The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES WAYS TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL GENDER DIVIDE AT 2ND SOOKMYUNG UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY FORUM

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and co-panel of experts including the Ambassador of Brazil, Ireland and The Netherlands, Sookmyung University President Yunkeum Chang and Ms. Yvonne Kim, Executive Director of Asia Society Korea

share the stage to cap the 2^nd Sookmyung International Women’s Day Forum.

20 March 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega was one of the panel of experts invited by the Sookmyung Women’s University (SWU) for the 2^nd Sookmyung Women’s University International Women’s Day Forum held on 08 March 2023. This is the second time Sookmyung university hosted the forum in honor of women’s contribution to the society and to commemorate 2023 International Women’s Day and the second time for Ambassador Dizon-De Vega to be invited to the forum.

During the panel discussion, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega shared insights on one of the critical issues in addressing gender equality – the digital gender divide. She stressed the importance allowing women to fully participate in the digital economy and encourage public and private sector cooperation in bridging the digital gender divide.

To emphasize the Philippines’ active support for gender equality and technology, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega shared the country’s commitment to guarantee universal connectivity by ensuring women’s inclusion in ICT.

To date, there have been significant achievements on Philippine gender policies such as the inclusion of provisions of affordable, accessible, and reliable internet services to our communities, including marginalized women. One of the notable achievements of the Philippines is the launching of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) of the Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) to increase Filipino women’s role in ICT and the completion of the Philippines’ national 2022 Women and ICT Development Index (WIDI) Survey, the first-ever national survey that aims to generate indicators on how women are able to access and use ICTs and its result show that women in the digital space form the backbone of our digital economy. END

PH MTRCB Signs MOU with the Korea Media Rating Board

MTRCB Chair Diorella Maria G. Sotto-Antonio at the MOU signing in Busan with the KMRB; MTRCB officials meet with PH Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega at the Embassy in Seoul (photos by MTRCB)

10 March 2023, Seoul. A delegation from the Philippines’ Movie and Television Review and Classifications Board (MTRCB) led by Chairperson Diorella Maria G. Sotto-Antonio met with counterparts from the Korea Media Ratings Board (KMRB) headed by Chairperson Chai Yoon Hee in Busan early this month.

Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate and share best practices on content review and classification. Both Boards agreed to work more closely on how best to upgrade, update, and elevate service delivery standards for their respective citizens by balancing review and classification of content with creative freedom.

The MTRCB delegation composed of Board members Raquel Cruz, Maria Carmen Musngi, Atty. Paulino Cases, Jr., and Atty. Cesar Pareja likewise met with Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-de Vega on ways to collaborate on reaching out to overseas Filipinos and their families through the Board’s “Responsableng Panonood Program” (responsible viewing). END

PH Congratulates New Leadership of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST)

Amb. Dizon-de Vega delivers remarks and congratulates Dr. Lee Tai Sik on his assumption as the 21^st President of KOFST.

09 March 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega recently delivered congratulatory remarks on the Inaugural Ceremony for the 21^st President of the KOFST, Dr. Tai Sik Lee on 03 March 2023 in Seoul. The ceremony was attended by members of the National Assembly, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and over 100 of the top scientists in Korea, including past Presidents of the KOFST.

In her remarks, Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, conveyed congratulations on the assumption of Dr. Lee and shared that science and technology is one of the priority cooperation areas for the Philippines and Korea. She further added, “We held the first Philippines-Korea Joint Science and Technology committee Meeting in 2022 and have ongoing cooperation projects on space and satellite infrastructure and data-bridging.”

The KOFST is Korea’s largest private-led epicenter of science and technology established in 1966. It has a far-reaching network of Korean S & T experts both in Korea and overseas, leveraging the science and technology talent pool as well as the goal of Korea to be among the leading technologically advanced countries in the world. The current KOFST membership is 6,000 strong encompassing 13 regional science federations, 400 academic societies, and 19 overseas chapters.

KOFST is likewise engaged in private-sector cooperation programs with institutions in other countries and contributes to planning on ODA programs in science and technology. At present, KOFST is also actively engaged in non-governmental science diplomacy, global collective action, and in space studies. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY ADMINISTERS OATH TO OFFICERS OF FILIPINO PHOTOGRAPHERS IN SOUTH KOREA AND FILIPINO UNITEAM SOUTH KOREA

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, Consul General Israel, Vice Consul De Dumo-Cornista, Labor Attache Valderrama, Welfare Officer Deuna, and other personnel with officers and members of the FILIPOS and FUSK (photos courtesy of Seoul PE and FILIPOS)

05 March 2023, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega administered the oath-taking of the officers of two Filipino community organizations, the Filipino Photographers in South Korea (FILIPOS) and Filipino Uniteam South Korea (FUSK).

Organized in 2010, FILIPOS aims to “educate, encourage, and expand the photography knowledge and capabilities of its members, in an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun with Filipino communities in South Korea." Led by its incoming President Warlito Ildefonso, Jr., FILIPOS also renewed their Certificate of Recognition and expressed their commitment to support Embassy activities geared towards the uplifting of the general welfare and profile of the Filipino community.

Also on the same date, the Ambassador presented the Filipino Uniteam South Korea with their Certificate of Registration as a new Filipino community organization. FUSK aims to, among others, assist multicultural families and Filipino marriage migrants become “productive and active members of Korean society.” The organization, led by its first President, Ms. April Valle, has engaged in humanitarian activities for the benefit of needy families in the Philippines and, most recently, earthquake victims in Turkey.

Witnessing the recognition and oath-taking were Consul General Romulo Victor “Jun” Israel, Jr., Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista, Labor Attaché Maya Valderrama, Welfare Officer Pops Deuna, Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista, and Migrant Workers Officer Manny Barotilla.

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