GOVPH

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SEOUL HOLDS GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR PARTICIPANTS OF REINTEGRATION TRAINING PROGRAM

Ambassador Noe A. Wong with PE Seoul officials and staff pose with the trainers and graduates of the Reintegration Training Program during the graduation ceremony on 30 June 2019 at Sentro Rizal, Philippine Embassy-Seoul.

Seoul, 30 June 2019 – Ambassador Noe A. Wong led in the conferment of Certificates to ninety-five (95) OFW-participants who completed the various livelihood seminars conducted by POLO OWWA for the 1^st semester of 2019 during the Graduation Ceremony of the Reintegration Training Program held on 30 June 2019 at the Sentro Rizal, Philippine Embassy – Seoul.

In his message, Ambassador Wong lauded the extraordinary talent and competence of Filipinos overseas and encouraged them to value and love their work. He stated that Filipinos in Korea are very fortunate to have employment opportunities with good remuneration package and social protection under Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS). He enjoined the graduates to continue to participate in the National Reintegration Programs, which is the primary program of the Philippine government for OFWs, internalize what they learn, and cascade these skills even to the members of their families to maximize the benefits of overseas employment and ensure their successful return and reintegration.

The Ambassador also announced the forthcoming activities that the Embassy has lined up to commemorate the 70^th year of Bilateral Relations of the Philippines and Korea this year. The said activities include the Diplomatic Reception, PHL-ROK Bayanihan Parade, Commemoration of the Landing of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea and others.

On behalf of the participants, Mrs. Geraldine Mortel expressed appreciation for the training programs conducted by the Embassy through POLO OWWA, to their teachers, and the highly interactive format of the training that enabled them to immediately apply their learnings. Barely two (2) weeks after attending the Longganisa and Tofu Making Training, Ms Mortel said that she was already able to develop and sell her longganisa products, and has been receiving steady orders ever since.

Assisting Ambassador Wong during the Graduation Ceremony were Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama, Welfare Officer Pops Deuna, Asst. Labor Attache Terelou Pimentel, Second Secretary Mildred Abordo, and OWWA Interpreter Joey Fiedacan.

For the first semester of 2019, POLO OWWA conducted the following training: Traditional Korea Wine Making, Basic Photography Class, Basic Sewing and Dressmaking Class, Basic Massage Therapy Training, and Longganisa and Tofu Making Training. OFWs in Korea are invited to participate in forthcoming training for the 2^nd half of 2019, which includes Advanced Sewing Class, Financial Education, Agri-Entrepreneurship Training, Table Setting, and Flower Arrangement Seminars, and others. Interested persons may call (822)37853634/5. END

Ambassador Noe A. Wong delivers his inspirational message to the graduates of the Reintegration Training Program.

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN SOUTH KOREA CONDUCTS CONSULAR OUTREACH MISSION IN DAEGU

The Philippine Embassy consular team rendered various services including passport applications and renewals, civil registration, notarials, NBI clearance application, certifications, and citizenship reacquisition, among others, during the two-day mission, which benefitted more than 300 Filipinos in Daegu.

24 June 2019 - The Philippine Embassy in South Korea conducted a Consular Outreach Mission on 21-22 June 2019 at the Catholic Migrant Workers Center located in Daegu, South Korea’s fourth largest city.

The outreach mission was organized in cooperation with the Daegu Catholic Workers Center and the officers and members of the Daegu Filipino Catholic Community (DFCC).

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Lyza Maria S. Viejo led the six-member consular outreach team in bringing various services to the Filipino Community in Daegu including passport application and renewal, civil registration, NBI clearance application, notarial services, and citizenship reacquisition, among others. Vice Consul Viejo also provided information on embassy services, as well as pertinent advice and assistance to Filipinos in Daegu and surrounding cities. The consular team processed a total of 311 consular services during the two-day period, serving more than 300 Filipinos.

Mr. James Lumantas, PAG-IBIG representative, joined the Embassy team to provide assistance and information to Filipino workers regarding their PAG-IBIG membership. Loans, and investments. END

The Philippine Embassy consular team rendered various services including passport applications and renewals, civil registration, notarials, NBI clearance application, certifications, and citizenship reacquisition, among others, during the two-day mission, which benefitted more than 300 Filipinos in Daegu.

2019 ASEAN WEEK IN SEOUL

Ambassador & Mrs. Noe A. Wong (center) at the PDOT-Seoul ASEAN Culture and Tourism Booth

Seoul, 19 June 2019 – The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) and Seoul Metropolitan Government organized the 2019 ASEAN Week to celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of ASEAN-Korea Dialogue Relations and the 10^th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Korea Centre. The 2019 ASEAN Week, which was staged at the Seoul Plaza on 14-16 June 2019, was made up of three (3) special events with the aim of raising public awareness on ASEAN culture and tourism, namely: ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, ASEAN-Korea Fashion Festival and ASEAN Travel Talk and Picnic with ASEAN.

Ambassador Noe A. Wong and Mrs. Maria Elena Wong, together with the ASEAN Ambassadors and their spouses, attended the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 ASEAN Week where H.E. Lee Hyuk, Secretary General of the AKC, Hon. Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, and Ambassador Singtong Lapisatepun of Thailand delivered welcome and congratulatory remarks.

The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival on 14 June 2019 featured ASEAN cultural performances and K-Pop idols. The Philippines was represented by the Kalumon Performing Ensemble from Davao City whose performance of indigenous and contemporary music and dances generated excitement and contributed to the festive spirit.

The ASEAN-Korea Fashion Festival on 15 June 2019 showcased both the traditional and contemporary fashion of ASEAN which were presented on the runway by Dr. Nana Keum, Honorary Ambassador of the ASEAN-Korea Centre, and the spouses of the ASEAN Ambassadors together with models from ASEAN countries. Apart from the ASEAN fashion designers, Korea’s acclaimed Hanbok designer Ms. Park Sul-nyeo also presented her Hanbok creations at the event. For the Philippines, Filip+Inna designer Lenora Luisa Cabili presented a collection of modern interpretation of the terno which showcased ancient techniques of weaving, embroidery and beadwork from different indigenous groups in the Philippines. Madame Maria Elena Wong, spouse of Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Noe A. Wong, and Diwa ng Davao 2018 Ms. Cindy Pauline Benedicto presented the terno on the runway together with Korean models.

The ASEAN Travel Talk and Picnic with ASEAN event on the last day featured a travel talk show with Korean singer Gwanghee Hwang. In addition, ASEAN lifestyle and design exhibitions were also showcased and booths related to culture and tourism were organized by the ASEAN Embassies. The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT)-Seoul led by Tourism Attaché Ms. Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo joined the ASEAN Culture and Tourism Booths at the event zone and raffled off two (2) Incheon-Clark-Incheon tickets courtesy of Philippine Airlines.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting economic and socio-cultural cooperation between ASEAN and Korea. END

Ambassador Noe A. Wong (extreme left) and ASEAN Ambassadors with AKC Secretary Genera Lee Hyuk (4th from left) and Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon (in Hanbok) during the

2019 ASEAN Week Opening Ceremony at Seoul Park