The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINES FIRST PRIZE WINNERS IN THE TALK TALK KOREA CONTEST

PHOTOS – Left: Francis “Aya” Nacionales receives her award from Eric of the boy band The BOYZ. Right: Amiel “Giann” Surla a.k.a. Sunshine Myung.

30 November 2023. Seoul – The 2023 K-Wave Festival recently held the Talk Talk Korea Contest, an annual international competition organized by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), established to promote Korea’s national image and cultural heritage on a global stage. KOCIS is also an affiliate of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

With this years’ theme "Unveil the Diversity of Korea", Talk Talk Korea received over 52,000 entries worldwide which were in the form of photographs, webtoons, essays, videos, and drawings which highlighted various aspects of Korea such as K-Culture, K-Music, K-Food, and K-Beauty.

First Prize winners from the Philippines were Francis "Aya" Nacionales in the K-Culture category with her essay on the Korean culture in Subways and Amiel Giann Surla aka Sunshine Myung in the K-Music category for her Creative Conceptual Dance Cover.

Aya is presently working on her Masters degree in Medicine (Biomedical Science) at the Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul while Giann who virtually attended the awarding ceremonies is currently a student at the Clark College of Science and Technology in Pampanga, Philippines.

The contest ran from July 17 to September 17 and the awarding ceremony was held at the National Theatre of Korea last November 4, 2023 in Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Korea congratulates Aya and Giann on their achievements. END

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Photo: Winners of the 2023 K-Wave Festival - Talk Talk Korea contest.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH SERVICE AND OVERSEAS VOTER MOBILE REGISTRATION IN CHANGWON AND PYEONGTAEK

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03 December 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted consular outreach missions in Changwon, the capital city of Gyeongsangnam Province, and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on 22 and 29 October 2023, respectively, with the cooperation of and in partnership with the Filipino organizers of the Migrant Multicultural Festival in Changwon through Ms. Anna Sumayod, and the Pyeongtaek Migrant Welfare Center. Led by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. and Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista, the consular teams rendered a total of 29 units of consular and Assistance to Nationals services to members of the Filipino community.

Representatives from Pag-IBIG and OWWA also joined the outreach and rendered a combined 58 services, including information dissemination and renewal of OWWA membership, and opening of Pag-IBIG regular and MP2 accounts. The Embassy also conducted an Overseas Voter Mobile Registration and processed the application of 24 Overseas Filipino Voters.

As it did earlier this year with Filipino Community and religious organizations, the Embassy looks forward to working with more Filipino Community organizations as partners in promoting Overseas Voter Registration among the growing Filipino population in Korea. END

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SHIPBUILDING OF THE PHILIPPINE NAVY’S FIRST CORVETTE COMMENCES

[top photo] Steel cutting for the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 2 [second photo] Keel laying for the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 1 [Third Photo] Delegation members of the Philippine Navy VADM Toribio Adaci Jr. PN, Capt. Emilio Orio Jr. PN, Capt Marco Buena PN, with Seoul PE’s DAFA Col. Don Templonuevo PA paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.

04 December 2023, Seoul – Philippine Navy Flag Officer-in-Command VADM Toribio Adaci Jr. PN visited the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Shipyard in Ulsan City on 22 November 2023 for the Keel Laying Ceremony of the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 1, and the Steel Cutting Ceremony of the Philippine Navy Corvette No. 2. The Keel Laying and Steel Cutting ceremonies formally commemorate and recognize the beginning of the ship building process. Attended by senior officials and dignitaries from both sides, it demonstrates the strong defense modernization partnership of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. During the visit, VADM Adaci conveyed the Philippine Navy’s strong expectations and determination for the successful completion of the Corvette Acquisition Program with the Republic of Korea.

On 23 November 2023, VADM Adaci called on Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega to relay the outcome the ceremonies and his meetings with ROK counterparts on common maritime interests and strengthening mutual cooperation. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized the importance of continued active exchanges between the Philippine Navy and the ROK Navy for Philippine defense modernization. She looked forward to a continued and more substantive Navy-to-Navy talks, and conveyed her appreciation for the Philippine Coast Guard’s active participation in maritime cooperation activities, including the 2nd PH-ROK maritime cooperation dialogue held last October 2023. END

PH EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN UN WOMEN SPECIAL LECTURE ON ENGAGING MEN FOR ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

[TOP L-R] UN Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality Director Jeongshim Lee delivering the welcome remarks and Dr. Gary Barker, President and CEO of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice during his lecture on “Talking about Manhood: What Men Have to Do with Ending Gender-Based Violence, and How Men Benefit from Gender Equality.” [BELOW L-R] Philippine Embassy’s Alternate GAD Focal Officer Mr. Jay-Ar Casabar and Economic Assistant Ms. Charmie Fugaban attended the special lecture.

03 December 2023, Seoul. As part of the Philippines’ advocacy for inclusive gender and development and in observance of the 18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), the Gender and Development (GAD) section of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul participated in a special lecture on “Engaging Men for Ending Gender-Based Violence” on 30 November 2023 organized by the UN Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality (the Center) in the Republic of Korea.

The Special Lecture discussed that impact and importance of engaging men and boys in the work to eliminate violence against women to dismantle the structure that perpetuates violence and discrimination.

The lecture also emphasized the importance of embedding the values of empathy and equality into the fabric of society and redefine masculinity not as a form of dominance but as a source of support and solidarity.

Dr. Gary Barker, President and CEO of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Talking about Manhood: What Men Have to Do with Ending Gender-Based Violence, and How Men Benefit from Gender Equality,” highlighting various factors on how men’s lives are affected by ideas about manhood and how it looks like to engage men to be allies in the work towards ending violence against women.

The Centre’s Director Jeongshim Lee welcomed all the participants including Minister Kim Hyunsook of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF), Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University who was recently appointed as UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for the Republic of Korea, Regional Director Alia El-Yassir of the UN Women Asia and the Pacific, members of the diplomatic corps, and relevant stakeholders in the ROK.

The Philippine Embassy in ROK participated in the forum in support of engaging men and boys as being not only beneficial but also crucial in gender and development, and acknowledging that they too are part of the fabric of community that can stop the cycle of abuse and inequality.

The Embassy strongly supports advocacies for the prevention and elimination of violence against women (VAW) and inclusive participation in gender and development in the Philippines and the global community. END