The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN THE MMCA CONNECTING BODIES – ASIAN WOMEN ARTISTS EXHIBITION

(PHOTOS – Top left: MMCA welcome banner of the Connecting Bodies – Asian Women Artists exhibition. Top right: (L to R) - Artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Ambassador Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Artist Agnes Arellano, Ms. Kim Sunghee, Director of the MMCA at the Opening Reception. Below: Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Artists from participating countries, and art enthusiasts attending the opening reception and exhibition at the MMCA.)

02 September 2024, Seoul – The Korea National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is featuring the artworks of sixty-five (65) prominent artists from eleven (11) Asian counties in its Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists exhibition. This showcase celebrates the creativity and perspectives of Asian women artists from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines through more than one hundred thirty 130 diverse artworks. The exhibition will run from 2 September 2024 to 3 March 2025.

The exhibition “Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists is attempts a new examination of the contemporary meaning of post-1960s art by Asian women from the perspective of “Corporeality” where “the body is a place where various ideologies and situations intersect, and it is also a locus that reveals differences and diversity.”

The exhibition consists of six sections: “Choreograph Life,” “Flexible Territories of Sexuality,” “Bodies: God(dess)s∙Cosmology,” “Street Performances,” “Repeating Gestures-Bodies∙Objects∙Language,” and “Bodies as Becoming-Connecting Bodies”.

(PHOTOS: Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Artist Imelda Endaya Cajpe, with her artwork - Kapatiran ng mga Lakambining Maybahay Redux (Sisterhood of Nurturing Chieftains Redux) 2022.)

(PHOTOS - Top: Artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya’s Taghoy, Piglas (Lament, Set Free) 1984, oil paint sawali, nipa and fabric on canvas collage. Below left: Artist Cajipe-Endaya lectures art enthusiasts about her artworks. Below right: The artist with a guest, Ambassador Dizon – De Vega and Mr. Endaya.)

Art luminaries from the Philippines in attendance included Imelda Cajipe Endaya and Agnes Arellano.

Artist Cajipe-Endaya, featured her artworks Kapatiran ng mga Lakambining Maybuhay Redux (Sisterhood of Nurturing Chieftains Redux) 2022 and Taghoy Piglas (Lament, set Free) 1984 highlighting the revolutionary sisterhoods in Philippine history and society. The remarkable artworks were well received by the guests.

(PHOTOS – Top left: Carcass-Cornucopia, 1987 created from cold-cast marble, unhulled rice, metal hooks and abaca rope. Top right: Artist Agnes Arellano and Ambassador Dizon – De Vega. Bottom: Artist Arellano fielding questions from arts students and enthusiasts.)

Artist Agnes Arellano featured her Carcass-Cornucopia to the amazement and curiosity of the art goers. The female figure of Carcass-Cornucopia is a cast of the artists body, done in 1987. The cast was hooved, hung upside down with slaughterhouse hooks, and through the gaping hole of her slashed abdomen, the Serpent and bounty of the Universe split forth.

The exhibition also featured the artworks of the late Pacita Abad, namely, “Arjuna” 1983 acrylic paint, lace cloth on cotton on stitched and padded canvas and “Bakunawa”, mythical figures found in the indigenous cultures of the Philippines and Indonesia in the pre-colonial era.

Works from the late Professor Brenda Fajardo’s tarot series and video art by Eisa Jocson were also on exhibit.

(PHOTOS – Brenda Fajardo Tarot Card Series.)

The exhibition in collaboration with the MMCA Foundation was also supported by the Philippine Embassy in commemoration of 75^th anniversary of Philippines – Korea diplomatic relations.

Present during the opening reception were members from the Diplomatic Corps in Korea, officials from government and private museums, cultural organizations, Filipino Community members, and leading members from the Korean mass media. Also in attendance were Philippine Ambassador Theressa Dizon-de Vega along with Officers and staff from the Philippine Embassy. END

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA HIGHLIGHTS STRONGER PH-ROK BILATERAL RELATIONS IN ARIRANG RADIO "KOREA NOW" INTERVIEW

PR MTD 121 2024

09 September 2024, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was a guest in the special interview segment of “Korea Now” with popular radio host Mr. Seung-jae “SJ” Lee of Arirang Radio on 04 September 2024.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega described the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea as strong and future-oriented as both countries share core values of democracy, respect for human rights and a rules-based international order which enables them to work closely together in addressing future challenges andopportunities. She mentioned that the Philippines and ROK have a history of long standing and enduring partnership rooted in shared sacrifices during the Korean War.

As the Philippines and ROK celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega expressed hope for the early ratification of the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement, the elevation of relations to a strategic partnership, exchange of high-level visits and completion of the remaining events for the commemorative year.

Ambassador De Vega also conveyed support for the K-Respect Campaign. The campaign aims to foster a culture of respect, acceptance, and understanding in the society and advocates for greater engagement of multicultural families and ethnic groups in Korea.

Last year, the Sunfull Foundation of Korea led by its chairman Dr. Min Byoung-chul, visited the Philippines and met with government officials and business leaders to promote the K-Respect Campaign. Business delegations from the Philippines-Korea Economic Council (PHILKOREC) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) also signified their support to the campaign during their business mission to ROK in August 2024.

The full interview may be accessed through Arirang’s Podcast links: https://www.arirang.com/radio/126/podcast/748?lang=en or https://podbbang.page.link/RegSPKkY44D1sNu99. END

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES IN THE 14TH FEALAC CYBERSECRETARIAT WORKSHOP AND MULTI-DONOR TRUST FUND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

FEALAC 1

The Philippines participated in the 14th FEALAC Cybersecretariat Workshop and 4th FEALAC Multi-Donor Trust Fund Steering Committee meeting in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 29-30 August 2024. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario represented the Philippines during the workshop and steering committee meeting.

The 14th FEALAC Cybersecretariat Workshop facilitated the exchange of views and explored ways to promote greater cooperation between East Asia and Latin America in the age of rapid technological advancement and digitalization under the theme “Shaping the Future of FEALAC Cooperation in the Digital Era: A Vision for the Next 25 Years”.

The 4th FEALAC Multi-Donor Trust Fund Steering Committee meeting reviewed completed FEALAC initiatives and discussed the best and most efficient way of implementing new ones under the FEALAC Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

As a founding member, the Philippines remains an active member of FEALAC and is committed to FEALAC’s objectives of promoting inter-regional understanding and cultural awareness as manifested through our USD 10,000 voluntary contribution to the FEALAC multi-donor trust fund for FY 2023 and 2024. END

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EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS OF FILIPINOS IN SHIPBUILDING PRAISED DURING PHL AMBASSADOR’S VISIT

PR MTD 119 2024

29 August 2024, Seoul – Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with the officials and Filipino welders at the HJ Shipbuilding and Construction (HJSC) in Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan during her worksite visit on 28 August 2024.

HJSC is the biggest direct employer of Filipinos in Korea’s shipbuilding industry to date. Since March 2023, the HJSC has employed 201 skilled Filipino welders comprising 36% of the company’s field workers. Their work is critical to the company’s Hull Production Team.

During the meeting with Chief Executive Officer Yoon, Sang Cheol, the company praised the Filipino welders for their exceptional skills, dedication, and adaptability to the local work culture. “The arrival of the skilled Filipino workers has not only helped us overcome labor shortages but has also revitalized our manufacturing processes. We appreciate the Philippine government for providing such excellent workers and look forward to even greater development and collaboration between our countries”, the CEO said.

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega expressed appreciation to the HJSC for providing a commendable work environment for the Filipino workers that promotes their welfare and productive employment. “Human resource development is an important pillar of the people-to-people ties of our countries, and for the last twenty (20) years, we have cooperated on Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) where the majority of our workers belong. The opening of the shipbuilding industry to skilled foreign workers has created a new employment pathway for our experienced and skilled welders, who are given E7 visa and equal protection under both Philippine and Korean labor laws”, the Ambassador said.

The Ambassador was given a tour of the shipyard where the Filipino workers are assigned, and had a productive meeting with them. Ambassador de Vega said that she was pleased and proud to know that the HJSC is very satisfied with the exceptional skills and work performance of the Filipino welders. “I can see that the company provides you with a supportive environment like a family. I hope that you will continue to demonstrate your skills and positive work ethics that Filipinos are known for worldwide”, the Ambassador said.

She encouraged the workers to stay connected with the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office – OWWA and to participate in its various activities, either face-to-face or online, such as Know Your Rights and Responsibility Seminars, Financial Literacy and Skills Training, Peak Pinoy, and Outreach Missions. During the open forum, the workers showed great interest on OWWA program and services, overseas voting, OEC issuance, and social security services. On behalf of the 200 Filipinos working in HJSC, OFW Reinier Villar expressed their appreciation for the visit of the Ambassador and other officials, saying that it has given them honor and great encouragement.

The Embassy delegation included Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama, Welfare Attache Cornelia DG Chanco and MWO staff, while the HJSC officials included Shipyard Executive Director Heo, Jung Goo, Chief Human Resource Officer Park, Yong-Sik, Production Team Leader Yun, Jae-woong. -END-