GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY COMMEMORATES 126TH RIZAL DAY, ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF KNIGHTS OF RIZAL KOREA CHAPTER

The Philippine Embassy in Korea commemorated the 126th Rizal Day with the announcement of the formation of the Knights of Rizal-Korea Chapter and a wreath-laying ceremony.  

30 December 2022 - The Philippine Embassy in Korea commemorated the 126th Rizal Day with the announcement of the formation of the Knights of Rizal-Korea Chapter and a wreath-laying ceremony. This year’s Rizal Day theme is “Rizal: Alaalang Iningatan, Yaman Ngayon ng Bayan” or in English, “Rizal: Preserved Memories, Treasured Today by the Nation”.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega led the celebration by encouraging the Filipino community in Korea to live their everyday lives imbibing the values and virtues of Dr. Jose Rizal. She likewise shared that her life motto is from the national hero, “It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice.” and hoped his words will likewise inspire those present at the ceremony to “live a life of purpose, mission, and service to others”. 

As the program’s guest of honor, Knight Grand Officer of the Knights of Rizal and current Chapter Commander of the Knights of Rizal-Foreign Service Chapter DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo Jose A. De Vega recited Rizal’s valedictory poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios”, which Rizal composed in his Fort Santiago cell and hid in a lamp. He also shared his insights on the importance and value of Jose Rizal’s life and legacy in contemporary times. 

Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., likewise an officer of the Knights of Rizal-Foreign Service chapter, led the announcement of the long-awaited formation of the Knights of Rizal-Korea Postulant Chapter. The new members of the KOR-Korea Postulant Chapter include personnel from the Philippine Embassy and its attached agencies and Filipino academic and community leader Professor Joeffrey M. Calimag.  Consul General Israel also provided a brief overview and history of the Knights of Rizal as an Order of Chivalry from the Philippines and sought the support of the audience for the Korea chapter’s future official activities. 

To end the program, Dr. Jeom Suk Yeon, an esteemed academic who completed her doctoral studies at the University of the Philippines and translated Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” into Korean, read a poem about Rizal and the Philippines written by Korean poet Cho Byung-Hwa in 1978. The commemoration was likewise attended by Filipino academics and teachers belonging to the Association of Filipio Educators in Korea (AFEK). Embassy officers and guests also paid tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Jose Rizal by offering remembrance wreaths and flowers during the ceremony.

 Knight Grand Officer of the Knights of Rizal and current Chapter Commander of the KOR-Foreign Service Chapter Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo Jose A. De Vega with officers of the Philippine Embassy, its attached agencies and members of the Association of Filipino Educators in Korea also joined the celebration

The Knights of Rizal-Korea Postulant Chapter hopes to become a full-fledged Chapter by having its new members conferred knighthood by mid-2023. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY MEETS WITH OFW PARTY LIST REP. MARISSA “DEL MAR” MAGSINO ON MIGRANT WORKERS’ CONCERNS

Rep. Marissa Magsino, OFW Partylist discusses migrant workers concerns with the PH Embassy

27 December 2022, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and officers of the Philippine Embassy and POLO-OWWA welcomed Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino of the OFW Partylist to discuss migrant workers’ concerns on 19 December 2022 at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.

Among the matters discussed were possible cooperation between the Embassy and the Office of Representative Magsino on medical repatriation assistance, livelihood programs, financial literacy, and property investment information sessions for the benefit of overseas Filipinos. Representative Magsino is undertaking plans to return to South Korea in 2023 to meet with Korean legislative counterparts, labor officials, and members of the Filipino Community. Rep. Magsino continues to be an overseas Filipino workers advocate and has spearheaded OFW-related legislation in the Philippine House of Representatives. END

PHILIPPINES AFFIRM IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE 10th ASEAN CONNECTIVITY FORUM IN SEOUL

Upper left: Undersecretary Angelo Nuestro of the DICT delivers the Philippine presentation at the ASEAN Connectivity Forum. The forum was attended by experts from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN External Partners, government officials and heads of diplomatic missions in Seoul, and the private sector. Lower right: Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and former US Amb. Scot Marciel who now represents BowerGroup Asia discuss regional developments in ASEAN at the sidelines of the forum.

27 December 2022, Seoul - The Philippines, led by Department of Information, Communications, and Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Angelo Nuestro participated in the ASEAN Expanded Connectivity Forum hosted by the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN-Korea Centre on 8 December 2022. With the theme “Advancing ASEAN Connectivity through Partnerships among Dialogue Partners”, the dialogue focused on cooperation through a nexus among the connectivity initiatives of ASEAN external partners. The forum was also attended by Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Choi Youngsam, Secretary General of ASEAN-Korea Centre Kim Hae Yong, and connectivity experts from ASEAN External Partners including ROK, US, Japan, Australia, and the European Union. 

During the forum, Undersecretary Nuestro highlighted the Philippines’ Five Phases of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) which aims to provide faster, more efficient, and equitable broadband connectivity for the Philippines, including its remote areas. The Undersecretary also affirmed the importance of international cooperation with official development partners, including ASEAN external partners, to carry out extensive infrastructure investments in select regions. The Philippines likewise highlighted its active sub-regional cooperation initiatives in Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program and its chairing of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) ICT cluster for the period 2022-2025.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Commercial Counselor Jose Ma. Dinsay, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and Mr. Angelo Ezekiel Nuestro of the DICT also formed part of the Philippine delegation. END