05 December 2022.Seoul - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, together with POLO-OWWA, and other attached agencies held its Year-end Leaders Forum on 04 December 2022 at the Seoul Global Center in a hybrid face-to-face and online gathering of Filipino community leaders representing sixty-five (65) registered organizations in South Korea.

The year-end event took stock of the major activities of the Embassy in 2022, which were highlighted by the resumption of consular outreach missions, introduction of the Know-Your-Rights-and-Responsibilities (KYRR) info-series, conduct of labor education, post-arrival orientation and skills trainings, and holding of PEAK Pinoy seminars and cultural festivities, among others.
The Embassy presented to the community its planned activities for 2023, which include new and continuing programs such as the in-person legal aid consultation, overseas voter registration, emergency preparedness training, Filipino Family Day and Palarong Pinoy, and OWWA's Hatid Saya sa South Korea. The FilCom leaders actively provided their inputs and suggestions particularly in promoting Philippine culture education for Filcom members, providing cultural experiences for children of multicultural families, and expanding skills training opportunities for OFWs. Moreover, they reaffirmed their willingness to strengthen partnership and collaboration with the Embassy in implementing its planned activities for the community in 2023.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon?De Vega welcomed the suggestions from the FilCom leaders, and conveyed her appreciation to them for their laudable efforts in promoting the welfare of Filipinos in South Korea. "This year, we have increasingly moved to normalcy with the accelerated entry of more Filipino workers, students, and tourists to and from Korea, and with heightened level of cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in all fields. Next year, we will rally to consolidate and further accelerate these efforts, especially on people-to-people exchange, as we prepare for the milestone 75th year of PH and ROK relations in 2024," the Ambassador said. She pledged to match the unwavering spirit of service demonstrated by each of the FilCom leaders with the Embassy's continuing effort to strengthen its programs, services and facilities with the rallying theme: "Para sa Bayan!"

The Year-end Leaders Forum included special messages for the Filipino community in South Korea from Secretary Enrique A. Manalo of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Susan "Toots" V. Ople of the Department of Migrant Workers, Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. De Vega of Migrant Workers Affairs - DFA, and Administrator Arnel Ignacio of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

The activity was capped with a touching "Wish ko lang.. para sa 2023" segment from the various sectors of the community; a musical performance by the Villanueva Chorale of Misamis Oriental fresh from winning 2 gold medals at the 18th Busan Choral Festival; surprise lucky draws; and community singing. After the program, the holy mass celebrating the Second Sunday of Advent was held, presided by Fr. Jude Genovia and assisted by the Seoul Filipino Catholic Community.-END-