The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE CITIES RECEIVE AWARDS AT THE 2ND SEOUL SMART CITY PRIZE

[Top photo: Courtesy of WeGO] Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong joined Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, WeGO Secretary-General Kim Jeong-kee, WeGO representatives and prize winners for a commemorative photo at the 2nd Seoul Smart City Awards ceremony held at COEX, Seoul on 10 October 2024. [Below photo: Courtesy of Baguio City PIO] Mayor Magalong receives from Seoul Mayor Oh the trophy and certification representing the Gold Award on Human-CentriCity at the 2^nd Seoul Smart City Prize.

14 October 2024, Seoul. Baguio City, Philippines was awarded the Human-CentriCity Gold Award at the 2^nd Seoul Smart City Prize ceremony held on 10 October 2024 at COEX, Seoul. A delegation from Baguio City led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong was present at the ceremony to receive the award from Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Baguio City earned the Human-CentriCity Gold Award for its commitment to digital inclusion, particularly through its Leadership, Empowerment, and Advocacy for Inclusive and Accessible Health Governance System. The city’s healthcare system faces issues like fragmented records, inefficiencies, and care gaps, leading to higher costs and delays. BIAG project addresses these issues by providing accessible health records, telemedicine, and equitable healthcare access. It connects hospitals for seamless care with comprehensive medical records from birth to death. BIAG aims to transform healthcare in Baguio City and beyond, ensuring efficient, inclusive, and high-quality care for all.

Iligan City was also recognized and given the GGGI’s Special Mention award for its outstanding contributions to sustainable urban growth.

The Seoul Smart City Prize was organized by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) to recognize outstanding smart city initiatives that prioritize human-centric and technological innovation. During the ceremony WeGO acknowledged 21 cities, corporations, institutions, and individuals across several categories for their exceptional contributions to smart urban development.

The Philippine Embassy continues to support WeGO programs by encouraging more active LGU participation in WeGO activities, especially its capacity-building and training initiatives. This is in line with the Embassy’s advocacy for the importance of sub-national diplomacy, particularly domestically-focused and action-oriented initiatives and solutions on climate change, sustainable development, smart city goals, and good governance. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS KDI GKEDC COMMUNITY NETWORKING EVENT

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13 October 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul participated in the Korea Development Institute – Global Knowledge Exchange and Development Center (KDI-GKEDC) Community Networking Event on 08 October 2024 held at the Education Building of the GKEDC in Seoul, ROK. Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr. represented the Philippines during the event.

As the GKEDC is an open space for learning and exchanging knowledge on Korea's economic development experience, participants were provided with a guided special exhibition tour featuring key milestones of the ROK’s economic development, future innovation, industrial development, and humanities.

Mr. Sangmin Lee, CEO and Founder of NEUBILITY, a Korean autonomous robotics startup focused on delivery, security, and logistics, gave a brief presentation. Neubility recently signed an agreement with Gyeonggi province to run 10 Neubie delivery robots.

Mr. Dong Soo Kang, Executive Director of the KDI GKEDC said that this is the first time the center has organized an event with ASEAN Embassies with a view to fostering relationships, facilitating knowledge and experience sharing on development issues. END

PHL EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH AND MOBILE OVERSEAS VOTER REGISTRATION IN CHEONAN-ANSAN

PR MTD 132 2024

22 September 2024, Cheonan. The Philippine Embassy conducted a consular outreach and mobile overseas voter registration in Cheonan-Ansan on 22 September 2024. The consular team rendered 53 units of consular and Assistance to Nationals services to members of the Filipino community, including e-passport applications, notarials, civil registration, and Embassy ID, among others. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL HOSTS 2024 ASEAN FAMILY DAY

The Members of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul with the Ambassador of Timor Leste and ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General doing the ASEAN handshake prior to the start of the 2024 ASEAN Family Day that was held at the Seoul Battleship Park on 22 September 2024

22 September 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul was honored to host this year’s annual ASEAN Family Day held at the Seoul Battleship Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and concurrent Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed over 250 family members of the ASEAN diplomatic missions in the Republic of Korea during the family day. “We are celebrating the long-standing ties and friendship of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea during an auspicious year, as we move to advance our cooperation to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the 35th year of ASEAN-Republic of Korea relations,” Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said. “Today, it’s all about ASEAN solidarity and camaraderie, as we gather to enjoy delicious ASEAN cuisine and play beloved games in the region so I invite everyone to relax, have fun, and feel the warmth of the ASEAN spirit with family and friends!” she added.

ASEAN Missions in the Republic of Korea partnered together to co-host games that brought out the fiery and competitive spirit among guests. The games included Bos Angkunh (Cambodia and Brunei), Musical Chairs (Malaysia and Thailand), Tug-of-War (Lao PDR and Vietnam), Captain’s Ball (Indonesia and Singapore), and Touch Ball (Myanmar). The Philippines, as host, organized a special putting game for the ASEAN Heads of Mission in Seoul and other heads of ASEAN organizations in Korea. Children age twelve and below were also introduced to the Filipino party game “Pabitin”, a Filipino piñata, made of bamboo with hanging goodies. The objective of the game is for the kids to grab as many treats and toys as possible while it was being lowered and snatched up.

Participants of the ASEAN Family Day were also able to sample an array of regional food as each ASEAN country brought traditional food, drinks, and snacks to share with everyone. The event even attracted the interest of park visitors who were also treated with ASEAN hospitality as they sampled regional ASEAN cuisine.

Aside from the traditional Filipino food of pancit bihon (stir-fried rice noodles with chicken and vegetables), chicken inasal (chicken barbecue marinated Filipino-style), and traditional Filipino snacks sapin-sapin (layered glutinous rice and coconut dessert) and biko (Filipino snack made of glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk), the Philippines also sponsored a coffee truck for the ASEAN Family Day in celebration of the 75^th anniversary of Philippines – Republic of Korea relations.

To add to the festivities, the ASEAN Korea Centre led by AKC Secretary Kim Jae Shin, raffled off prizes and gift bags to thirteen (13) lucky winners at the end of the family day.

The annual ASEAN Family Day aims to raise ASEAN awareness in the Republic of Korea, promote ASEAN culture, as well as strengthen friendship and enhance relations among the ASEAN community members in the Republic of Korea. END

The Members of the ASEAN Community in Seoul actively participated in a series of games prepared for the event. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, as the ACS Chair, sponsored a coffee truck for all the participants and attendees of the Family Day.