GOVPH

PH ENVOY INAUGURATES KOICA EXHIBITION ON THE PHILIPPINES

Seoul, 3 May 2018- PH Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez represented the Philippines at the inauguration of the “12^th KOICA Global Village Exhibition: Treasure Islands of the Pacific Ocean: Indonesia and the Philippines” that was held on 3 May 2018 at the KOICA Global Village, Gyeonggi province, Korea.

Ms. Mi-Kyung Lee, President of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), welcomed Ambassador Hernandez and Indonesian Ambassador Umar Hadi as Guests of Honor during the inauguration of the Exhibition. For this special Exhibition, the Philippines and Indonesia were selected by KOICA as the featured countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The curated Exhibition featured three mythical islands, namely the Island of Culture which showcases the exotic cultures of the Philippines and Indonesia; Island of Global Citizenship which highlights the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals; and the Island of Innovation which focuses on KOICA’s Development Innovation Program.

The Exhibition on the Philippines captivated the attention of guests and schoolchildren as it featured iconic Philippine cultural items such as indigenous and MassKara Festival masks, traditional jeepney, Ifugao costumes, and the elegant barong and baro’t saya.

Following the Exhibition, President Lee of KOICA hosted an outdoor ceremony in the middle of a lush green forest which was attended by Ambassador Hernandez, Ambassador Hadi and more than 100 Korean schoolchildren.

In her remarks during the ceremony, President Lee underscored that “Korea’s partnership with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia, would be taken to the next level under the policy direction of the Moon Jae-in administration.”

Ms. Lee further emphasized that by sharing Korea's experience, skills, and know-how with the Philippines and Indonesia, KOICA hopes that it would be able to sow seeds of goodwill that would strengthen Korea’s relations with the Philippines and Indonesia.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Hernandez delivered a presentation highlighting the Filipino youth and the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage. Ambassador Hernandez expressed hope that “his presentation would provide an opportunity for the Korean youth to learn more about the geographical, historical and cultural contexts that have shaped Filipino children into multi-cultural and global citizens.”

Ambassador Hernandez also expressed the hope that the Korean youth would draw inspiration from their Filipino brothers and sisters and grow up to be model citizens of their country, who can make a difference not only in their local communities but also in the larger community of nations.

The event concluded with a reception featuring the distinctive cuisines of the Philippines and Indonesia. Philippine dishes served at the reception included chicken adobo, pansit, lumpia, and banana cue.

The KOICA Global Village Exhibition on the Philippines and Indonesia will end on 28 February 2019. Since its establishment in 2010 by KOICA, the KOICA Global Village has staged an exhibition annually with the aim of showcasing different countries from around the world in order to promote global citizenship and better understanding of global issues.

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DIPLOMATS AND KOREAN BUSINESSMEN ENJOY CAPTIVATING CORON

Seoul, 13 April 2018 - Philippine Ambassador to South Korea, His Excellency Raul S. Hernandez and Madame Ana Hernandez, led a successful familiarization tour of Coron, Palawan, on 7-12 April 2018 with twenty-eight (28) participants from the diplomatic and business communities of Korea.           

The highlights of the tour included visits to the idyllic Kayangan Lake and the Twin Lagoon in Coron Island, two of the most photographed places in the Philippines. There, the participants enjoyed swimming in the clean and clear turquoise waters of Coron Bay. The participants also stopped by Banol Beach and Malcapuya Island where they enjoyed fine, white sand beaches.

In the City of Coron, the group was led to Mt. Tapyas, the second tallest mountain in the city. After climbing more than 700 steps up Mt. Tapyas, the participants were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the town and its port.

The group also visited Maquinit Hot Springs, likewise located in the city of Coron. Maquinit is said to be one of the very few saltwater hot springs in the world. With water temperature of about 38 degrees Celsius, the participants enjoyed a therapeutic and relaxing dip.

In addition to the breathtaking views of Coron’s natural beauty, the participants also feasted on local seafoods. The local community’s warm welcome for the group was extended and led by Coron Mayor Jerry Barracoso and Director Ma. Luisa Diploma of the Department of Tourism – MIMAROPA, who hosted the welcome dinner at Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel.

The tour culminated in a two-night stay at the luxurious Two Seasons Coron Island Resort and Spa where the participants were treated to one of the most stunning beaches in Coron. Apart from lounging in the resort’s world-class beach, the participants were also treated to different water activities, such as kayaking, snorkeling, and stand up paddle boarding.

Apart from Coron, the group also made a quick transit in Clark where DOT-Region 3 hosted lunch for the participants.

The familiarization tour to Coron is already the fifth tour organized by the Embassy for members of Korea’s diplomatic and business communities. The familiarization tour to Coron, Palawan, is a project of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in cooperation with Philippine Department of Tourism-Seoul and the Tourism Promotions Board. The tour’s itinerary was organized by Achim Tour.

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PHILIPPINE EMBASSY HOLDS YOUTH ENGAGEMENTS WITH VISITING STUDENTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Seoul, 26 March 2018 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez welcomed to the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, on separate occasions, the visiting university students, faculty members, and school officials from the University of Asia & the Pacific (U&AP), Far Eastern University (FEU), and Miriam College. The students were on a cross cultural immersion in Seoul.

Following a ten-minute video on the history of Philippine-Korean relations, the students, faculty members, and university officials were given a briefing on the role of the Philippine Embassy in Korea, its advocacies, and activities.

The meeting with the visiting students from the Philippines also served as a venue for the Ambassador and the Embassy to engage the Filipino youth. During his talks with the students, Ambassador Hernandez provided an overview of the robust Philippine-Korean bilateral relations and also the outlooks for the strengthening of this dynamic partnership. Ambassador Hernandez also encouraged them to excel in their studies and in their professions in the future as well as emphasized their important role in the country’s development.

Afterwards, Ambassador Hernandez answered questions on PHL-ROK defense and economic cooperation, national security issues, as well as education opportunities for Filipino students in Korea.

In March alone, a total of one hundred thirty-five (135) university students from the Philippines visited the Philippine Embassy, making it a regular part of the students’ itinerary in South Korea.

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