13 June 2021, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, through POLO OWWA, held a virtual celebration of the 123rd Independence Day and 26th Migrant Workers' Day on 13 June 2021 with the theme, "Lakas ng Pinoy sa Korea sa Panahon ng Pandemya". The commemorative event featured special messages of distinguished guests and contests that paid tribute to the strength, resilience and bayanihan of Filipinos in Korea during the time of pandemic. It also provided ample entertainment to uplift the spirit of the community amidst the prevailing social distancing rules.

Leading the celebration was the Embassy's Charge d'affaires, a.i. Christian L. de Jesus. In his welcome address, he urged the community to recall that moment, 123 years ago, when the country's forefathers declared the Philippine Independence as a nation and raised the one flag that symbolizes its freedom. According to him, it is no coincidence that the Migrant Workers' Day by virtue of Republic Act 8042 falls in the same month as the Independence Day for, like the act of raising our flag, it also raised the country's bar of protection and welfare for the country's modern day heroes. "Ang kalayaan na may kaakibat na paglilingkod at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa ay isang tunay na kalayaan," CDA de Jesus said as he paid tribute to the selfless service and unity exemplified by Filipinos in Korea during the time of pandemic.

The Filipino community was honored and uplifted by the virtual presence of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., who delivered the Independence Day message, and Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, who delivered the Migrant Workers Day message. The celebration was made even more special with the inspiring messages of Senator Aquilino Martin "Koko" L. Pimentel, Senator Emmanuel Joel Jose Villanueva, Vice-President Kim Sung Jae of the Human Resource Development Service of Korea (HRDK), and OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac.

During the event, the Philippine Embassy and its attached agencies as a one-country-team launched four (4) projects, namely, Promoting Entrepreneurship and Agri-business in Korea or PEAK-Pinoy, Search for the Most Caring Korean Employer, Search for Negosyanteng OFW in Korea, and #PinoyFoodinKorea.

Also highlighting the event was the announcement of the winners of the Essay Writing and Song Composition Contests which were opened for entries a month earlier and carried the event's theme. "Katatagan, Our Homegrown Brand of Grit" by Ms. Sylvia Ali won the top prize over 56 entries for the essay writing while Ms. Seneca Puguan's song composition, Dakila Ka Pinoy, bested 8 other submissions. Lending prestige to the contest was the distinguished panel of judges composed of renowned Filipino composers/ artists, educators, and respected FilCom members. The Association of Filipino Educators in Korea (AFEK) headed by Dr. Joeffrey M. Calimag was the Embassy's partner FilCom in the Essay Writing Contest. Selected entries which best conveyed the thematic stories of strength, resilience and bayanihan spirit of Filipinos in Korea during the pandemic will be featured in a commemorative coffee table book.

The event, which began with the holy mass celebrated by Reverend Father Nilo Pacuribot of the Seoul Filipino Catholic Community, closed with an entertainment program with surprise prizes and guest performers which were highly appreciated and greatly enjoyed by the Filipino community. END


18 June 2021