GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY WITH REP. MARISSA “DEL MAR” MAGSINO HOLDS TOWN HALL AND DIALOGUES ON OVERSEAS FILIPINO CONCERNS

11-12 June 2023, Seoul. From June 11 to 12, 2023, the Philippine Embassy with OFW Party-list Representative Hon. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino held a town hall meeting with the Filipino Community and dialogues with various Korean government offices on Overseas Filipino concerns.

Members of the Filipino community in South Korea attended a Town Hall on OFW concerns with Rep. Magsino on June 11 at the Hyehwadong Catholic Center Conference Room. In her opening remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega emphasized the ongoing efforts of the Embassy with the DMW through the MWO in Seoul in assisting the Philippines legislature in responding to the concerns of the overseas Filipino Community. For her part, Rep. Magsino committed to do a follow-through on her office’s ongoing initiatives, including dialogues with PhilHealth on OFW contributions, increased access to SSS services, addressing financial scams, and the seasonal workers program, among others.

On June 12, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega, Rep. Magsino and Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste M. Valderrama met with Rep. Cho Jung Hun of the Korean National Assembly regarding the possible deployment of foreign household workers in South Korea. Rep. Magsino emphasized the need for equal treatment and observance of labor standards and international commitments that will safeguard the welfare and interests of foreign workers in ROK.

On the same day, Rep. Magsino together with Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., and Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista visited the Seoul Foreign Residents’ Center to conduct benchmarking studies on welfare and legal assistance services available to foreign residents in Korea. The Center reported receiving requests for assistance from Overseas Filipinos mostly on labor-related issues, such as transferring employers and claiming benefits. Concluding the series of meetings was Rep. Magsino’s visit to the MWO (formerly POLO) and OWWA facilities, where supplementary discussions on OFW concerns were held. END

Philippines Donates Books and Audio-Visual Materials to Seoul Metropolitan Library for Heritage and Independence Months

16 June 2023, Seoul, Korea. The Philippine Embassy in Korea in cooperation with the Philippines’ National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) donated 17 books and journals on Philippine history, culture, architecture, and arts as well as several volumes of audio-visual materials from the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or GAMABA series to the Seoul Metropolitan Library on 30 May 2023 at the facility’s offices in Seoul.

The book donation was made in commemoration of Philippine Heritage Month in May and as a prelude to Philippine Independence Day held every 12 June 2023. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega turned over the resource materials to Seoul Metropolitan Library representatives Director Seon Myeonghwa of the Information Service Division and Assistant Director Oh Soogyeong of the World Archive Section.      

The donated materials curated by the NCCA will be housed at the Global Collections Section of the Seoul Metropolitan Library, one of the largest in Korea and which attracts not only Korean readers but also a growing number of international researchers, academics, students, and members. The Seoul Library said that a growing number of visitors read materials found in the Philippines section and expressed optimism that the numbers would increase with more materials on hand.

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega conveyed that, “The Philippine Embassy hopes to continue its partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Library and provide more books and other resource materials on the Philippines in the future. We believe this will redound to a greater understanding of the Philippines among Korean and international readers.” END 

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega joins ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin and the ASEAN Committee in Seoul in a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn

18 June 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was honored to join ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin and the ASEAN Committee in Seoul in meeting with Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn during his inaugural working visit to the Republic of Korea last 16 June 2023. 

The Republic of Korea is one of ASEAN’s most active Dialogue Partners. During the dialogue between the Secretary General and the Heads of ASEAN Diplomatic Missions in Seoul, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega affirmed the Philippines’ support and cooperation for ASEAN initiatives with the Republic of Korea and the importance of working together for the peace, security, stability, and prosperity of the region.  END