FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA TO THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN KOREA

Ika-30 ng Hulyo 2025

Mga Minamahal na Kababayan sa Korea,

Nais kong iparating ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat sa inyong suporta para sa Embahada ng Pilipinas sa nakalipas na apat na taon ng aking paninilbihan bilang Ambassador sa Korea.

Mula 2021 hanggang 2025, nagtulungan tayo para makamit ang ilang “milestones”—mula sa pagiging “Strategic Partners” ng Pilipinas at Korea, ang pagpapatupad ng Free Trade Agreement ng Pilipinas at Korea, 75 taon ng relasyong diplomatiko, pagpapatuloy ng PH-ROK Joint Committee on Consular Matters Meeting hanggang sa pagtatatag ng mga mekanismo ng pagtutulungan sa maritime cooperation, science and technology, fisheries at iba pang larangan.

Ang EPS MOU ng Pilipinas at Korea ay na-renew sa pamamagitan ng pagsisikap ng DMW at ng MWO-Seoul. Noong 2024, ay naipatupad ang PH-ROK Social Security Agreement at nilagdaan namin ang isang MOU kasama ang Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Kasabay ng mga ito ay lalung pinagtibay ang mga kasalukuyang programa tulad ng PAOS, PEAK Pinoy, skills training at labor seminars. Naglunsad din kami ng mga bagong inisyatibo tulad ng PAOS para sa marriage migrants, Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (KYRR) Seminars, Eskwelahan sa Embahada at Palarong Pinoy, gender programs, legal clinics, wellness sessions, Leaders’ Camp, financial literacy, palit-visa sessions, seminars kasama ang mga estudyante at propesyonal na Filipino, at kasama ang MWO at OWWA, ang pagsubaybay na mga manggagawa sa seasonal workers at pilot caregiver na programa.

Umaasa ako na sa mga pagpapahusay na ginawa namin sa aming mga serbisyo at pasilidad sa nakalipas na apat na taon mula sa pag-aayos ng mga pampublikong lugar sa Embahada para mas maginhawa at organisado ang serbisyo, paglulunsad ng isang pinahusay na Embassy ID, mas madalas na mga consular outreach, at pagsisikap tungo sa pagpapalawak ng aming presensya sa Korea, na kayo ay nakatitiyak ng patuloy na serbisyo ng Embahada. Palaging may puwang para sa mas pagpapabuti ng serbisyo at ito ay nagsisilbing mahalagang aral sa darating na panahon.

Isang karangalan na makasama ko kayo sa inyong mga iba’t ibang akitibidad sa komunidad. Marami ako masasayang alaala ng aking pamalagi sa Korea at umaasa ako na kayong lahat ay patuloy na magtutulungan at magbibigay ng inspirasyon sa isa't isa sa diwa ng "pakikipag-kapwa" na maging pinakamahusay na mga kinatawan ng ating bansa at ng ating kulturang Pilipino sa Korea. Nawa'y matamasa niyo at ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay ang patuloy na pagpapala at mabuting kalusugan.

Maraming salamat. 

Gumagalang,

Maria Theresa “Tess” Dizon-de Vega

Ambassador 

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30 July 2025

Dear Fellow Filipinos in the Republic of Korea,

I wish to convey my sincerest appreciation and thanks for your support for the Philippine Embassy during the last four years that I have been privileged to serve as Ambassador to Korea.

From 2021 to 2025 we worked together to achieve a number of milestones, from the Philippines and Korea becoming Strategic Partners, the conclusion and implementation of the PH-ROK Free Trade Agreement, 75 years of relations, the resumption of the PH-ROK Joint Committee on Consular Matters meeting to the establishment of cooperation mechanisms in Maritime Cooperation, Science and Technology, Fisheries, among others.

The Philippines’ EPS MOU with Korea has been renewed through the efforts of the DMW and the MWO-Seoul. In 2024, the implementation of the PH-ROK Social Security Agreement was finally realized and we signed a MOU with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Along with these, we upgraded existing welfare, labor, and training programs like the PAOS and PEAK Pinoy. We also launched new ones such as the PAOS for marriage migrants, Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (KYRR) Seminars, Eskwelahan sa Embahada and Palarong Pinoy, gender programs, legal clinics, wellness sessions, Leaders’ Camp, financial literacy, palit-visa sessions, seminars with Filipino professionals and students, and with the MWO and OWWA, working closely on the seasonal workers and pilot caregiver tracks.  

I hope that  with the improvements we have made to our services and facilities in the last four years from making the public areas in the Embassy more convenient and efficient, launching an upgraded Embassy ID, more frequent consular outreach programs, and working towards expanding our presence in Korea, that you are assured of continued assistance. There is always room for improvement and these serve as valuable lessons moving forward.

It has been an honor to join you at your different community events. I leave with many warm memories and hope that  you will all continue to support and inspire each other in the spirit of "pakikipag-kapwa" to be the best representatives of our country and our precious Filipino heritage in Korea. May you and your loved ones enjoy continued blessings and good health. 

Maraming salamat.

Respectfully, 

Maria Theresa (Tess) Dizon-de Vega

Ambassador