The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL CELEBRATES NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega (4^th from left) leads the Philippine Embassy in Seoul in celebrating National Women’s Month 2023.

8 March 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Korea is one with the nation in celebrating the 2023 National Women’s Month.

Recognizing the importance of advancing women’s rights through the national theme “WE for gender equality and inclusive society,” the Philippine Embassy continues to promote its advocacies on Gender and Development in Korea through participation in international policy fora and gender and development-related consultations, community-related services that empower migrant women and children, and the conduct of programs that promote and advance the well-being of Filipinos in Korea, especially women.

The Philippine Embassy in Korea has several gender and development-related activities for the month of March 2023. We encourage our Filipino community in Korea to take an active role in pursuing gender equality by supporting and participating in these activities and contributing to nation-building by becoming advocates of gender equality for an inclusive society. Please follow our official social media sites for more updates. Mabuhay ang Kababaihang Pilipino!

PH AMBASSADOR JOINS ROUNDTABLE WITH MINISTER FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND FAMILY

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega (4^th from right) joins other Women Ambassadors for a Meeting with ROK Minister Kim Hyunsook (photo by ROK-MOGEF)

03 March 2023, Seoul. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega joined other women ambassadors representing other regions at a meeting with Minister Kim Hyunsook of the ROK Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on 24 February 2023 for a pre-International Women’s Day meeting on issues of common concern.

Ambassadors from the Philippines, Greece, Brazil, the Netherlands, EU, Portugal, Ghana, and Honduras discussed with Minister Kim cooperation on youth policies and programs, family and multicultural family support, gender rights policy, prevention of Human Trafficking, and ODA programs in the areas of women, employment, and vocational training.

Ambassador Dizon-de Vega congratulated the MOGEF for shepherding the passage and implementation of the new ROK Prevention of Human Trafficking Act which is reflective of international standards under the UN TIP Protocol. She noted that it is a growing cross-border concern which would benefit from increased international cooperation. The Ambassador likewise reiterated Philippines-Korea bilateral engagement on the promotion of responsive youth, women, and multicultural family support programs. END

PH EMBASSY AND MWO-SEOUL HOLD ACTIVITIES WITH PHILIPPINE E-9 CHESS CLUB AND PINOY ISKOLARS SA SOUTH KOREA

PR MTD 20 2023

26 February 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers’ Office (MWO) in Seoul conducted various activities with the Filipino community on Sunday, 21 February 2023, at the Sentro Rizal Hall and MWO Resource Center.

The first was a morning ceremony at the Sentro Rizal recognizing the Philippine E-9 Chess Club as a registered Filipino community organization in South Korea, followed by the oath-taking of its new officers administered by Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.

The 1st Blitz Chess Tournament, co-sponsored by MWO - OWWA and the E-9 Chess Club, was then held at the MWO Resource Center later in the afternoon. Consul General Jun Israel and chess club President Junjun Jabay opened the games with the ceremonial first moves. More than 30 EPS players from all over South Korea competed for the top prize of KRW500,000. The winning competitors were awarded prizes by Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, Labor Attache Maria Celeste Valderrama and Welfare Officer Aniceta Deuna.

On the same date, the Pinoy Iskolars sa South Korea (PIKO) held its annual Hayo at Gilas ceremony at the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal in honor of 17 graduating scholars and Filipino student-achievers. The event was attended by guest speaker Prof. Angelita Bautista Cruz from Keimyung University’s Department of Physical Education and PIKO advisers Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista and Prof. Jeoffrey Calimag. An oath-taking ceremony for the incoming 2023 PIKO officers was also conducted. The new PIKO Executive Committee met with Ambassador Dizon-De Vega on issues and concerns being faced by Filipino students in South Korea as well the planned PIKO activities for 2023.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomed the resumption of more in-person activities post-pandemic at the Sentro Rizal, and highlighted the importance of establishing strong partnerships with the Filipino community organizations in promoting the health and welfare of our kababayans. She also challenged Filipino scholars to research and venture into strategic areas such as technology, gender, and smart agriculture, and reiterated the Embassy’s steadfast support to all Filipinos in South Korea. END

UNITED NATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY COMMANDER LT. GEN. ANDREW HARRISON VISITS THE PHILIPPINES

(L to R) UNC DC Lt. Gen Andrew Harrison met with CSAFP Gen. Andres Centino, DFA Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta, DND Undersecretary Angelito De Leon, and NDCP President Ferdinand Cartujano on 24 February 2023.

24 February 2023 - Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison, Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) based in the Republic of Korea visited the Philippines on 24 February 2023.

The UNC Deputy Commander met with Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He likewise met with officials from the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Defense College of the Philippines.

During the visit, Lt. Gen. Harrison provided a briefing on the role of the United Nations Command and the evolving situation in the Korean Peninsula. The visit is also part of the UN command’s efforts to actively engage with all sending states to the Korean War.

The Philippines continues to actively engage the UN Command. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega represents the Philippines in the monthly Ambassador’s Roundtable meetings held by the UN Command in the Republic of Korea.

The Philippines is the fifth country in the world and the first country in Asia to heed the call of the UN to provide military assistance to South Korea during the Korean War through five Battalion Combat Teams known as the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK). With a total number of 7,420 personnel, PEFTOK was the third ground forces to enter Korea, following the US and the United Kingdom. END