The Philippine Embassy in South Korea hosted a successful Leaders Forum at the Chancery on 6 September 2008 from 4 to 7 PM. Attended by around 30 community leaders, the Forum discussed important updates and initiatives by the Embassy.

During the Forum, Amb. Luis T. Cruz emphasized the need for constant and open communication between the Filipino Community and the Philippine Embassy so that the two sides can further work closely together. The highlights of the Forum are as follows: Machine Readable Passport (MRP) Issuance of the new Machine Readable Passport has been in full swing since June 2008. The new passport has greater security features. Applicants are reminded to apply for the renewal of their passports in advance because the application process takes approximately one month from the date of filing. Because biometrics are captured, personal appearance of the applicant is required. Contingency Plan In case of emergency, the Embassy has a Contingency Plan which it shared with the Filipino Community. This Plan covers extreme scenarios, such as war, which would require massive evacuation of Filipinos. For better coordination, staging points have been identified in different parts of South Korea. The Filipino community will play a significant role in mobilizing fellow Filipinos as well as resources in case of such an event. 60th Anniversary Celebration March 3, 2009 will mark the 60th Anniversary of RP-ROK relations. The Embassy has lined up several activities for next year, including the filming of a documentary on the Philippine participation in the Korean War. Another big event is the One Philippines program, which will feature booths on Philippine tourism, culture and business opportunities, as well as street parades. The Embassy will call a special meeting to discuss the details and how the Filipino Community can participate. Some organizations have already signified intent on taking part in the celebrations, particularly in the street parade. Cultural Programs The Embassy will coordinate the following cultural activities: • Trainers’ Training for Cultural Promotion - Sep. 20, Embassy • Seminar on Philippine Culture for Korean spouses and in-laws of Filipino nationals – Sep. 27, Paju City • 5th Asia Song Festival – Oct. 4, World Cup Stadium • Kapuluan: Islands of Vision (An Art Exhibition) – Oct. 8 to 18, Korea Foundation • 7,107 Islands: A Painting Workshop – Oct. 11, Embassy • Mangyan Heritage: A Lecture on the Rich Culture of the Mangyans – Oct. 14, Korea Foundation Mr. Mylo Fausto, Cultural Officer, can be contacted for more information on these activities. Overseas Absentee Voting Registration period for Overseas Absentee Voters will begin on December 1, 2008 and end on August 31, 2009. Everyone is encouraged to register at the Embassy to participate in the May 10, 2010 Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. Financial Literacy Program and Business Opportunities in RP The Embassy has so far conducted the following seminars, which, based on feedback from participants, have been helpful in emphasizing the need for savings: 1. Kasan Migrant Workers Center - March 30, 2008 – 60 participants 2. Chongmasan Catholic Center - April 27, 2008 – 60 participants 3. Philippine Embassy - May 4, 2008 – 20 participants 4. Hyewadong Catholic Center - June 1, 2008 – 41 participants 5. Daejon City - June 22, 2008 – 85 participants 6. Light of Life Church - July 20, 2008 – 38 participants 7. Philippine Embassy - August 17, 2008 – 25 participants 8. Daegu Catholic Center - August 24, 2008 – 55 participants 9. Pusan Catholic Center - August 31, 2008 – 50 participants Labor & Immigration Policy Update The MOU on the Employment Permit System will expire and be renegotiated in October. Inputs from the Filipino Community have so far been encouraging. Meanwhile, the RP-ROK Social Security Agreement is now pending at the Senate for concurrence. During the Open Forum, some members of the community expressed concern about the Agreement and stated their planned efforts to formally voice their objection, including an online signature campaign calling on the Senate not to ratify the Treaty. In particular, they disagree with a provision in the Agreement that would disallow receipt of the lump-sum refund of their contributions at end-of-contract and would instead have the contributions available for use at retirement age. Some members also claimed that there no consultation was done when the Agreement was being negotiated. In response, the Embassy clarified that social security programs are generally for the benefit of the workers and that it would look into claims by some members that no consultation was done. OWWA Membership Filipinos are encouraged to apply for / renew their OWWA membership to enjoy the full benefits of OWWA. Applications can be done with the Labor Office.