GOVPH

THE PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE 26TH BUCHEON INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL (BIFAN 2022)

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and FDCP Manager Don Gervin Arawan welcome the guests to the “Philippine Cinema Night”. Group photo of the FDCP and Philippine Delegation, Clairvoyant Director John Luke Miraflor and Team, and Producer/Actress Iana Aquino. (Photos from Seoul PE)

14 July 2022, Seoul - The Philippines actively participated at the 26^th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN 2022) through a Film Development Council Delegation (FDCP) headed by Manager Don Gervin Arawan and a host of Philippine creatives.  The two (2) Philippine films participating in the festival are Clairvoyant directed by John Luke Miraflor, who attended in-person with his production crew and Reroute directed by Lawrence Fajardo.

Two other Filipino film projects “Posthouse” and “Last Resort” are likewise among the featured new projects in development segment of the festival while Mr. Arawan and Senior Entertainment write Boy Villasanta served as festival panelists. Actress and producer Iana Bernardez with Director Nikolas Red won two awards for their project in development for the film Posthouse.

Filipina producer-director-writer Ida Anita Del Mundo was likewise a jury panel member for the festival while young Filipina filmmaker Ms. KC Contrevida was a delegate to this year’s fantastic film school.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega together with Cultural Officer Anthony Z. Cornista took part in the “Philippine Cinema Night” reception hosted by the FDCP for officials and guests of BIFAN. Also in attendance were BIFAN Festival Director and film producer Chul Shin, BIFAN Chairperson of Organizing Committee Chung Jiyoung and BIFAN Guest of Honor Director Brian Yuzna, American producer and co-writer of the classic film “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”.

Ambassador Dizon – De Vega with (top left) BIFAN Director Chul Shin (top right) Director Brian Yuzna and Manager Don Arawan (bottom left) BIFAN Chairperson Chung Jiyoung and (bottom right) Clairvoyant Director John Luke Miraflor and Team. (Photos from Seoul PE)

The festival will run from 7 July to 17 July 2022 in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi province, with the awards ceremony and closing film screening on 14 July 2022. END

CAST MEMBERS OF RUNNING MAN PHILIPPINES VISITS PH EMBASSY; MEETS FILIPINO CREATIVES IN KOREA

SEOUL, 04 July 2022 — Ready, set, run! Philippine Ambassador Dizon-De Vega was pleased to receive the cast and crew of Running Man Philippines at the Embassy of the Philippines in Seoul on 4 July 2022. Creatives from the Filipino community including Noreen Garcia, Gennie Kim and Sid Antiquera in Korea were also in attendance and shared their experiences working as Filipino actors, talent scouts and managers as well as technical crew in the Republic of Korea.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega shared her insights on current trends and opportunities in the region’s television, film, and Over-the-top media (OTT) industries and how Filipino talent stands out in this arena.  

Filipino actors Glaiza de Castro, Ruru Madrid, Lexi Gonzales, Kokoy De Santos, Angel Guardian, Buboy Villar, and Mikael Daez make up the official cast of Running Man Philippines. They were joined during the call by GMA Senior Vice President Ms Lilybeth Rasonable, Vice President Janine Naca, and Director Rico Gutierrez. Running Man Philippines is a spin-off of a long-time variety show in Korea of the same title where actors engage in performances and challenges in different settings to win a race. The show will be filming around Seoul and in other parts of Korea for the whole summer of 2022, in partnership with the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS). END

OFWS IN KOREA ATTEND WEBINAR ON VISA MATTERS

9 July 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), held on 3 July 2022 an online seminar on “Palit-Visa: How to Change from E9 to E7 and F2-99 visa” as part of its Labor Education Program. The webinar was organized in response to the numerous requests for guidance on how EPS workers can transition to a visa type that will allow them to stay and work in Korea for a longer period.

In her welcome message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon –De Vega underscored the importance of having correct information on the options available to Overseas Filipino Workers to maximize their stay in Korea in an orderly manner. “Organizing the seminar is a result of consultations with the Filipino community and other stakeholders on information that is important to them. It is also part the Embassy’s response to ensuring that the rights and welfare of our OFWs are protected”, the Ambassador said. With this learning session on visa matters, the Embassy hopes to provide important and timely information on how to navigate a viable pathway within the Korean immigration and labor point system and other regulations, Ambassador De Vega added.

During the webinar, Mr. Ernie David, a former EPS worker who recently obtained an E7 visa, shared his personal experience in transitioning to a new visa. “It was not as easy as I thought it would be. I was fortunate to have the support of my employer. If you want to change your visa category, you should demonstrate your competence as a skilled worker, plan and prepare well to achieve the labor points, and maintain a positive relationship with your employer”, advised Mr. David.

Mr. Jang Manik, a Licensed Administrative Agent, was the resource expert during the seminar. He presented in detail the basic eligibility requirements, annual quota, and quarterly schedule of application for E7 visa, and how the point system is applied. He also discussed the requirements for application in F2-99 visa which grants long-term residency to foreigners.

Labor Attache Maya Valderrama of POLO Korea and Director Katherine Corteza of the Itaewon Global Village Center (IGVC) co-facilitated the learning event which had 400 registered participants. The webinar was held in partnership with the IGVC and the Filipino EPS Workers Association (FEWA).

For interested viewers, the recorded webinar may be viewed via https://fb.watch/e6pTTxbJng/

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