GOVPH

VIBRANCY AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FILIPINOS IN SOUTH KOREA HAILED AT YEAR-END COMMUNITY EVENT

09 December 2023, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, together with the Migrant Workers Office – OWWA and the attached agencies held the 2023 Year-end Filipino Community Leaders Forum and Paskong Pinoy Fellowship program on 09 December 2023 at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Embassy. 

The event was attended by 120 leaders and representatives of sixty (60) Filipino community organizations (FCO) and migrant institutional partners from all over South Korea.  

In her special year-end message, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega said that the occasion is being kept simple in keeping with the Embassy’s solidarity with people all over the world who continue to hope for world peace, unity, and healing. 

Summing up her message in three words, the Ambassador conveyed her “pasasalamat” (gratitude and appreciation), “pagpupugay” (honor and pride), and “paghihikayat” (encouragement) to all the members of the Filipino community in South Korea led by their respective leaders. “The Embassy expresses our profound gratitude to all of you for we could not have successfully done all the activities and new initiatives this year without your valuable support and active engagement,” the Ambassador added. 

During the event, the Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac and DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega conveyed their special messages to the Filipino community. 

The Embassy also presented its 2023 accomplishments and plans for 2024 in line with the celebration of the 75^th year of PHL-ROK relations. The new Defense and Armed Forces Attache, Colonel Don Templonuevo, briefed the FilCom Leaders on Emergency Preparedness as well as the roles of the area coordinators during emergencies.

As part of the Embassy’s efforts on capacity- building for the FilCom, Welfare Officer Aniceta G. Deuna presented the 1^st of a series of leadership seminars featuring Financial Management 101 for FCOs. She provided detailed guidelines on how to keep, record, and report on the financial status of organizations in order to ensure transparent and viable financial management among the leaders. 

As part of the forum, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega handed the Certificate of Registration to Kabayan Filipino Center as a newly registered Filipino Community Organization (FCO). 

In the thanksgiving and fellowship segment, the FCO leaders and representatives were entertained by talented Filipino musicians based in Korea, special numbers, games, exchange of gifts, a raffle draw, and community singing of Filipino Christmas songs.

“On behalf of the Philippine Embassy and its attached agencies, we wish every Filipino community member and their families a blessed Christmas season, and a bountiful New Year”, Ambassador de Vega said in her parting message. -END-

Philippines Participates in Busan Global Partnership Forum

16 December 2023, Seoul. Philippine experts participated in the Busan Global Partnership Forum with the theme “Delivering Better Together for Sustainable Development: Leveraging Effective Development Cooperation”. The forum held from 5 to 6 December 2023, included speakers from the Philippines, namely, NEDA Undersecretary Joseph Capuno, Ms. Bing Sibal-Limjoco of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mr. Jodel Dacara of the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness. The resource persons spoke about the Philippine experience in engaging the private sector in the implementation of policy thrusts to ensure the attainment of the SDGs in the panel session on “Effective Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development”.

Undersecretary Capuno likewise spoke at the panel on country-level action on development cooperation. The delegation was joined at the forum by Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-de Vega. END

MS. KATHERINE CORTEZA, ITAEWON GLOBAL VILLAGE CENTER DIRECTOR, AWARDED SEOUL HONORARY CITIZENSHIP

8 December 2023, Seoul. Ms. Katherine Corteza, Director of the Itaewon Global Village Center (IGVC), was conferred the prestigious 2023 Seoul Honorary Citizenship Award by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) represented by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, on 8 December 2023. In attendance during the ceremony was Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Jilliane De Dumo-Cornista, Labor Attache Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama, Mr. Kim Eun Sook, and IGVC Officer Ms. Grace Heo.

The SMG acknowledged Ms. Corteza's unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions to cultural understanding and community integration within the international enclave of Itaewon. She was also cited for her exemplary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she advocated for a special vaccination schedule for foreign workers who were unable to take leave from work, which resulted in the Center holding vaccination programs for foreign residents in Seoul with the support of the SMG and Yongsan-gu Office.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said that the Embassy nominated Ms. Corteza for her outstanding contributions to the community and her unwavering dedication to promoting multiculturalism and the well-being of foreign residents in Korea. She also hoped that Ms. Corteza’s recognition would not only celebrate her achievements, but also inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

Ms. Corteza's recognition aligns with Seoul's long-standing tradition of bestowing honorary citizenship upon foreign nationals contributing significantly to the city's development. Since its inception in 1958, more than 900 individuals from 100 countries have received this honor. The 15 individuals selected in 2023, including Ms. Corteza, exemplify dedication to community welfare and assistance to foreign nationals, playing pivotal roles in Seoul's growth. Honorary citizens are invited to key city events and participate in administrative decision-making that fosters mutual cooperation between Seoul and its diverse community of global citizens. END