The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PH EMBASSY HOLDS THE FIRST LEADERS FORUM FOR 2023

Amb. Dizon-de Vega welcomes participants to the Forum; PH Embassy officials provide updates on various issues and activities; Participants gather for a commemorative photograph on the rooftop of the Embassy

06 February 2023, Seoul – The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, together with POLO OWWA, and other attached agencies held its first regular Leaders Forum for the year on 04 February 2023. More than 70 leaders representing the Filipino community organizations and migrant support network from the different areas in South Korea attended the forum which was held in a hybrid online and face-to-face gathering at the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal Hall.

In her opening message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega said that the year 2023 brings many changes, challenges, and opportunities. The Ambassador welcomed the establishment of the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) now transitioning into a fully operational agency which aims to bring about more cohesive policies and processes in addressing employment, welfare, and other assistance concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). She noted the possible forthcoming changes in entry regulations to Korea and the impact on the Filipino community as well as the growing need for social safety nets. There are likewise challenges and opportunities in advocating for greater multiculturalism. She encouraged Filipinos in Korea to maximize opportunities for greater two-way tourism in the Philippines.

The Embassy likewise invited the Filipino community to be active participants in the commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea in 2024. “Amidst this period of challenges, and opportunities, the Embassy remains highly committed to serve and respond to the growing needs of our Filipino community in Korea in partnership with our active and engaged Filipino community organizations”, the Ambassador said.

Embassy officers and heads of attached agencies presented recent updates on consular and labor matters, overseas voting registration, emergency preparedness, and general health and entry/exit protocols. Activities for the first half of the year including PEAK Pinoy sessions, Know Your Rights and Responsibilities seminars, Livelihood Skills Trainings, Outreach Missions, Post-Arrival Orientation, Balik Saya Para sa OFWs sa South Korea from OWWA, and Bisita, Be my Guest project of the Philippine Tourism Department. An open forum provided an opportunity for the FilCom leaders, including those participating online, to discuss their concerns and suggestions which were responded to by the Embassy.

Ambassador de Vega likewise announced the holding of an in-person 125^th Philippine Independence and 28^th Migrant Workers Day celebration in June, and the Summer School and Palarong Pinoy in August. She called for volunteers from the community to be part of the various Committees for these events. The leaders expressed interest to support the different tasks identified.

Ms. Mishka Camulte a Filipino performer based in Seoul rendered a song number and FilCom participants were given a tour of the newly-renovated consular, cultural, ATN, and main lobby sections of the Embassy designed to provide more comfortable spaces for kababayans visiting the premises. END

PHILIPPINES AFFIRMS HEIGHTENED COOPERATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS (DMW) ON EPS CONCERNS

Labor Attaché Valderrama, Dir Duquez, Mr. Cristobal with HRDK officials led by President Uh Soo Bong; Ambassador Dizon-De Vega meets with the DMW delegates and POLO-Seoul Officials

03 February 2023, Seoul – A Philippine Delegation from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) composed of Director Rosemarie G. Duquez and Mr. Edwin Cristobal of the DMW-Government Placement Branch together with Labor Attaché Maria Celeste Valderrama took part in the 2023 Joint EPS Workshop organized by the Human Resource Development Korea (HRDK) held from 26-27 January 2023 in Sokcho, Gangwon-do.

The DMW officials likewise met with Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega, Attaché Valderrama, and Welfare Officer Aniceta Deuna where they shared in-depth views on strengthening pre-departure and post-arrival programs for Filipino EPS workers as well as welfare, training, and education programs in anticipation of the full normalization of the EPS program in 2023.

As Korea targets 110,000 EPS workers to enter the country this year, the Philippine Embassy and DMW’s efforts will be directed towards improving screening and deployment procedures, helping Filipino EPS workers become more competitive and better prepared to manage work. Ambassador de Vega underscored that proficiency in the Korean language and continuing skills improvement are essential elements to having a successful stint in the EPS sector and the Embassy and the POLO will continue to pursue programs in these areas. END

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON ARCHBISHOP OF SEOUL

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega with His Eminence Peter Chung Soon-Taick, Archbishop of Seoul at the Myeongdong Cathedral offices in Jung-gu, Seoul.

1 February 2023 - Ambassador of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega paid a courtesy call on His Eminence Peter Chung Soon-Taick, Archbishop of Seoul, on 1 February 2023 at the Myeongdong Cathedral offices in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-Taick expressed his appreciation for the active Filipino Catholic community in Korea and noted that the Filipino Catholic community is an exemplary and vibrant migrant Catholic community. Ambassador De Vega noted that the Seoul Filipino Catholic Community is now three decades strong and continues to play an active role in furthering the Catholic faith not just through the observance of church practices but also in apostolic work mainly through providing assistance to Filipinos and other migrants, working with welfare groups, promoting Filipino culture, and assisting multicultural families. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-Taick also appreciated the secretariat work of the Filipino clergy in major episcopal conferences in Asia, befitting the Philippines’ status as the largest Catholic country in Asia.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also shared with the Archbishop the Embassy’s plans and projects for the Filipino community in Korea in 2023 and invited the Archbishop to visit the St. Andrew Kim Taegon shrine, now a Diocesan shrine, in Lolomboy,Bocaue, Bulacan in the Philippines when the opportunity permits. St. Andrew Kim Taegon is the first Korean-born Catholic priest and is the patron saint of the Korean clergy. During St. Andrew Kim Taegon’s seminary years, he spent time in Bulacan, Philippines where a shrine honoring his memory is now located. END

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega presented the Archbishop with a book on Philippine maps throughout history, the Archbishop gave the Ambassador an image of the Virgin Mary wearing a Korean Hanbook.

Philippine and Korean New Year Culinary Traditions Featured on Arirang TV’s Diplomat’s Talks

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega presenting Philippine dishes, fresh fruits, vegetables and other Philippine products to Diplomat Talks producer-director Nuri Na. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario and Agriculture Attaché Ma. Alilia G. Maghirang assisted the Ambassador in preparing for the special episode of Diplomat Talks.

29 January 2023, Seoul. Philippine culinary traditions for New Year celebrations were featured on Arirang TV’s show Diplomat’s Talk in a special episode for Seollal, Korea’s Lunar New Year festival.

In the show, broadcast on Arirang’s local and international channel and online platforms, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-de Vega shared Philippine New Year food traditions, explaining to audiences the stories behind how certain dishes make their way to the Filipino holiday table. She likewise presented Philippine fruits, vegetables, and other food products available in the Korean market and what makes Filipino New Year celebrations festive and special.

In the same episode host and producer-director Nuri Na shared some interesting information about Seollal and prepared the traditional dish Tteokguk for Ambassador De Vega, while she tried the Philippines’ pancit for long life and Ginataang Bilo-bilo and Biko as festive Philippine dishes for the New Year.

This activity is part of the Philippine Embassy’s gastrodiplomacy program which aims to spark international audiences’ interest in Filipino cuisine and culinary traditions. More gastrodiplomacy promotions will be held throughout the year as the Embassy gears up for the commemoration of 75 years of relations between the Philippines and Korea in 2024. END