The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY JOINS CAMPAIGN TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN THROUGH EMPOWERING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING VIA KKK: KAALAMAN SA KALUSUGAN NG KABABAIHAN SEMINAR

[Above photo] Seminar participants pose with the End VAW hand signal. [Below photo L-R] Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega delivering her opening remarks, Professor Emilie Lopez and Dr. Jin-ju Ok sharing their presentations to the participants.

05 December 2024, Seoul. In observance of this year’s 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from 25 November to 12 December 2024, the Gender and Development Unit of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul organized a seminar on “KKK: Kaalaman sa Kalusugan ng Kababaihan” (A Reproductive Health and Wellness Seminar for Filipino Women in Korea) on 24 November 2024 at the 2^nd Floor, Sentro Rizal Hall of the Philippine Embassy for the members of the Filipino Community.

The seminar underscored that care of one's body through exercise, proper nutrition, and wellness techniques can boost confidence, energy, and mental clarity. When women feel physically strong, they are more likely to stand up for themselves and set healthy boundaries. It also emphasized that women who are physically healthy also have more energy, vitality, and a sense of autonomy, which makes it easier for them to take action in their own lives, including preventing or escaping abusive situations

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega thanked the resource persons for sharing their expertise on women's health and wellness and stressed to the participants the importance of regular early health screening and testing. She mentioned that maintaining proper health balance will lead to a strong and healthy Filipino community in Korea.

Professor Emilie Lopez, a Korea-based University Professor in Nursing and AFEK Vice President, Researcher, Author of Caregiving Books, Adviser and Editorial Board Member in Health and Education-related Research and Dr. Jin-ju Ok, Professor Primary Care, Travel Medicine Physician at the International Health Care Center of The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital served as the seminar’s resource speakers.

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario moderating the seminar program and Prof. Lopez delivering her lecture.

Professor Lopez’s presentation focused on risk factors of chronic diseases, importance of stress management strategies, techniques to manage blood sugar and blood pressure as well as wellness tips to handle stress and chronic illnesses of the cardiovascular and related body system. Dr. Ok spoke about women’s health particularly on gynecological cancers and menopause. She also shared aqua wellness activities that the participants may try to boost their health and well-being.

Five (5) lucky participants received glucometers or blood sugar test kit. Professor Lopez provided a brief demonstration on how to use the test kit. The seminar was simultaneously livestreamed on the official Facebook page of the Embassy and is accessible for those who are interested to watch.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul continues to advocate for women's health as a preventive strategy to address violence against women, and which underscores that a strong sense of self-worth, nurtured by physical and emotional well-being, makes women less likely to tolerate harmful behavior or relationships and empowers them to seek help or exit abusive situations. END

PH Participates in International Conference on Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific and the Rules-Based International Order

PR MTD 159 2024

11 December 2024, Seoul. Panelists from the Philippines took part in the International Conference on Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific and the Rules-Based International Order held on 23 October 2024 at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.

The Seoul International Law Academy (SILA) in cooperation with the Eunsung Global Research Foundation (EGRF) hosted the annual international conference bringing together distinguished scholars, legal experts, policymakers, and diplomats to discuss pressing issues surrounding geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order.

The conference discussed the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region; challenges to the existing rules-based international order; and (3) opportunities for collaboration among nations to promote peace, stability, and adherence to international law.

The conference was opened by Korea University Professor Chung Suh-yong, President of the Seoul International Law Academy, who emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific as a focal point of global politics and the need for robust legal frameworks to address emerging challenges in the region across critical fields.

The keynote address was delivered by Korea’s First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun, who spoke on the importance of multilateral cooperation and a rules-based order in navigating complex challenges in the region.

Philippine Ambassador to Korea Theresa Dizon-de Vega was a panelist on “Rules-based Strategies in the Indo-Pacific on Climate Change where she presented the Philippines’ longstanding advocacy for a rules-based international order in addressing climate concerns.

Professor Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines joined the panel on the “Status and Challenges of Indo-Pacific Strategies Amid Geopolitical Shifts,” where he discussed maritime security issues and legal mechanisms under UNCLOS.

The Seoul International Law Academy annual conference provides a platform for meaningful discussions on global cooperation in international legal matters. END

PH Highlights Digital Innovations in Civil Service at Asia Public Network Conference

PR MTD 158 2024 MPM OECD

09 December 2024, Seoul. The Philippines represented by CSC Commissioner Ryan Alvin Acosta, Assistant Commissioner Nerissa Canguilan, and Atty. Lord Bien Lelay took part in the Asia Public Network Conference (APNC) jointly organized by the Korean Ministry of Personnel Management (MPM) and the OECD, held on November 20, 2024 in Seoul. The CSC delegation was joined by Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega at the conference.

The APNC brought together senior policymakers, public management experts, and representatives from Asian nations to address challenges and opportunities in modernizing public governance. The annual conference focused on fostering resilient, innovative, and citizen-centered public administration systems across the region.

CSC Commissioner Acosta made a presentation on the digitalization efforts in the Philippine Public Service Sector. He shared the latest innovations of the CSC on online appointment system processing (OAPS), the Civil Service Digital Examination (CSDex), and Learning Management System (LMS).

The three innovation programs are envisioned to help transform the management of the private sector with the OAPS being a platform that will optimize the evaluation and attestation of appointments in the government service. The CSDex is a cloud-based platform that would allow online examinations to be conducted in any even with internet connectivity. The LMS facilitates the conduct of online instructor-led course and online self-paced courses.

The Philippines joined other participating countries in underscoring the critical role of effective public governance in addressing the challenges of the 21st century and that by fostering regional cooperation, sharing best practices, and leveraging digital innovation, more resilient and citizen-centered public administration systems in Asia can prosper. END

PHILIPPINES PARTICIPATES AT THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE (INC-5) HELD IN BUSAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega (fifth from left) with the Philippine delegation during the opening ceremony of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, held at the Busan Expo Convention Center, 25 November 2024. The Ambassador is joined by senior officials from the DENR and DOH, as well as multilateral advisers from the DFA.

2 December 2024 - Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea H.E. Theresa Dizon-De Vega was honored to form part of the Philippine delegation participating in the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment held from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, South Korea.

Undersecretary for Planning, Policy, and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was head of the Philippine delegation. The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian nation to include a senior official from the Department of Health (represented by Undersecretary Ann Palermo-Maestral) in its delegation, leading the charge for sustainable healthcare in the region.

The INC-5 was convened for states to agree upon an internationally binding agreement to reduce plastic pollution. It was estimated that 3,500 people attended, including government officials from 170 United Nations member states, 31 international organizations, industry, civic groups, and academia.

During negotiations, the Philippines called for the need to build a pathway towards the global reduction in plastic production at sustainable levels, the need for binding rules on products, chemicals, and design that ensure a globally coordinated approach, and strong international cooperation tied to the means of implementation to close the gaps in financing, technical, technological, and other capacities in developing countries—particularly archipelagic states and other geographically disadvantaged states, among others.

The Philippines also supported a standalone Article on Health, cognizant that a plastic pollution crisis is also a health crisis, and stood in solidarity with the 95 other delegations that call for a strong plastics treaty.

The Philippine Delegation to the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment held from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, South Korea. Bottom, from L-R: Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary of Health Ann Palermo Maestral, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Planning, Policy, and International Affairs Atty. Jonas Leones, and DENR Chief Environmental Management Specliast Mr. Albert A. Magalang (Climate Change Service) deliver interventions for the Philippines.

As host, the Republic of Korea enjoined all members to “end plastic pollution before plastic pollution ends us.” The Republic of Korea also highlighted the country’s efforts to tackle plastic waste, such as introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system 20 years ago to reduce waste and increase recycling rates and strengthening the system through the Act on Promotion of Transition to Circular Economy and Society in 2024, while pledging to share these experiences with the global community. ROK Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul and Minister of Environment Kim Wansup served as ROK co-chairs of the event. They were joined by around plus 140 officials from the ROK ministries of foreign affairs, environment, trade, industry and energy, and oceans and fisheries.

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) for a Global Plastics Treaty concluded in Busan on 2 December 2024, with plans for a final negotiation meeting. END