Seoul, 3 May 2018- PH Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez represented the Philippines at the inauguration of the "12th KOICA Global Village Exhibition: Treasure Islands of the Pacific Ocean: Indonesia and the Philippines" that was held on 3 May 2018 at the KOICA Global Village, Gyeonggi province, Korea.

Ms. Mi-Kyung Lee, President of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), welcomed Ambassador Hernandez and Indonesian Ambassador Umar Hadi as Guests of Honor during the inauguration of the Exhibition. For this special Exhibition, the Philippines and Indonesia were selected by KOICA as the featured countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The curated Exhibition featured three mythical islands, namely the Island of Culture which showcases the exotic cultures of the Philippines and Indonesia; Island of Global Citizenship which highlights the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals; and the Island of Innovation which focuses on KOICA's Development Innovation Program.

The Exhibition on the Philippines captivated the attention of guests and schoolchildren as it featured iconic Philippine cultural items such as indigenous and MassKara Festival masks, traditional jeepney, Ifugao costumes, and the elegant barong and baro't saya.

Following the Exhibition, President Lee of KOICA hosted an outdoor ceremony in the middle of a lush green forest which was attended by Ambassador Hernandez, Ambassador Hadi and more than 100 Korean schoolchildren.

In her remarks during the ceremony, President Lee underscored that "Korea's partnership with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia, would be taken to the next level under the policy direction of the Moon Jae-in administration."

Ms. Lee further emphasized that by sharing Korea's experience, skills, and know-how with the Philippines and Indonesia, KOICA hopes that it would be able to sow seeds of goodwill that would strengthen Korea's relations with the Philippines and Indonesia.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Hernandez delivered a presentation highlighting the Filipino youth and the Philippines' rich cultural heritage. Ambassador Hernandez expressed hope that "his presentation would provide an opportunity for the Korean youth to learn more about the geographical, historical and cultural contexts that have shaped Filipino children into multi-cultural and global citizens."

Ambassador Hernandez also expressed the hope that the Korean youth would draw inspiration from their Filipino brothers and sisters and grow up to be model citizens of their country, who can make a difference not only in their local communities but also in the larger community of nations.

The event concluded with a reception featuring the distinctive cuisines of the Philippines and Indonesia. Philippine dishes served at the reception included chicken adobo, pansit, lumpia, and banana cue.

The KOICA Global Village Exhibition on the Philippines and Indonesia will end on 28 February 2019. Since its establishment in 2010 by KOICA, the KOICA Global Village has staged an exhibition annually with the aim of showcasing different countries from around the world in order to promote global citizenship and better understanding of global issues.

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