GOVPH

MOU SIGNED BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BOBSLED LUGE AND SKELETON ASSOCIATION, INC. WITH KOREA

5 December 2024, Seoul – A Memorandum of Understanding and Declaration of Friendship was recently signed between the Philippine National Bobsled Luge and Skeleton Association, (PNBSLA) Inc., the Korea Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation (KBSF), the 2018 Pyeongchang & 2024 Gangwon Legacy Foundation (PGLF) and Pyeongchang County at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Signatories to the MOU are President Thelmo O. Cunanan, Jr. of the PNBSLA, President Chanmin Chyun of KBSF, Secretary General Seoungku Kang of PGLF and Deputy Mayor Seonghyun Hwang of Pyeongchang County.

Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon – De Vega witnessed the historic signing of the MOU between the Philippines and the Korean winter sports federations at the Sentro Rizal Conference Room of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. The MOU binds the contracting parties to work together to further the aims of each party in the spirit of friendship and the development of the sports of bobsled and skeleton. 

The PNBLSA was founded and incorporated in 2017 by its President and CEO Thelmo O. Cunanan, Jr. it is the first sledding organization in ASEAN and the first ASEAN member of the International Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based in Switzerland, which is also the Olympic governing body of both sports.

With the agreement, the Philippine National Bobsled contingent composed of seven (7) members from the Philippine Coast Guard arrived in Pyeongchang this November 2024 and have begun training under the tutelage of the Korea Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation (KBSF) and with the support of the Pyeongchang 2018 Legacy Foundation. The athletes are currently honing their skills and building up their physical conditioning in preparation for competition in the Korea Cup scheduled in February 2025.

Pyeongchang County is located in Gangwon province which is approximately 125 kilometers from Seoul. It is the winter sports capital of Korea and hosted the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2018 and is also the site of the Olympic Sliding Center for the sports of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton. The Pyeongchang 2018 Legacy Foundation extends support programs for national winter sports federations for countries in tropical zones to train in Korea.

The MOU signing comes at a time when the Philippines and Korea are celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations. END

PHILIPPINE ADVANCEMENTS IN GENDER EQUALITY HIGHLIGHTED AT THE 2024 BOAO FORUM FOR ASIA IN SEOUL CONFERENCE

Former President and current member of the Philippine House of Representatives H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in the Republic of Korea from 20-23 November 2024 in her capacity as a member of the board of the Boao Forum for Asia. She served as the speaker during the forum’s session for women and youth.

26 November 2024, Seoul. Former President and current member of the Philippine House of Representatives H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in the Republic of Korea from 21-23 November 2024 in her capacity as a member of the board of the Boao Forum for Asia.

A team from the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, formed part of the delegation to the conference. Inaugurated in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia is committed to promoting regional economic integration and common development of Asian countries.

The 2024 Boao Forum for Asia in Seoul conference convened political, business, diplomatic, and academic leaders from all over the globe to discuss shared concerns such as geopolitical challenges and opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, the attainment of sustainable development goals, artificial intelligence, and the role of women and youth in the future of the world.

Former President and representative Macapagal Arroyo served as the speaker during the forum’s session for women and youth, where she spoke extensively on equitable education in the Philippines. According to the Former President and Representative, this equity in education regardless of gender that has been present in the Philippines since the colonial times has paved the way for social acceptance of gender equality and participation of women in leadership roles and specialized fields.

She likewise stressed that legislation for equal treatment of women is important for development. The Former President recalled that it was during her tenure as Philippine President that the Republic Act 9710 (the Magna Carta of Women) was signed into law. The Magna Carta of Women contains extensive provisions which promote women’s rights, including the right to non-discrimination. It is based on a substantive notion of gender equality and aims at real empowerment of women. As Senator (1992-1998), the former President was also instrumental in the signing Republic Act 8044 or the "Youth in Nation-Building Act of 1995", paving the way for the National Youth Commission.

Former President and Representative Macapagal-Arroyo also underscored the importance of having substantive discussions on global trends in gender development, and suggested taking stock of what has worked and what has not in the almost thirty years that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 1995 has been effect and use these recommendations to move critical areas of concern forward.

The Boao Forum for Asia was attended by notable figures, including Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia Zhang Jun, former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Vice Chairman of Yibin Wuliangye Group Zhang Yu, and various former leaders, foreign ministers, and influential figures from East Asia’s political and business sectors.

Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul hosted a welcome dinner for the Boao board members where he sought their support for the Republic of Korea’s 2025 hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

While in Seoul, the former President and Representative also engaged members of civil society and esteemed advocates for human rights and sustainable development such as H.E. Ban Ki Moon in her capacity as a Commissioner of the International Commission on the Death Penalty. END

The Boao Forum for Asia was attended by notable figures, including Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia Ban Ki-moon (former UN Secretary-General), Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia Zhang Jun (former Ambassador of China to the UN), former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Vice Chairman of Yibin Wuliangye Group Zhang Yu, and various former leaders and influential figures from East Asia’s political and business sectors.

While in Seoul, the former President and Representative also engaged members of civil society and esteemed advocates for human rights and sustainable development such as H.E. Ban Ki Moon in her capacity as a Commissioner of the International Commission on the Death Penalty.

A team from the Philippine Embassy in Seoul led by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, formed part of the delegation to the conference. Inaugurated in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia is committed to promoting regional economic integration and common development of Asian countries.

PHILIPPINES HIGHLIGHTS STRATEGIC ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WITH KOREA AT 2024 SEGYE ASEAN FORUM

14 November 2024, Seoul - The Philippines was honored to be the featured country of the 2024 Segye ASEAN Forum held at the International Conference Hall of the Seoul Press Center on 30 October 2024. The forum was held in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea and aims to enhance trade and investment between the two nations upon the implementation of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this year.

The Philippines’ top economic officials participated in the forum where they underscored the dynamic trade and investment opportunities for the Philippines - Republic of Korea relations. Secretary of Trade and Industry Cristina Aldeguer Roque delivered the welcome remarks through a video presentation.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega in her congratulatory remarks emphasized the vibrant prospects of economic cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, as we have just recently elevated our relations to that of a Strategic Partnership. The Ambassador likewise underscored that Korean investors can benefit a lot from the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement, set to take effect within the year.

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo of the Industry Development Group (IDG) and Chief negotiator of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement delivered a presentation on the strategic economic opportunities between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, highlighting that both nations have complementary economies and that strategic opportunities are available in manufacturing and critical raw minerals processing, innovation, digital transformation, connectivity. He noted that space economy and space technology utilization, climate change mitigation and adaptation and a just transition to clean energy are among critical areas for engagement. This was followed by a presentation on the measures that will enhance economic cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic Korea following the ratification of the FTA, delivered by Philippines Investment and Trade Center Commercial Attaché Charmaine Mignon S. Yalong.

Philippine Department of Agriculture Information and Communications Technology Chief Xerxees Remoroso also presented the importance of leveraging digital technology and mutual cooperation to strengthen Philippines - ROK agriculture products supply chain in response to climate change.

The 2024 Segye ASEAN Forum highlighted that both countries are active participants in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), established in 2022, where the Philippines plays a vital role in key areas such as supply chain development, clean energy, decarbonization, and infrastructure. The presentation of Philippine national agencies was complemented by reactions and recommendations from a pool of Korean Economic experts from esteemed organizations such as the Trade and Economic Committee of the National Assembly, represented by the Hon. Lee Jae Kwan and Hon. Park Jun Tae, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).