Official ties between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea began on March 3, 1949 when the Philippines became the fifth country to extend diplomatic recognition to South Korea, six months after its inauguration on August 15, 1948.

On 30-31 May 2009, the plaza in front of the Seoul City Hall will be transformed into a grand, open exhibit area that will showcase the history, culture, tradition, and business environment of the Philippines. Various cultural performances, including performers from the Philippines and lively street dances, will add color to the two-day event.

This bond was cemented a year later at the outbreak of the Korean War, when the Philippines deployed more than 7,000 soldiers to join an international coalition to help South Korea defend itself from the invasion of the communist North.

For sixty years, our leaders have nurtured this special friendship between our governments and peoples, tended it until it grew and flourished into the wide-ranging partnership we have now.

Today, the ties that bind our countries have become tighter with the expansion of our alliance in numerous sectors, from political, security, and economic cooperation to socio-cultural and development collaboration.

People-to-people exchange is at an unprecedented high. South Korea is our number one source of tourists, foreign students and retirees. It is a consistent top investor and trading partner. As we speak, approximately 60,000 Filipinos are contributing to the development of South Korea's economy and society as students, workers, missionaries or spouses of Korean nationals. They bring a fresh dimension to South Korea's aim of globalization, of imbibing a truly multicultural society where peoples from different cultures can unite under the banner of progress and openness. Meanwhile, around 100,000 South Koreans have found in the Philippines a second home. Our peoples enrich our respective countries’ cultural landscapes by adding from the palettes of their own.

Philippines-Korea relations, as I like to describe them, are vibrant, dynamic, and mutually beneficial. Such solidarity is also evident in the multilateral setting, as we collaborate closely in international forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, and WTO.

This sense of fealty, this forward-looking approach, is what we hope to capture in the 60th anniversary of our relations. This year will be a meaningful year as we will launch several activities to commemorate our ties, including the launching of the film, "The Forgotten War" on April 14; the unveiling of the Philippine marker at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan on May 28; and the grand "One Philippines" exhibit on May 30-31. We will also be participating in several multicultural festivals throughout the year

Milestones like today's 60th Anniversary offer an occasion for us to revisit our past, take stock of our accomplishments and define a clearer path for our future.

With this strength of partnership behind us, I have no doubt that the years to come will be filled with even greater promise and potential for Philippines-Korea relations?60 years from now and beyond.

Thank you.