GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL LAUNCHES THE FIRST AGRI-BUSINESS SEMINAR WITH FARM DEMO TOUR FOR FILIPINOS IN KOREA

The seminar participants with Labor Attaché Maya Valderrama, Welfare Officer Pops Deuna, Agriculture Attaché Aleli Maghirang, CEO Minsoo Kim and Mr. Steven Park of EPIS.

Seoul, 18 August 2019 – The Philippine Embassy conducted the first ever Agri-Business Seminar on Mushroom Production for Filipinos in Korea.

The project was launched by the Embassy as part of the Agri-business Reintegration Program spearheaded jointly by the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO OWWA) in Seoul, in cooperation with Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the Education Promotion and Information Services (EPIS).

The program, which was attended by forty-five (45) OFWs, provided the participants with a comprehensive seminar on mushroom production using smart farm technology, with actual farm operations demo and facility tour of the Chungnyang Mushroom Farm in Gangwon Province.

The resource speaker, Mr. Kim Minsoo, is the Chief Executive Officer of Chungnyang Mushroom Farm and President of Korea’s Mushroom Growers Association. For developing internet-based farm operating system, he was given a Presidential Award and named a Star for Future Farming.

Ambassador Noe A. Wong lauded the MAFRA-EPIS for extending their information services on smart farming to Filipinos working in Korea and providing them with actual exposure to new farming technologies and productivity tools. He encouraged the Filipino community to continue to avail of the government’s Reintegration Preparedness Program in order maximize the benefits of overseas employment and ensure that upon their reintegration, they can apply what they learn from Korea and succeed in operating their respective enterprises in the Philippines.

The participants, who are all OWWA members, commended POLO OWWA and PAO for conducting the pioneering agri-business seminar on mushroom production for Filipinos in Korea, citing that the combined lecture and actual farm exposure greatly helped them understand the requirements for operating a mushroom farm and use technology for increasing agricultural yield and profitability.

Under the Reintegration Preparedness Program, the Embassy also conducts continuing Livelihood Skills Training, Financial Literacy and Education, Investment, and Entrepreneurship Development Seminars to help prepare the OFWs in Korea for their orderly and productive return and reintegration. For schedule of activities, please contact POLO OWWA at 822-37853634/5. END

SEOUL PE CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH IN BUSAN

The six-member consular team of the Philippine Embassy, led by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Ella Karina R. Mitra, pose with the officers and members of the Filipino Community Center (FCC), headed by its Chairman, Mr. Danny Guerra, after the 2-day Consular Outreach.

Seoul, 29 July 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in South Korea conducted its two-day consular outreach mission on 26 and 27 July at the Solidarity with Migrants office in downtown Busan. It was the fourth consular outreach undertaken by the Embassy this year.

The six-member Consular Team was led by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Ella Karina R. Mitra and was assisted by the Filipino Community Center (FCC) headed by its Chairman, Mr. Danny Guerra.

The Consular Team extended a total of 374 services including passport applications, civil registration, notarials, travel documents, NBI clearances, and certifications during the two-day outreach. END

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY WELCOMES PEFTOK DESCENDANTS AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS TO SEOUL

Amb. & Mrs. Noe A. Wong (center) and Embassy officials with the descendants of Filipino veterans of the Korea War

Seoul, 18 July 2019. The celebration of the 70^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Korea also highlights the important role played by the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) during the Korean War. To date, the friendship forged between the Philippine veterans and the Koreans remains strong and continues to flourish.

On 25 June 2019, Ambassador Noe A. Wong hosted a dinner for twelve (12) descendants of Korean War veterans from the Philippines who were invited to Seoul by the Korea Freedom Federation Philippines (KFFP), a Korean nonprofit organization. The KFFP initiated a program in which descendants of Filipino Korean War veterans are invited to visit Seoul and its historical and cultural sites. This KFFP program serves as an expression of appreciation for the sacrifices of the Filipino veterans of the Korean War. Twelve descendants of Korean War veterans from the Philippines, ranging from the ages of 18 to 27, participated in the KFFP program. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Wong expressed his appreciation to KFFP for its initiative to sustain the friendly relations between the Philippines and ROK. In reply, Mr. Lee Kyung Soo, President of KFFP stated his desire to continue honoring the services and memories of the PEFTOK veterans through their descendants.

The Embassy also received a delegation composed of PEFTOK veterans and their families headed by Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina on 1 July 2019. The visit of the PEFTOK veterans and their families was organized by a Korean nonprofit organization, Korea and Her Neighbors (KHN), in celebration of the 70^th Anniversary of Philippines-Korea Diplomatic Relations. The KHN initiative hopes to create awareness among the young Korean generation about the Filipino veterans’ role in Korean modern history. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Noe A. Wong spoke about meeting Koreans who often talked about the help they received from Filipino soldiers during the Korean War and how grateful they are to them. Undersecretary Carolina then delivered his brief remarks on behalf of the veterans and presented Ambassador Wong with the book Filipinos In The Korean War by Cesar P. Pobre.

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950.The Philippines was the first Asian country to respond to the call by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), then headed by General Carlos P. Romulo, to send combat troops in the defense of South Korea from the invasion of the North. PEFTOK was composed of 7,420 soldiers and their bravery and combat proficiency stood out especially during the Battle of Yuldong and the Battle of Eerie Hill. PEFTOK casualties included 116 Killed in Action, 299 Wounded in Action, 57 Missing in Action and 41 Repatriated Prisoners of War. END

Amb. Noe A. Wong and DND Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina (center) pose with the PEFTOK Veterans and their families (in blue vests).