GOVPH

PH EMBASSY RECOGNIZES AND ADMINISTERS OATH TO OFFICERS OF ALUMNI OF THE SISTER OF MARY SCHOOL INC.

1 September 2024, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in South Korea, led by Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, conferred a Certificate of Recognition to the newly formed Filipino community organization, Alumni of the Sister of Mary School Inc. (ASMSI), during a ceremony held at the Sentro Rizal Hall, Philippine Embassy on September 1, 2024. This event also included the official oath-taking of the organization's newly elected officers.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega led the ceremony and expressed the Embassy’s enthusiasm for the positive impact that the organization is poised to make, not only among its members but also within the larger Filipino community in South Korea. In her remarks, she emphasized the organization’s important role in fostering a sense of camaraderie and solidarity among its members, which is crucial in empowering Filipinos living abroad and away from their families.

The ASMSI, led by its President Mr. Rodulfo G. Jabay, Jr., is an organization composed of the alumni of the Sister of Mary School, Inc., in the Philippines, and are currently serving as EPS workers and marriage migrants in South Korea.

Witnessing the recognition and oath-taking were Consul General Romulo Victor “Jun” Israel, Jr., Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista, and Welfare Officer Cornelia DG. Chanco.

The Philippine Embassy continues to accept new registration, renewal, or administration of oaths for the induction of newly elected officers of Filipino community organizations in South Korea. For more information, please visit http://www.philembassy-seoul.com/filipino_community.asp. END

PH AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS SKILLS OF FILIPINO CAREGIVERS

25 August 2024, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy joined the ongoing workers education program for the newly-arrived Filipino caregivers in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS)’ Pilot Project between the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL).

The Embassy, together with the Migrant Workers Office-OWWA of Seoul, conducted a post-arrival orientation for the EPS caregivers as part of the 3-day workers training, and supplemental information sessions during the 3-week specialized Caregivers Training conducted by MOEL, HRDK and other designated agencies. The workers education included, among others, Korean labor standards, immigration laws, human rights, and occupational safety; Korean language and culture; EPS pilot project principles and scope of work; Embassy and MWO-OWWA program and services; daily living practices; and specialized training in child care and child safety in the context of Korean family values and practices.

During her meeting with the caregivers, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega emphasized the skills and specialized preparation of the Filipino EPS caregivers under the pilot project, having undergone strict screening standards and qualifications under the Philippines’ National Competency II Certificate Program on Caregiving and the prescribed pre-departure and specialized post-arrival workers education under the cooperation agreement.

According to the Ambassador, the skills, innate caring ways and productivity of Filipino caregivers are well known in many countries. Filipino caregivers contribute not only to the early child and elderly care system but also in boosting female workforce participation and work and family life balance.

Joining the Ambassador were Consul General Romulo Victor Israel, Jr., Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama, as well as Fr. John Yoo and Fr. Arvin Mosqueda, MSP, from the Archdiocese of Seoul’s Migrants Ministry, who led a thanksgiving mass for the newly arrived Filipino workers.

Under the agreed principles of the pilot project, the MOEL-certified agencies will serve as employers of the caregivers and the client Korean-households shall be dual-income families with child or children up to 12 years old, single parent families or families with pregnant women. For this purpose, the primary tasks of the EPS caregivers are childcare and household management as reasonably required for the personal needs of the child or children. – END-

LOVE THE PHILIPPINES FOOD TRUCK BRINGS FILIPINO FLAVORS TO SEOUL

27 August 2024, Seoul. As part of Philippine gastrotourism initiatives, the Department of Tourism brought flavors of the Philippines to Seoul through the Love the Philippines Food Truck. Making stops in three busy and trendy areas in Seoul, the Love the Philippines food truck served Filipino food for free to entice more Koreans to visit the Philippines.

Guests were able to enjoy bowls of Filipino favorites such as adobo, lechon, and sisig. The food truck also gave away Halo-halo cups to beat the summer heatwave in Korea.

The food truck’s first stop was at Hongik University on 21 August 2024, a bustling area for locals and tourists in Seoul. On 23 August 2024, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was joined by Secretary General Kim Jae Shin of the ASEAN Korea-Centre in trying out samplers of flavorful Filipino dishes sisig, lechon, adobo and the famous Filipino summer cooler halo-halo at the food truck event stationed at the vicinity of the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Political and Economic Section of the Embassy also participated in the event on 25 August 2024 at Seongsu-dong, Yeonmujanggil, a rising trendy area in the city.

The food truck event is a DOT pilot project to intensify Philippine tourism promotion initiatives in South Korea. It also aims to capture the taste of the Korean market by bringing the Philippines’ diverse gastronomy experience to Seoul. END

Above photo: Visitors gather to taste Filipino dishes at the Love the Philippines Food Truck event at the vicinity of the Korea Press Center. Below photo (R): The Political and Economic Section of the Embassy joins Assistant Secretary Quisumbing and Tourism Director Jorda-Apo during the food truck event in Seongsu-dong, Yeonmujanggil.