GOVPH

PH AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GOYANG INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION CHIEF ON CITY-TO-CITY COOPERATION

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (center) with Goyang City and Embassy Officials. Goyang City team presented the Ambassador with a Korean lantern especially handcrafted using woodworking techniques unique to Goyang for the Ambassador.

SEOUL, 28 July 2022 -- Goyang City’s International Cooperation Team (Branding Division) Ms. Jeong So-yeong, Team Leader, and Ms. Mijeong “MJ” Park, Senior Specialist for International Relations paid a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega to discuss Goyang City’s interest in city-to-city cooperation with municipalities in the Philippines. Joining Ambassador De Vega were Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, and Cultural Officer Anthony Z. Cornista.

During the call, both sides discussed the importance of increased local government cooperation, especially in partnering with cities with existing complementarities. Goyang City is known as a city of higher education and technical skills training,  MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) industry, tourism, green development, technological exchange, and agriculture. Ambassador De Vega also expressed that like Goyang a proud member of the UN Cities for a Sustainable Future (ESCAP), many municipalities in the Philippines are also working to achieve the balance between urban and rural development.

Both sides also discussed the important role the Filipino community plays in the Republic of Korea, as Filipinos are the 6^th largest ethnic and multicultural group in Goyang City. Filipino residents in Goyang are known to be active in cultural and church activities. Goyang is also home to the Korean War Monument to the Philippine Armed Forces which was built in 1974 as a tribute to the Philippines’ valiant efforts during the Korean War.

At the end of the call, both sides looked forward to working closely together to realize a city-to-city partnership with Goyang in the future. END

PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL V. RAMOS (1928-2022)

The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Korea joins the Filipino nation in  mourning the passing of the 12^th President of the Philippines Fidel Valdez Ramos  on 31 July 2022. The former President was 94 years old.

Former President Ramos was a visionary leader in foreign policy and a beacon of democracy. He promoted principles of economic development and instituted the concept of “Complete Staff Work” (CSW) in government for global competitiveness. Among his many post-Presidential term pursuits, he was the Philippines’ representative in the Eminent Person’s Group (EPG) on the ASEAN Charter.

He had a special relationship with the Republic of Korea as he was a member of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) who fought valiantly alongside their South Korean counterparts during the Korean War from 1950-1953. PEFTOK consisted of five combat battalions under the UN Command. Of the 7,420 Filipino soldiers who saw action, 112 were killed and 299 were wounded in action. Former President Ramos was then a second lieutenant and a fresh graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1950 when he volunteered for combat duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. He was assigned as the reconnaissance platoon leader of the reconnaissance company of the 20th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) and led a forty-four man unit to victory in the Battle of Eerie Hill.

As a Korean War veteran, the former President undertook numerous trips to the Republic of Korea and represented the Philippines in official veterans ceremonies including the 60^th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. He was proud to recount the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers to defend democracy and freedom in the Korean Peninsula and in his later years sought to further strengthen Philippine – ROK relations.

For his great service to the Republic of Korea, former President Ramos was awarded the Cheonsu Medal, Order of National Security Merit given to individuals for outstanding meritorious services in the interest of national security and the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest order awarded by the government of South Korea for meritorious services in the interest of promoting the development and security.

The officers and staff of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Korea convey profoundest condolences to the family of former President Fidel V. Ramos. 

PH EMBASSY IN KOREA HOLDS MID-YEAR PLANNING CONFERENCE

26 July 2022 - The Philippine Embassy in Korea held its mid-year Planning Conference on 26 July 2022. The Embassy’s Planning conference is a biannual stocktaking and direction-setting exercise that allows the Embassy and its attached agencies to craft, review, and update a cohesive strategy on improving consular and assistance-to-nationals services and strengthening political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties with the Republic of Korea. 

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega chaired the conference. The Embassy’s section heads and attached agencies including the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO), the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), the Office of the PH Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (ODAFA), the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) presented their respective work plans and targets for the remainder of 2022, and shared best practices to further achieve proposed deliverables in pursuit of strengthening Philippines-ROK relations, the preservation and enhancement of national security, economic diplomacy, efficient delivery of consular services, protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipinos, gender and development, and cultural and public diplomacy.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega provided guidance and insights on the Embassy’s future activities for the second half of 2022 and beyond, acknowledged the accomplishments of each agency for the first half of 2022, and directed members of the Embassy to continue improving on the delivery of services to the Filipino community in Korea.

The Embassy team also acknowledged the cooperation and support of the Filipino community in the Republic of Korea for the Philippine Embassy’s various projects and programs geared towards raising awareness on important issues, providing skills and training services, and promoting solidarity and cooperation among the Filipino community in Korea. END