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Philippine Embassy Commemorates 71st Anniversary of PEFTOK

23 October 2021, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy with the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (ODAFA) held a commemorative wreath-laying on the occasion of the 71st Anniversary of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to South Korea (PEFTOK) at the Korean War Memorial in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on 22 October 2021.

Philippine Defense Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna graced the occasion as Guest of Honor and joined Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, War Memorial of Korea President Lee, Sang Chul, UN Korea War Allies Association, Inc. (UNKWA) Chairperson Mr. Dugun Kim, and Defense Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez, Jr. at the ceremony.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized that the high-level of engagement enjoyed by the Philippines and Korea remains anchored on the shared sacrifices of Filipinos and Koreans during the Korean War and our mutual abiding commitment to the attainment of peace and development.

For his part, Undersecretary Luna moved the guests with his poignant sharing of the experiences of his late father, a PEFTOK veteran, who was wounded during the Korean War. As the Undersecretary was born after the Korean War, he noted that he may be alive today had his father not survived the war. Undersecretary Luna headed the Philippine Delegation to the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), one of the largest aerospace and defense technology exhibits and meetings platform in the world.

The ceremony was likewise attended by representatives of Philippine government attached services in Korea and personnel of the Philippine Embassy, Pastor Abel Raby of Word International Ministries who lead the invocation, and Ms. Erlinda Mae Young, daughter of Maj. Maximo Young, one of only two Filipinos, the other being former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, awarded the prestigious “Taegeuk Medal” (Medal of Valor), South Korea’s highest military award for bravery in combat.

After the ceremony, Korean War Memorial President Lee showed the Philippine Delegation the passage of honor listing the names of all the international forces killed during the Korean War.

The Philippines through the PEFTOK sent five Battalion Combat Teams from 1950-1955 with a total number of 7,420 personnel for the Korean War efforts. END

UPDATED PROTOCOLS FOR THE ENTRY TO THE PHILIPPINES OF TRAVELERS FROM GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED LIST COUNTRIES

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul wishes to share with the public Resolution No. 144-A, s. 2021 dated 14 October the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease), which streamlines and codifies the testing and quarantine protocols for international arriving passengers in all ports of entry in the Philippines.

Read full advisory here: Updated Protocols for the Entry to the Philippines of Travelers from Green, Yellow, and Red List Countries.

Notice of Award to ERENCOM CO. LTD. - Contract for the procurement of four (4) units of Macbook Air laptops for the official use of the embassy

NOA to ERENCOM LTD 4 Macbook

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR H.E. MA. THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA PRESENTS HER CREDENTIALS TO REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENT H.E. MOON JAE IN

15 October 2021- Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega presented her credentials to His Excellency Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea at Cheongwadae in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 15 October 2021. She was joined by Ambassadors of six other countries, namely Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Estonia, Sweden, and El Salvador.

In a conversation between President Moon Jae In and the Ambassadors held after the ceremony, Ambassador De Vega recalled that the robust relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea is anchored on shared sacrifices during the Korean War and an abiding mutual commitment to peace and development. She also noted that PH-ROK relations are ever reflective of both countries' deep and historic ties, as evidenced by our cooperation over a wide range of issues in the political, defense, economic, cultural, and people-to-people spheres.

Ambassador De Vega also reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to work with the Republic of Korea in the UN, ASEAN, other multilateral fora, and President Moon Jae-in's flagship foreign policy initiative, the New Southern Policy Plus. Ambassador De Vega also expressed continued Philippine commitment to an active defense cooperation and hoped that the Philippines and the ROK can conclude its free trade agreement before the end of 2021 to bolster economic resurgence. The Philippines also conveyed its commitment to more engaged pandemic cooperation, including on vaccines, and mobility especially the movement of essential workers, business people, students, and others, and the resumption of two-way travel to help buoy the economic recovery of both countries.

For his part, President Moon assured Ambassadors present that the ROK government will do its best to achieve complete denuclearization and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy and asked for active support for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. He also looked forward to various achievements, such as improving bilateral relations, while the Ambassadors are serving in Korea.

PR MTD 12 2021 Presentation of Credentials 15 October