GOVPH

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN TOURISM FOR OFWS FEATURED IN 8TH PEAK PINOY WEBINAR

29 June 2022, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT), held the 8^th PEAK Pinoy webinar on 26 June 2022 featuring business opportunities in tourism for returning overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers entitled “Balikbayani sa Turismo”.

PEAK Pinoy, short for Promoting Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness for Overseas Filipinos in South Korea, is the Embassy’s flagship project on reintegration of overseas Filipinos and OFWs which is jointly implemented by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, the Philippine Agriculture Office, and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration under the Embassy’s one-country team approach. The webinar series has previously featured business opportunities in weaving, aquaculture, strawberry and mushroom production among others.

In her message, Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega highlighted the importance of, and the Embassy’s support for the early preparation and planning on reintegration of overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Korea through PEAK Pinoy. “The Embassy welcomes the DOT’s efforts in promoting tourism and helping our OFWs become industry partners as well as future entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. Tourism is one of the sectors where employment creation potential is huge, and OFWs in Korea have the distinct advantage of developing ideas and skills in tourism because of the robust tourism industry here”, the Ambassador said. Citing her participation in the recent inaugural flight of Fly Gangwon Airlines from Yangyang International Airport to the new Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga, she shared her optimism that tourism and related business will rebound fast with the easing of global travel restrictions.

The 8^th PEAK Pinoy webinar presented to the online participants the various tourism skills training offered by the DOT’s Office of Industry Manpower Development which OFWs and their families can avail of. It also provided the start-up requirements and tips in putting up tourism retail and farm-tourism business. Featured resource persons are former OFW-turned-entrepreneurs Mr. Francisco dela Cruz of Rockstar Retail and Engr. and Mrs. Kaicelle Atun of Desmond Farms, with Mr. Ryan Sebastian and special guest speaker Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno of the DOT.

The first run of Balikbayani sa Turismo in Korea was held in November 2020. The next PEAK Pinoy webinar will be held in 31 July 2022 featuring entrepreneurship and agribusiness opportunities in region 4A or Calabarzon. END

PH KOREAN WAR VETERANS BESTOWED ROK APOSTLE OF PEACE AWARD BY PRESIDENT YOON SUK YEOL

SEOUL, 27 June 2022 -- ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol conferred the prestigious Apostle of Peace medal to 2LT Benito Junio Camacho and 2LT Gregorio Vicenal Roxas, two Filipino veterans of the Korean War during a commemorative luncheon with Korean War veterans on 24 June 2022 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.

2LT Camacho and 2LT Roxas served as members of the 7,420 strong contingent of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) that fought in the 1950-1953 Korean War. The Philippines was the first Asian country to respond to the call by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to send combat troops in the defense of South Korea from the invasion of the North. The Filipino soldiers characterized by their bravery and combat proficiency stood out especially during the Battle of Yuldong and the Battle of Eerie Hill. Aside from the two Filipino war veterans, President Yoon also conferred the peace medal to veterans from the USA, Canada, and Ethiopia.

During the event, President Yoon expressed his appreciation for the selflessness and bravery of the veterans, saying that they are the heroes who made the Republic of Korea what it is today. The President also emphasized that the freedom, peace, and prosperity which the Republic of Korea enjoys were achieved through the blood, sweat, sacrifice, and dedication of the Korean and UN military veterans.

The luncheon was attended by more than 200 veterans and their family members, including twelve (12) UN veterans. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Theresa Dizon-De Vega also attended the event and congratulated the Philippine awardees and their families. To show the appreciation of the Philippines for their service and bravery, Ambassador De Vega with Philippine Defense Attache Col. Enriqueto Deocadez likewise awarded the two veterans with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Embassy at a banquet hosted by the ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in honor of the UN Korean War Veterans on 27 June 2022. END

AMBASSADOR DIZON-DE VEGA MEETS ROK SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE PH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION KWEON SEONG DONG

SEOUL, 28 June 2022 - Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega met with ROK Special Envoy to the Philippine Presidential Inauguration and People Power Party (PPP) Floor Leader Rep. Kweon Seong Dong today, 28 June 2022 at the National Assembly in Yeouido. Special Envoy Kweon was joined by PPP Rep. Yang Kum Hee, who is also part of the ten-member ROK delegation attending the Presidential inauguration of H.E. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 30 June 2022 in Manila.

Both sides had a productive discussion on the importance of deepening PH-ROK relations under their respective new governments. Both Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Rep. Kweon affirmed that PH-ROK relations will continue to enjoy stronger ties under the Yoon and Marcos administrations. Ambassador De Vega underscored the importance the Philippines accord to its relations with the Republic Korea, saying that “President-elect Marcos has already met Korean Ambassador Kim In-Chul and conveyed his interest in furthering our engagement in nuclear energy cooperation, signing the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement, and elevating our relations to a Strategic Partnership.”

Rep. Kweon, as Special Envoy of the Republic of Korea to the Presidential Inauguration, will personally deliver ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol’s message of congratulations to President Marcos and the Yoon administration’s vision of working closely with the new Philippine government to further strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. END