SEOUL, 2 June 2015 – The Filipino community in Seoul, led by Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez, participated in a Santacruzan street parade to mark the end of the month-long observance of Flores de Mayo in Korea in northeastern Seoul on 31 May 2015.

Organized by the Hyewadong Filipino Catholic Community (HFCC) under the direction of Mr. Roger Amboy, the Santacruzan started from the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center for Filipino Migrants in Seoul, Seongbuk-dong, Songbuk-gu to the St. Benedict Church in Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu.

The main feature of the event was the Sagalà, where young women representing various Filipino organizations, such as the Filipino EPS Workers Association, Seoul Parent Children Organization, HFCC, El Shaddai and Taerim Community and the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea, competed in the religio-historical beauty pageant as queens extolling love, romance and youth.

Ms. Jaza Santos a Filipino student studying at Kyunghee University portrayed the role of Reyna Elena with her escort, Mr. Nash Ang, an aspiring Filipino filmmaker and scholar based in Seoul. Both were proclaimed winners at 2014 Ginoo at Binibining Kalingan (Mr. & Ms. Culture), HFCC's annual beauty pageant.

Congratulating the organizers of the Santacruzan in a speech after mass, Ambassador Hernandez talked about the Embassy's major programs and services, including the Overseas Voters Registration (OV) for national elections in the Philippines in May 2016, which will run until the end of October this year.

He also advised the parishioners to take personal hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the Middle East Respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Filipino community in South Korea. The Philippine Embassy has issued two public advisories to the Filipino Community in South Korea on the MERS-CoV this week.

HFCC, the biggest Filipino community organization in South Korea, is headed by Mr. Jaime Villaflor as its president. It is run by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center for Filipino Migrants under the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP), which started its work in 1990 to respond to the various needs of early Filipino migrants in the country.

Established in 1999 by the Archdiocese in Seoul, the Center is being currently managed by Fr. Alfredo Africa, Jr. MSP who also serves at the Chaplain of the Hyehwadong Filipino Catholic Community at St. Benedict Cathedral.

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