SEOUL, 7 February 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez called on the collective heads of the Filipino community in Korea at the first Leaders’ Forum for 2015 held on Saturday, 7 February 2015 at the Embassy Chancery to mobilize their members to come out in droves to register as overseas voters for the 2016 national elections.

“I invite you and your members to participate in the ongoing overseas absentee voters’ registration which is slated to run until October 31, 2015. Let us use the nine months we have left to formalize our role as arbiters of the country’s future,” Ambassador Hernandez said, calling the right of suffrage a responsibility every Filipino has to effect historic change. The Philippines’ top envoy in Korea appealed directly to the 70 participating Filipino leaders’ patriotism to “ensure that the individual voices of your constituents are heard and taken into account” in May 2016. “As citizens of Asia’s first republic, we are called upon to vote into office the right President and other officials who will lead the country through the next six years. This crucial task falls squarely on our shoulders, both as leaders of men and sons and daughters of a nation we can be most proud of,” he said in his opening remarks at the afternoon meeting. “Let us finally give basis to our longstanding demand for accountability from government, first and foremost, by holding ourselves accountable for the solemn task of choosing our own leaders. The former is a right; the latter, a solemn obligation,” he said. “Exercise your right to vote – and take the lead to register with the Embassy.” While the Philippines granted in 2003 its massive diaspora of 10 million citizens the chance to vote in national elections under the Overseas Absentee Voting Act, the percentage of votes cast have not justified the costs of holding such an exercise every three years in some 80 foreign service posts worldwide. One reason given by some experts is political apathy. The ambassador also addressed this: “There are people who are jaded by the electoral process. Some of us will claim that they will not register because there is simply no one to vote for. If this will be our argument, we do not love our country as we are not contributing to our country's future. I believe that one's failure to register is a disservice to the country.” Following Ambassador Hernandez’ remarks, Labor Attaché Felicitas Q. Bay reported on labor-related updates, followed by consular announcements by First Secretary and Consul General Iric C. Arribas and reminders for marriage migrants by Social Welfare Attaché Lucita J. Villanueva and an extended open forum. The four-hour event ended at 7pm after snacks. As of 3 February 2015, 2,285 Filipino residents of Korea have registered since registration started in May 2014 or 32.64 percent of its target of 7,000 new registrants.