GOVPH

ASEAN COMMITTEE IN SEOUL MEETS WITH AMOREPACIFIC GROUP, SPOTLIGHTS GROWING K-BEAUTY MARKET IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

27 October 2024, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega, in her capacity as the Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), spearheaded the visit of ACS Ambassadors and working-group representatives to the Amore Pacific Osan Beauty Campus located in Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea on 24 October 2024. AmorePacific Corporation is ROK’s largest cosmetic and skincare manufacturer. It is widely known for brands such as Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Innisfree, Etude House, Mamonde and the wellness beverage and food brand Osulloc.

During the visit, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega underscored the importance of building opportunities for future cooperation between the ACS and the AmorePacific Group given the growing prominence of K-beauty in the Southeast Asian market. The Ambassador also spotlighted avenues for greater engagement between AmorePacific and ASEAN countries through sourcing of ingredients and raw materials, research and development, manufacturing, supply chain distribution and consumer retail, among many others.

The company currently has 27 overseas bases six of which are in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The ASEAN region is a strategic market for the company, especially with the surge of the Hallyu Wave and its forward-looking economic growth.

The AmorePacific Beauty Park in Osan is Amore Pacific’s integrated production and logistics base, equipped with cutting-edge cosmetics manufacturing facilities and logistics centers. The ACS delegation was welcomed by Amore Pacific Group CEO Mr. Lee Sang-mok and Supply Chain Management Senior Vice President Mr. Kang Myung-gu.

The ACS received a briefing on the overview of the Amore Pacific, its domestic production plants, and global warehouse network. The group also visited the Amore Pacific Botanical Garden, a space where visitors can explore various species of plants such as Camellia, Tea, Peony, and Magnolia used as ingredients in Amore Pacific’s skincare and cosmetics products, the Amore Pacific archives which hold records and pertinent memorabilia from the company’s inception in 1945 to the present, and the Amore Pacific Factory which utilizes a supply chain management (SCM) intelligence system and autonomous manufacturing and production lines, requiring minimal human supervision for the actual production process of AmorePacific products.

The site visit to the AmorePacific Beauty Park is an initiative of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. As part of the rotating Chairmanship, the ACS undertakes company visits to top corporations in ROK covering diverse fields of business and innovation to provide ASEAN Ambassadors and Embassies with a first-hand look at the corporate vision and roadmap of Korea’s top enterprises and to engender greater engagement on the economic front. This activity is the first visit of the ACS to a cosmetics, beauty, and wellness company in recent years. END 

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA WELCOMES DILG-PPSC MASTER IN PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (MPSA) STUDENTS TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

27 October 2024, Seoul.  The DILG-PPSC MPSA delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 21 October 2024 as part of their Foreign Academic Study program incorporated in their MPSA graduate course. The delegation received a warm welcome from Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega who was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario of the Political and Economic Section, Agricultural Attaché Lev Nikko Macalintal and Second Secretary Ernest Joseph Diga at the 2^nd Floor Sentro Rizal Hall of the Embassy.

The delegation was led by Assistant Secretary Juabilly P. Racho of the DILG Peace and Order Department and composed of public officials from various LGUs and agencies of the Philippine government such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The Foreign Academic Study portion of the graduate program serves as an integrative activity for the modules concerning Comparative Global Models of Public Safety and Multilevel Security Cooperation.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega expressed her appreciation to the delegation for choosing the Republic of Korea for their Foreign Academic Study (FAS). She highlighted the importance of the PPSC MA program to address the evolving concept of human security, which now includes law enforcement, health, justice, climate change, cybersecurity, among other issues. As an archipelagic nation with a dispersed population, the Philippines needs experts to help address the impacts of climate change, public health, and cybercrime.

The Ambassador also shared that the Philippines plays an active role in terms of participating in ROK-led summits and dialogues on norms building on the ethical and rational use of AI technologies in governance. She also noted that the ROK has best practices in various aspects of public security, cybercrime, and mobilization of resources which the students can learn from during their visits and interactions with ROK agencies. END

PHILIPPINES FEATURED COUNTRY IN THE MIGRANTS ARIRANG MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL (MAMF) 2024

15 October 2024, Changwon City – The Philippine Embassy upon the invitation of the Co-Chairs of the MAMF Promotional Committee and the local governments of Gyeongsangnam-do Province and the Special City of Changwon, participated in the 2024 edition of the Migrants Arirang Multicultural Festival (MAMF) as the featured country.  This special recognition was in commemoration of the celebration of the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea, highlighting the strong ties between the two countries.

The MAMF 2024, recognized as Korea’s largest multicultural festival, took place from 11 to 13 October 2024 at Changwon Yong-Ji Cultural Park and the Sung San Art Hall Grand Theatre in Changwon City. The event celebrates cultural diversity, and the Philippines’ leading role as the featured country further enriched the festival’s vibrant atmosphere, fostering mutual understanding and friendship among the multicultural communities in Korea. 

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega, an honorary co-chair along with the other MAMF Co-Chairs from the private sector, welcomed guests of honor from the Philippines for this year’s festival. Among the distinguished attendees were Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairperson and Secretary Romulo V. Arugay and DFA Assistant Secretary for Cultural Diplomacy Celia Anna M. Feria, who were present to join in the festivities and support the celebration of Philippine culture and broader multicultural exchange.

The 2024 MAMF, with the theme “Together to Gather – A Festival for Global Citizens”, featured the participation of at least 21 countries, including Nepal, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Japan, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philippines, and for the first time a group of countries from Latin America. The festival aims to raise awareness of the cultural diversity among the over 3 million migrants in South Korea, promote meaningful interactions between foreign residents and Koreans, and strengthen its role as Asia’s leading festival celebrating cultural diversity.

Visitors to the Philippine booth were treated to a wide array of cultural experiences, including the chance to play the traditional “kulintang,” a brass-based instrument from Southern Philippines, and pose for photos in Filipiñiana attire, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage. The booth also offered a taste of the Philippines with fresh tropical fruits like bananas, pineapples, and papayas, which were a hit among the crowd, reflecting the Philippines’ bountiful agricultural traditions.

The Philippines’ booth also featured several engaging activities, including a cultural and tourism promotions booth, an arts & crafts booth, a snacks booth, and traditional Philippine games. Souvenirs from the Philippine Department of Tourism – Korea (PDOT-Korea), along with Philippine sweets and fresh fruits provided by the Department of Agriculture – Korea (DA-Korea) were distributed to delighted visitors, further promoting the country’s hospitality. 

Guest performers from the Philippines included the internationally acclaimed Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company, who captivated the audience with their vibrant and dramatic performances, showcasing the richness of Philippine folk traditions.  Their colorful costumes and graceful movements brought the beauty of Filipino culture to life on stage. The Bayanihan Troupe likewise presented a program with collaborative numbers with the famous Little Angels Group of Korea in commemoration of 75 years of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations.

Rising singer Ms. Esay Belanio also captivated the crowd with her own version of the Filipino hit song “Anak”, beloved among many Koreans, and her dynamic renditions of popular songs, adding a contemporary touch to the event. Additionally, Korea-based Filipino boy band HORI7ON entertained the audience with their signature blend of dancing and singing, delivering an exciting performance to the delight of the younger audiences.

The Philippines took home the top prize in the Cultural Diversity Parade category at MAMF 2024, with the Filipino community participating in full-force.  They captivated the audience with the vibrant colors and lively spirit of their “MaasKara Festival” themed celebration from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The parade highlighted the energy, creativity, and rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, leaving a lasting impression on the spectators.

In the World Dance Festival, Filipino dance group “Zealous Ph” composed of OFWs secured second place with their impressive dance moves and choreography.  Their creative performance stood out, reflecting the group’s talent and passion for dance. 

In addition, for the duration of MAMF 2024, the Philippine Embassy conducted a Consular Outreach Mission, providing full consular services, DMW – OWWA services, Pag-Ibig and PhilHealth registration and information campaigns to the Filipino community. END