The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF CITY-TO-CITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DURING CALL OF CITYNET OFFICIALS

Top: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega with CityNet CEO Kim JeongKee. CityNet assists local government units from the Philippines during their benchmarking activities in the Republic of Korea and connects them to ROK cities for exchange of best practices in sustainable urban development. Bottom: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and CityNet CEO Kim with Philippine Embassy and City Net officials.

7 August 2023, Seoul - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega highlighted the importance of city-to-city partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals and mitigating the impact of climate change during the courtesy call of CityNet CEO Kim JeongKee and CityNet Officials at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 7 August 2023. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen partnerships between cities in the Republic of the Philippines and CityNet in Korea.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega stated that international partnerships continue to be effective in helping cities address urban challenges and further sustainable urban development in the Asia-Pacific region. Ambassador Dizon-De Vega likewise underscored the importance of fortifying and strengthening city partnerships, and reinforcing existing CityNet partnerships in the Philippines.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega recommended that the organization look into potential partnerships in the Visayas and Mindanao for future partner cities to strengthen its linkages in the Philippines. The CityNet Secretariat conveyed the organization’s interest in partnering with more cities and municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao, especially those that remain vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, emphasizing that CityNet is keenly interested in working with Philippine cities to combat climate change and promote sustainable urban development.

The organization emphasized its dedication to supporting member cities in addressing urban challenges given their experience in connecting cities for knowledge exchange and capacity-building projects across the Asia-Pacific region. With the support and engagement of its members, CityNet creates programs and platforms that help increase connections and build capacity across member cities in the Asia-Pacific.

CityNet CEO Kim Jeongkee was joined by CityNet Deputy Director Jaime Paulo Morra, a Filipino, and Ms. Lee Yejin. The Ambassador was also joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario.

CityNet supports numerous Philippine cities, including Makati, Iloilo, and Muntinlupa which are members of the organization’s 2023-2026 Executive Committee. CityNet continuously partners with PH cities for the exchange of best practices in urban sustainability, sustainable tourism, and other capacity-building projects. END

PH EMBASSY WITH PH E-9 CHESS CLUB HOLD 2ND BLITZ CHESS TOURNAMENT

PR MTD 108 2023

30 July 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy together with the E-9 Chess Club held the 2nd Blitz Chess Tournament at the Sentro Rizal Hall, Philippine Embassy, on 30 July 2023. Attended by at least 25 chess players and licensed arbiters, the event showcased the skills of Overseas Filipino Workers in the game of chess. EPS Renato Samano, Jr., took home the championship, followed by Danny Lasam, Recca Joel Carcueva, Kim Hyo Jin and Emerson Mendoza.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said that activities such as the chess tournament provide a much-needed respite for hardworking Overseas Filipinos who have long been away from their loved ones in the Philippines. She also thanked the Philippine E-9 Chess Club, led by its President Mr. Junjun Jabay, for sharing their enthusiasm and dedication to the game to the Filipino community in South Korea.

An awarding ceremony for newly licensed club arbiters Luisito Lorenzo and Raffy Miranda was also held at the conclusion of the event. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH SERVICE AND OVERSEAS VOTER MOBILE REGISTRATION IN HYEHWADONG, SEOUL

PR MTD 107 2023 Hyewha Outreach

31 July 2023, Hyehwadong, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy conducted a consular outreach mission on 31 July 2023 in Hyehwadong, Seoul, with the cooperation of and in partnership with JIL-Korea. Led by Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., the consular team rendered 44 units of consular and Assistance to Nationals services to members of the Filipino community.

Representatives from Pag-IBIG and OWWA also joined the outreach and rendered a combined 53 services, including renewal of OWWA membership, and opening of Pag-IBIG regular and MP2 accounts. The Embassy also conducted an Overseas Voter Mobile Registration and processed the application of 42 Overseas Filipino Voters.

The Embassy looks forward to working with more Filipino Community organizations as partners in promoting Overseas Voter Registration among the growing Filipino population in Korea, as it intends to conduct outreach services in the areas of Pyeongtaek, Mokpo, Daegu and Yeosu in the coming months. END

VICE PRESIDENT SARA ZIMMERMAN DUTERTE MEETS ROK NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER KIM JINPYO

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio welcomed National Assembly Speaker Kim Jinpyo to her Office on 25 July 2023. The Vice President was joined by Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega and officials from the Office of the Vice President, while Speaker Kim was joined by Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa. Rep. Lee Dal-Gon, Rep. Kim Byungkee, and Rep. Eoh Kiyku.

24 July 2023, Seoul. Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio welcomed ROK Speaker Kim Jin Pyo to her office on 25 July 2023. Both sides had a productive discussion on key priorities of PH-ROK relations, especially socio-cultural cooperation in education and people-to-people relations. Speaker Kim and Vice President Duterte discussed the importance of elevating the PH-ROK bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, in time for the 75th anniversary of friendship between the two nations. Speaker Kim also recalled the bravery of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea who fought during the Korean War and the important role of Filipinos in the history of Korea.

Emphasizing that the welfare of overseas Filipino is of paramount interest to the Philippine Government, Vice President Duterte requested Speaker Kim to continue looking after the welfare of Overseas Filipinos workers, as well Filipino tourists and short-term travelers in Korea. Speaker Kim acknowledged the MATATAG Initiative of the Vice President to resolve basic education concerns, and invited the Vice President to attend and participate in the Global Education Innovation Summit that will be held in Korea in September.

The Vice President was joined by Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Officials from the Office of the Vice President, while Speaker Kim was joined by Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa. Rep. Lee Dal-Gon, Rep. Kim Byungkee, and Rep. Eoh Kiyku. END