26 February 2023, Seoul. The Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers' Office (MWO) in Seoul conducted various activities with the Filipino community on Sunday, 21 February 2023, at the Sentro Rizal Hall and MWO Resource Center.

The first was a morning ceremony at the Sentro Rizal recognizing the Philippine E-9 Chess Club as a registered Filipino community organization in South Korea, followed by the oath-taking of its new officers administered by Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.

The 1st Blitz Chess Tournament, co-sponsored by MWO - OWWA and the E-9 Chess Club, was then held at the MWO Resource Center later in the afternoon. Consul General Jun Israel and chess club President Junjun Jabay opened the games with the ceremonial first moves. More than 30 EPS players from all over South Korea competed for the top prize of KRW500,000. The winning competitors were awarded prizes by Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, Labor Attache Maria Celeste Valderrama and Welfare Officer Aniceta Deuna.

On the same date, the Pinoy Iskolars sa South Korea (PIKO) held its annual Hayo at Gilas ceremony at the Embassy's Sentro Rizal in honor of 17 graduating scholars and Filipino student-achievers. The event was attended by guest speaker Prof. Angelita Bautista Cruz from Keimyung University's Department of Physical Education and PIKO advisers Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista and Prof. Jeoffrey Calimag. An oath-taking ceremony for the incoming 2023 PIKO officers was also conducted. The new PIKO Executive Committee met with Ambassador Dizon-De Vega on issues and concerns being faced by Filipino students in South Korea as well the planned PIKO activities for 2023.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega welcomed the resumption of more in-person activities post-pandemic at the Sentro Rizal, and highlighted the importance of establishing strong partnerships with the Filipino community organizations in promoting the health and welfare of our kababayans. She also challenged Filipino scholars to research and venture into strategic areas such as technology, gender, and smart agriculture, and reiterated the Embassy's steadfast support to all Filipinos in South Korea. END