19 April 2024, Gwangju. The Philippine Embassy conducted its Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) and Mentorship Program for Filipino Marriage Migrants in Gwangju on 6 April 2024.

Conducted in consonance with the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Embassy and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in September 2023, the PAOS is meant to empower and support marriage migrants as they embark on their journey in ROK. The seminar followed an informal and open sharing format that allowed pioneering marriage migrants to become mentors to the newly-arrived ones, and share experiences in addressing multicultural family dynamics. Among the issues discussed include challenges in adapting to Korean family culture, language barriers, raising multicultural children, access to services, and immigration-related concerns.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega encouraged pioneering marriage migrants in South Korea to strengthen their linkages and help one another better understand cultural and social norms. She also presented the Embassy's programs for multicultural families this year, as part of the commemorative events to celebrate 75 years of Philippine-Korea diplomatic relations.

Serving as mentors are various Filipino community members from the Gwangju Jeonnam Philippine Community represented by Ms. Sheryl Diaz, Ms. Sabel Lee, and Ms. Myles Lee. Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista also discussed critical consular services for marriage migrants, including issues relating to dual citizenship, while Police Officer Ms. So Yeon Hee gave a lecture on emergency protocols for domestic violence victims.

The Embassy will conduct PAOS and Mentorship Programs in other parts of South Korea with high concentrations of marriage migrants in the second half of 2024. For more information, please contact consular@philembassy-seoul.com and atn@philembassy-seoul.com.