GOVPH

PHL SUPREME COURT CONDUCTS BENCHMARKING STUDIES ON AUTOMATION UNDER THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR JUDICIAL INNOVATION (SPJI) 2022-2027

14 November 2023, Seoul. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, with the support of the Philippine Embassy, embarked on an official visit to South Korea, aimed at conducting benchmarking endeavors on the crucial topics of electronic case management systems and automation of related court processes designed to have a transformative impact on the Philippine judicial system.

Led by the Honorable Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, along with Mr. Dennis Anthony Uy, Special Envoy for Digital Transformation to South Korea, the Philippine delegation embarked on a comprehensive itinerary to engage various South Korean institutions and experts in the field of judicial modernization.

The delegation's itinerary included visits to four key organizations, including the Supreme Court of Korea where the key features of a modern electronic Court (eCourt) system and systems upgrades were discussed; the Seoul District Court where the delegation explored fully automated courts and gained insights into the latest technological advancements and their impact on court processes; the ROK Supreme Court IT Center which showcased how a modern and multi-functional data center operates; and the Judicial Research and Training Institute where an interactive exchange of views took place on the holistic learning modules and continuous skills development for judges, court personnel and individuals interested in joining the judiciary.

The delegation also visited the Ministry of Justice to learn about the Korea Information System of Criminal Justice Services (KICS) which complements the ongoing initiatives of the Philippine Supreme Court in the Justice Sector Coordinating Council; and the Korea International Cooperation Agency to explore potential judicial modernization assistance and partnership.

Chief Justice Gesmundo, in his meeting with the ROK Supreme Court’s Acting Chief Justice Hon. Ahn Chul Sang, said that the visit is a significant step in operationalizing the Supreme Court's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovation (SPJI) 2022-2027. He underscored the Philippine Judiciary’s commitment to modernize and enhance its judicial processes. He also highlighted the need to update existing electronic systems in the more than 2,700 courts in the Philippines, to support its goal of an interoperable yet secure network that could make court processes more efficient across the country.

Presidential Special Envoy for Digitalization Mr. Dennis Anthony Uy, for his part, stressed his support to the Philippine Judiciary’s modernization program, and committed to bridging the gap between the relevant institutions in the Philippines and Korea and utilizing his technological expertise to facilitate the successful implementation of the SPJI.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega conveyed the Embassy's support for the Philippine Judiciary's modernization initiatives. Additionally, she noted that the SPJI not only has the potential to improve judicial efficiency for Filipinos in the Philippines, but also offers a significant opportunity to meet the aspirations of the growing Overseas Filipino community in Korea for more efficient and effective legal processes.

Aside from Chief Justice Gesmundo, the delegation was composed Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Atty. Jed Sherwin G. Uy, and other key officers of the Philippine Supreme Court.

The SPJI is a five-year development plan which “aspires to achieve holistic institutional gains as a blueprint for action for the Judiciary… [and] targeted to create an environment of excellence in court performance… improved services and greater access to justice for all stakeholders, and innovative and technologically adaptive court systems and processes.” For more information on the SPJI, please visit https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/spji/. END

FILIPINO ACADEMICS JOIN BUFS-KIAS CONFERENCE, LAUNCH BOOK ON FILIPINO LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR KOREANS UNDER PH STUDIES PROGRAM

12 November 2023, Busan - Filipino academics from top educational institutions in the Philippines took part in the International Conference on “The Political Economy of ASEAN Sub-Regions: Issues and Concerns” organized by the Busan University of Foreign Studies Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies (BUFS-KIAS) held from 10-12 November 2023 in Busan.  A panel on developments in Philippine Studies was held with the support of the Philippine Embassy. 

BUFS President Dr. Chang Soon Heung, and Dr. Kim Dong Yeob, Director of KIAS opened the conference. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega delivered Keynote Remarks entitled “ASEAN and KASI: Towards Further ASEAN-ROK Strategic Engagement", emphasizing in her message that there are many key areas of convergence among Korea, ASEAN, and between the Philippines and Korea which could foster deeper engagement between Korea and the region.

Academics from the Philippines participated as panelists, moderators, and discussants in sessions on political-economy, cultural, academic, migration, and economic themes. 

A three-book series on Filipino Language Learning was likewise launched during the conference opening. The book series is part of the “Advancing Philippine Studies” program at BUFS, a project between the university and the Philippine Embassy with the invaluable support of the Office of Philippine Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The book series is a collaborative effort of a team of Filipino language experts from the University of the Philippines composed of Prof. Jovy M. Peregrino, Prof. Ronel Laranjo, Prof. April Perez, Dr. Ma. Althea Enriquez, and BUFS contributors. 

The Philippine Studies Program at BUFS has organized various programs including student exchanges to promote wider and deeper understanding of Philippine history, culture, people, language, and conditions in Korea. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY PARTICIPATES IN ASEAN WEEK 2023 WITH CRAFTS BY BURI METRO AND UGO BIGYAN CREATIONS

13 November 2023, Seoul - The ASEAN Week 2023, the main public and cultural diplomacy activity of the ASEAN-Korea Center (AKC) and 10 ASEAN Embassies in Korea, took place from 8-11 November 2023 at COEX in Seoul. 

The anticipated annual event focused this year on ASEAN and Korean crafts through an exhibition entitled: "11 Pots 11 Colors: Colorful Heritage of ASEAN Crafts: Capturing the Light". The exhibit featured crafts which may be used as containers such as baskets, brassware, ceramics, glass, porcelain, rattan, pewter, and silverware throughout the ASEAN region and in Korea. AKC Secretary General Kim Hae-yong and ASEAN Committee in Seoul Chairperson Lao PDR Ambassador Songkane Luangmuninthone delivered remarks at the exhibit opening.

The Philippines' featured container items were from the Buri Metro collection, a handwoven crafts line featuring baskets, light fixtures and similar items made of buri palm leaves combined with leather. The items are designed and made by hand by women weavers from Negros Island.  The items were praised for their natural look and feel making them attractive products for homes and interiors. 

A unique feature of this year's exhibition was a section showcasing personal pottery and related items from collections of ASEAN Ambassadors. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega exhibited a trio of pottery pieces by famed Filipino artist Ugo Bigyan. Ambassador Dizon-de Vega shared that she has been following the career of Ugo Bigyan for some time and has been collecting some of his unique pieces inspired by nature as well as the colors and textures of Quezon Province where the artist is based.  END