GOVPH

PHILIPPINE HASS AVOCADO NOW AVAILABLE IN KOREA

21 October 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul is pleased to announce that Philippine Hass Avocados are now available in the Republic of Korea. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed the arrival of the Philippine hass avocados as a symbol of the strong trade relationship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea in agricultural exports during its launch on 19 October 2023 at the Homeplus, Gangseo branch. Homeplus is one of the largest retail hypermart chain stores in South Korea, with around 140 branches all over the country. The event was organized by DOLE Korea, led by its CEO Mr. Jack Kim, in cooperation with Agriculture Attaché Maria Alilia Maghirang of the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul.

The Philippine Hass avocado is a nutrient-rich fruit with a smooth and creamy texture making it a choice ingredient for a variety of recipes, especially salads and sandwiches. Full of essential nutrients and phytochemicals, the inclusion of the Philippine Hass avocado in the daily diet of consumers can effectively promote cardiovascular health, weight control, and balance glucose levels.

Consumers in South Korea can look forward to more shipments of the Philippine Hass avocados in the future. The fresh Hass avocado exports from the Philippines are sourced from the orchards and packing houses of Dole Philippines in Davao, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato.

The arrival of fresh Philippine Hass avocados to the Republic of Korea is a testament of our active bilateral relations, especially in trade and agricultural development. END

Call Hero Foundation Honors Filipino Veterans of the Korean War

[TOP L-R] Rep. Kim Sung-won, President of the Korea-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Association delivers a special message. DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino recalls the contributions of
the PEFTOK to the Korean war effort. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivers appreciation remarks to the organizers of the event. [BELOW L] CFO Chairperson Romulo V. Arugay delivers a tribute address. [RIGHT MIDDLE] Members of the Call Hero Foundation led by President Hwang Hak-Soo and the Philippine Delegation pay tribute to Filipino veterans of the Korean War. [RIGHT BELOW] Filipino and Korean community members pay tribute to the heroes of the Korean War.

05 October 2023, Seoul. The Call Hero Foundation of Korea, an organization composed of current and former Korean government officials, legislators, businesspeople, artists, retired military officers, and civic leaders, held a Commemoration ceremony for the naming of Filipino heroes during the Korean War on 24 September 2023. The event was held at the War Memorial Monument dedicated to Filipino veterans located in Goyang City, Korea.

The event, attended by nearly 200 people from the Filipino and Korean communities, featured a special naming segment where names of the 116 Filipinos who were killed in action during the Korean War were recited by representatives from the Philippines and Korea.

In his Opening Declaration, Call Hero President and former National Assembly Member Hwang Hak-Soo recalled the tremendous debt of gratitude of the Korean people to the Philippines for helping defend democracy and freedom during the war.

Adding to the voices of appreciation, National Assembly Member and current Chair of the Korea-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Association Rep. Kim Sung-Won delivered a tribute message and said that Korea would always consider the Philippines a close friend and ally. ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Director General Kang Yunjin delivered a message on behalf of MPVA Minister Park Min Shik

Tributes to the bravery of Filipino and all other soldiers during the Korean War were likewise delivered by DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino and Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Sec. Romulo V. Arugay. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega, along with Ms. Jovena Damasen, President of the Descendants of PEFTOK veterans gave congratulatory remarks. Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel and Defense Attaché Col. Enriqueto Deocadez were likewise present at the ceremony.

Secretary Arugay provided the Call Hero Foundation with a reproduction of a rare photograph taken during the Korean War from his province mate in the Philippines. Senior Undersecretary Espino and Ambassador Dizon-de Vega recalled the bravery of the Filipino soldiers and the deep kinship forged between Korean and Filipino veterans through the decades since the war.

The written messages of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairperson of the Senate National Defense Committee and Representative Raul C. Tupas, Chairperson of the HOR National Defense and Security Committee were likewise provided to all the guests in the official program.

During the ceremony, the Call Hero Foundation announced the awarding of financial assistance grants to descendants of veterans in the Philippines.

The event included a community singing of “Arirang” by Filipino and Korea guests, a tribute poem, and a rendition of famous Filipino pop song “Anak” in Korean. The evening was capped by a fellowship dinner.

The activity served as a reminder of the shared sacrifices between the Philippines and Korea and the enduring bonds which help define the robust relations the two countries enjoy up to the present. END

PHILIPPINE CULTURAL DAY HELD AT SEOUL CITY HALL

04 October 2023, Seoul - The International World in Korea (IWIK) with the support of the Philippine Embassy in Korea, the Pinoy Iskolars in Korea (PIKO), and members of the Filipino overseas community, presented a “Philippine Cultural Day” at the Taepyeong Hall of the Seoul City Hall on 03 October 2023. The event was held to commemorate the 74^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea in 2023 ahead of the 75^th anniversary in 2024.

IWIK Founder Sol Kim along with other friends of the Philippines including ROK National Assembly Member Hong Ik-Pyo, Chairperson of the Committee on Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Seoul City Councilman Lim Kyu-Ho, Prof. Kim Won-ki former Vice Chair of the Gyeonggi Province Council, Chairman Lee Ja-yung of the Hanboek Foundation, and Director Hwang Jung-Hee of the Geongbuk Cultural Center, all delivered special messages. Popular Korean idol, actress, host, influencer, and friend of the Philippines, Ms. Sandara Park sent a congratulatory video message.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega thanked the IWIK for continuing to champion multiculturalism and understanding in Korea and stated the one of the strengths of Philippine-Korea relations is rooted in “our historic and vibrant people-to-people relations which further promotes cultural understanding and an appreciation of what makes us unique and what binds our two nations together.”

PIKO President Kenneth Lagamayo gave a presentation on “Do You Know the Philippines?” and Ms. Erlinda Mae Young, another Filipino graduate student and descendant of Filipino Korean War Veteran Major Maximo Purisima Young, likewise spoke on “The Reasons Why You need to Travel to the Philippines”.

The engaging presentations were followed by guests taking part in interactive booths featuring dress-up activities in Filipiniana, learning to dance the Tinikling, writing their names in the ancient Philippine script called Baybayin, tasting Philippine snacks, and reading about Philippine tourism spots. Volunteers from PIKO and the Filipino Community led by Nympha Balawan assisted in the booths.

Over 100 guests from different embassies, student groups, and cultural organizations took part in the event.

IWIK Founder Sol Kim shared that the organization was honored to feature the Philippines and its culture in recognition of “the contributions of Filipinos to the realization of Korea today and the shared values between the Philippines and Korea.”

The Philippine Embassy’s Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista were likewise on hand to talk about the Philippines at the event. END