GOVPH

PH EMBASSY IN SEOUL BRINGS DIPLOMATS AND BUSINESSMEN FROM KOREA TO BOHOL

Seoul, 15 November 2018 - Philippine Ambassador to South Korea, His Excellency Raul S. Hernandez and Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez, led a successful familiarization tour of Bohol, Philippines on 8-12 November 2018 with thirty (30) participants from the diplomatic and business communities of Korea, including the Ambassador of Greece, Amb. Ifigeneia Kontoleontos, as well as diplomats from Portugal and South Africa.

The participants pose with the internationally-acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir. The tour group was treated to a 40-minute private performance of inspiring and heartwarming songs.

The familiarization tour to Bohol, which is the sixth tour organized by the Embassy, is part of the Embassy’s unrelenting efforts to promote tourism destinations in the country apart from the already famous destinations such as Cebu and Boracay. The familiarization tour is also in line with the Department of Tourism’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign and capitalizes on the influence of the participants in promoting the country as a premier tourist destination. The tour also provided a platform for the Embassy as well as the local government of Bohol to highlight to the Korean businessmen and investors the various business opportunities in the province.

The tour featured various renowned sites of Bohol such as the pristine beaches of Virgin Island, the rich marine species in Balicasag Island, the powdery white sand of Alona Beach, the Tarsier Conservation Area, and the world-famous Chocolate Hills. The visit to Bohol’s countryside was capped by a sumptuous seafood buffet onboard one of the floating restaurants that cruised the idyllic Loboc River. After the Loboc river cruise, the tour also included a private 40-minute performance by the internationally-acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir. The participants were treated to the Choir’s rendition of heartwarming and inspiring songs including a medley of pieces from the musical ‘Les Miserables,’ traditional Filipino songs, modern English songs, and the famous South Korean folk song, ‘Arirang.’

Aside from showcasing Bohol’s breathtaking beauty, the tour also afforded the participants a chance to feast on Filipino dishes, including a wide array of local seafoods. From the welcome dinner hosted by Governor Edgardo Chatto at the Bellevue Hotel in Tagbilaran to the luncheon organized by the Department of Tourism’s Regional Office at Bohol Bee Farm, the participants tremendously enjoyed the variety of Filipino dishes that were especially prepared for them.

In their free time, the participants enjoyed the facilities at the luxurious Hennan Resort where they were also billeted. Apart from lounging in the resort’s beachfront in Alona beach, the members of the tour group also spent hours in Hennan’s three crystalline pools. And to ease their tired muscles, everyone was treated to a one-hour full body massage at one of the local spas in Panglao Island.

The familiarization tour to Bohol is a project of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in cooperation with Philippine Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. The Office of Governor Chatto also extended significant assistance to the group throughout the tour. The tour’s itinerary was organized by Achim Tour. END

(UPPER) Ambassador Raul S. Hernandez and Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez pose with Governor Edgardo Chatto, Miss Global Beauty Philippines Pauline Amelinckx, and the Loboc Children’s Choir at the welcome dinner hosted by the Governor at Bellevue Hotel in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. (LOWER) The participants of the 6^th Familiarization Tour for Members of South Korea’s Diplomatic and Business Communities, led by Ambassador and Madame Hernandez, at the welcome dinner hosted by Governor Chatto.

The participants with DOT Region 7 Director Shahlimar Hofer Tamano at the lunch hosted by the Regional Tourism Office at Bohol Bee Farm.

PHILIPPINES AS THE FEATURED COUNTRY AT THE 2018 MIGRANTS’ ARIRANG MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

Members of the Filipino Community, in their festival and traditional Filipino wear, join the Multicultural Parade. Over 200 Filipinos, including Embassy officials and personnel, led by Amb. and Mme. Hernandez, participated. The Philippines bagged the Best in Parade award.

Changwon, 07 October 2018 – The Philippines was chosen as this year’s Featured Country at the 13^th Migrants’ Arirang Multicultural Festival (MAMF) which was held at the Yongji Munwha Park and Seongsan Art Hall in Changwon City in Gyeongsangnam Province on 05 to 07 October 2018. OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnaldo Ignacio was the guest of honor.

MAMF, which is organized annually by the Gyeongnam Migrants Center, led by its Chairman Lee Choulseong, with the support of Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the city government of Chanwon, and the provincial government of Gyeongsangnam Province, is considered to be the largest multi-cultural festival in South Korea and is attended by migrants from 13 countries.

For this year, the Gyeongnam Migrants Center partnered with the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to ensure the Philippines’ successful participation to the said Festival as the Featured Country.

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez, in his remarks at the Opening Show underscored the significance of the country’s participation in the MAMF, stating that “MAMF’s goals of encouraging mutual acceptance and developing the rights of the thousands of migrants in the country resonate well with the 67,000 Filipinos living in this country. As a country with about 10% of its population living in foreign lands, the Philippine government continues to work for the interests of our overseas nationals.”

Ambassador Hernandez also highlighted that the Philippines’ participation this year as the Featured Country was very opportune as the Festival served as an occasion to highlight the significance of the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and South Korea that has blossomed through the decades. “As we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Establishment of Philippines and South Korea bilateral relations, we hope to demonstrate our commitment as a staunch partner of this great nation by lending our support to initiatives that contribute towards the development and promotion of South Korea,” the Ambassador said.

As the Featured Country, the Philippines staged cultural performances by the Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe and the Song Weavers Philippines. The two groups successfully showcased the brilliance of Filipino talent and artistry through their rousing renditions of Filipino folk and modern songs and traditional dances.

The Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe is the official folk dance company of the Lyceum of the Philippines University- Batangas and has more than 15 years of experience promoting the rich and colorful culture of the Philippines through music, dances, and songs. Song Weavers Philippines, on the other hand, is a newly established choir group composed mostly of singers who have already been musically honed and are experienced in the choral scene.

Apart from the two cultural performing groups, Filipino celebrity artist Tom Rodriguez was also at the Festival to serenade the crowd with heartwarming Filipino love songs.  A talent of GMA Network, Mr. Rodriguez is widely known for his roles in local television dramas ‘Be Careful with My Heart,’ ‘Temptation Island,’ ‘My Husband's Lover,’ and ‘My Destiny.’

The Embassy, through the Philippine Department of Tourism Korea (PDOT), operated a tourism promotions booth where partner agencies Hana Tour and Philippine Airlines offered discounted tour packages to Cebu, Manila, Clark, Bohol, and Boracay. There was also a raffle event where participants instantly gifted with small prizes such as Philippine snacks, shopping bags, magnets, and USBs among others. Two (2) raffle winners, meanwhile, received a roundtrip ticket to Manila courtesy of Philippine Airlines.

Aside from the activities in the tourism booth, the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul, in close partnership with their tropical fruit exporters, showcased new fresh fruit offerings. These include fresh saba bananas, green papayas, premium sweet mangoes, and sweet papayas (from Diamond Star Agro Products, Inc.) and señorita bananas (from DOLE). They also prepared food sampling and will demonstrate various ways to cook the saba banana.

The Embassy also hosted a luncheon reception on 07 October for the VIP guests of the Festival, which includes the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and Pakistan, representatives from the other foreign missions, members of the MAMF Board of Promotions and the Executive Committee, as well as cultural performers from other countries.

Ambassador Hernandez and DA Ignacio also held meetings with Gyeongsangnam Governor Kim Gyeong-soo, Changwon City Mayor Hur Song-moo, and the Chairman of the Changwon Chamber of Commerce.

The highlight of the Festival was the multicultural parade that was participated into by 13 countries. The Philippines, being the Featured Country, opened the parade with over 200 Filipinos, including Embassy officials and personnel, in their colorful traditional and festival wear joining the delegation. The Philippines bagged the Best Parade award.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Amb. Raul S. Hernandez and Mme. Ana Hernandez, together with OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnaldo Ignacio, participate at the 13^th Migrants’ Arirang Multicultural Festival which was held on 5 to 7 October 2018 in Changwon City.

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PHILIPPINES DESIGNATED AS THE ‘COUNTRY OF FOCUS’ AT 2018 BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez, together with his wife, Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez, join the Philippine delegation, led by Ms. Liza Dino-Seguerra, Chairperson of the Film Development Council, at the 23^rd Busain International Film Festival Red Carpet event on 04 October 2018.

Busan, 07 October 2018 – This year, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of the most significant film festivals in Asia, has recognized and given honor to the Philippines by designating it the ‘Country of Focus.’

As the ‘Country of Focus,’ Philippine cinema was highlighted in a number of activities and events during the weeklong festival. This includes the launching of the commemorative book published by the BIFF, titled “Centennial Anniversary of the Philippine Cinema,” as well as the staging of BIFF’s Special Program titled “Cinema as a Response to the Nation” which features the following Philippine movie classics: Lamberto V. Avellana’s “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” (1965), Eddie Romero’s “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” (1976); Mario O’Hara’s “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (1976); Fernando Poe Jr.’s “Ang Panday” (1980); Lino Brocka’s “Cain at Abel” (1982); Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Moral” (1982); Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” (1982); Mike de Leon’s “Bayaning 3rd World” (2000); Chito Roño’s “Dekada ’70” (2002); and Remton Siega Zuasola’s “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” (2010).

At the “Window on Asian Cinema” event of the BIFF, the Philippine films being showcased include Mike de Leon’s “Citizen Jake”; Brillante Ma Mendoza’s “Alpha, The Right to Kill”; Alec Figuracion’s “The Eternity Between Seconds”; Dwein Baltazar’s “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus”; Chito Roño’s “Signal Rock”; and the omnibus “Lakbayan,” by Lav Diaz, Brillante Ma Mendoza and Kidlat Tahimik. Meanwhile, part of the “Wide Angle Short Film Showcase” are Joji Alonso’s “Last Order” and Stephen Lee’s “Manila is Full of Men Named Boy.” Kevin Piamonte’s “Land from God” is part of the “Wide Angle Documentary Showcase.”

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), headed by its Chairperson, Ms. Liza Dino-Seguerra, led the Philippine delegation to the BIFF, which included Filipino actors Piolo Pascual, Christopher de Leon, Sandy Andolong, Joel Torre, Max Collins, filmmakers Kidlat Tahimik, Brillante Mendoza, Joyce Bernal, Remton Siega Zuasola, Manunuri member Tito Valiente, and FPJ Productions’ vice president Jeffrey Sonora.

The 23^rd BIFF opened on 04 October with a Red Capet event and an Opening Ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in downtown Busan. Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez and his wife, Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez, joined the Philippine delegation on the red carpet.

On 07 October, FDCP hosted the “Philippine Night” to introduce Philippine delegates to international partners for exposure and possible collaborations. Amb. Hernandez was the guest of honor.

In his remarks at the Philippine Night, Ambassador Hernandez lauded Philippine filmmakers and artists for being catalysts for change. “You inspire and encourage people to reach beyond their grasps. Through your work, you can rouse your audience to think and feel deeply, pursue excellence, and contribute to the community. You can galvanize people into action and reawaken their love for kin and country. Artists serve a very important function in society and this is very true in the Philippines,” the Ambassador emphasized.

He also called on the Philippine government and other non-government groups to continue its support for the Philippine Cinema, underscoring that they are “essential in ensuring the success of Philippine cinema in the long-term. I hope that this trend will continue into the future, as the success of the Philippine film industry is the success of the entire country.”

The 23rd BIFF opened on 04 October and will run until the 13th.

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez, FDCP Chairperson Liza Dino-Seguerra, and Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez, join the Philippine delegation to the 23^rd BIFF at the Philippine Night on 07 October 2018. Ambassador Hernandez was the guest of honor. Photo Credit: FDCP.

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