July 2024, Seoul.  Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo, took part in a K-Fellowship Program organized by the ROK Government from 7-13 July 2024.

Among the ROK institutions which the NCCA Delegation met and visited include the National Archives of Korea, ARKO Art Museum, UNESCO heritage site of Gyeongju, National Museum of Korea, International Centre for Documentary Heritage, National Gugak Center, and Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

Chairperson Manalo likewise discussed enhanced bilateral engagement between the Philippines and Korea with the planned signing of the PH-ROK Executive Program (2024-2029) of the 1970 Cultural Agreement between PH and ROK.

While in Seoul, NCCA Chair Manalo likewise visited the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Embassy which a Public Assembly Hall, a Conference Room-Library and a separate Sentro Rizal Reading Lounge. 

Chair Manalo met with Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista on Sentro Rizal activities as well as the cultural diplomacy programs of Post, particularly for the commemoration of the 75^th anniversary of PH-ROK relations from March 2024-March 2025. 

The Embassy likewise invited representatives from various Korean public and private cultural and art institutions including the ROK National Museum of Contemporary Art, KOFICE, and the Hansea YES Foundation to meet Chair Manalo and discuss future cultural exchanges. 

The NCCA worked closely with the Philippine Embassy in arranging for a special performance by the renowned MEN Ensemble during the Philippine National Day program of the Embassy in Seoul last June 2024. END

PEFTOK VETERAN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SERVICE DURING THE KOREAN WAR AT UN PARTICIPATION DAY CEREMONY 2024

27July 2024, Seoul – Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) Veteran Benjamin Quiros (age 97) was recognized by the Republic of Korea for his valiant service during the Korean War at the UN Participation Day Ceremony 2024.

The UN Participation Day Ceremony honors annually veterans from United Nations Sending States which fought in the Korean War. The ceremony also fosters amity and friendly relations with UN Sending States in the present day. Under the theme of “Together for Our Tomorrow”, the 2024 UN Forces Participation Day was attended by over 1,000 people including UN Veterans from 19 Sending States and their families. The government awarded UN veterans and others who had served to preserve their honor and to strengthen ties with allies.

One of the veterans is Mr. Quiros, who was a member of the 7,420 PEFTOK soldiers who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Republic of Korea, in the fight for freedom and democracy more than seven decades ago. Mr. Quiros received the “Cane of Longevity” from the ROK Prime Minister Han Ducksoo.

The 2024 UN Participation Day Ceremony marks Mr. Quiros’ return to the Republic of Korea since his days as a Filipino soldier. Mr. Quiros still remembers his time as a member of PEFTOK’s 1st Division, marching to Pyongyang in the middle of winter and feeling intense hunger and biting cold during the Korean War.

Mr. Quiros was joined by his daughter, Ms. Charito Asturias. Together, they participated in the ROK’s Revisit Korea Program for UN veterans and their family members. The program included visits to Panmunjom, the UN Forces Participation Day Ceremony, a UN memorial cemetery tribute and a farewell dinner. Philippine Embassy’s Consul General Romulo Victor Israel attended the gala dinner while Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario attended the UN Forces Participation Day Ceremony to represent the Philippines and convey support for Korean War veterans. Born in Ilocos but now based in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Quiros expressed his appreciation for the active involvement of the Philippine Embassy.

The Philippine Embassy in Korea continues to honor the valor and bravery of the 7,420 PEFTOK soldiers who fought during the Korean War through commemorative activities, cooperation with the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for academic and cultural exchange projects that will benefit PEFTOK descendants, and the upgrade of facilities for the Philippines’ Veterans Memorial hospital. END