EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES


SEOUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA

news

Ambassador's message


I am delighted to join my fellow Filipinos in South Korea, as well as around the globe, in celebrating the 110th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence.

Today, we commemorate the sacrifices and heroism of our forebears who willingly laid down their lives so that future generations like us could walk with dignity and pride as free men and women. As the Philippine flag unfurled for the first time on June 12, 1898, the vision of a liberated and united country that had been in the hearts of our ancestors moved closer to fruition. With the proclamation of independence by our first president, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, our nation's founders paved the way to the thriving democracy we now enjoy. We are benefited by their wisdom. We are indebted to their gallantry. We are heirs to their quest to provide our people with a better life. Today, we have replaced rifles with tractors, traded canons for computers, and turned battlefields into flourishing commercial centers. Yet the quest for a better life continues. Our struggles have taken the form of bridging the gap between rich and poor; maintaining political security; pursuing economic stability amidst global concerns over the food and energy supply; combating terrorism; strengthening moral development; and preventing environmental degradation. The people who came before us fought for liberty; now we fight for liberty from poverty and insecurity. Together as a nation, we will advance. National policies are in place to ensure sustainable development. International commitments focus on mutually beneficial arrangements. In South Korea, the 50,000-strong Filipino community is committed to the same road of heroism and vision-setting that brought success to our ancestors. There will be stumbling blocks along the way. New challenges will arise. But we will not waver, for to desist in the face of impediments is to betray the cause to which our forebears surrendered their chance for a normal, albeit complacent, existence. And with our friends from the international community by our side, the Philippines will continue to move forward with the empowering knowledge of a storied past, with the unprecedented opportunities presented by today's globalizing world, and with vigorous anticipation for a future of limitless possibilities.

Other News


September 28, 2025
UP LAW DELEGATION UNDERTAKES BENCHMARKING VISIT ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND LEGAL EDUCATION IN SOUTH KOREA

21 September 2025, Seoul, Republic of Korea – A 50-member delegation from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, led by Associate Dean Paolo Emmanuel S. Tamase and former UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, paid a courtesy call at the Sentro Rizal Hall of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, where they were warmly received by Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez. 

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September 19, 2025
PHILIPPINES CALLS FOR RESPONSIBLE COMPETITION AND STRATEGIC COOPERATION AT SEOUL DEFENSE DIALOGUE 2025

Seoul, Republic of Korea — At the 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro called on the international community to embrace responsible competition, uphold international law, and prioritize inclusive security mechanisms in addressing today’s most pressing geopolitical challenges. Participating in the high-level forum under the theme “Confronting Geopolitical Challenges: Building Peace through Cooperation,” Teodoro emphasized the urgency of strengthening multilateral institutions and promoting dialogue amid global instability. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, led by Deputy Head of Mission Edwin Gil Q. Mendoza, supported the Secretary and his delegation throughout the dialogue. 

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September 16, 2025
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN KOREA WELCOMES NEW AMBASSADOR

Seoul, Republic of Korea - The Philippine Embassy in Korea welcomed its new Ambassador, Her Excellency Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, Chief of Mission Class I, who arrived in Seoul on 15 September 2025 to formally assume her post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea. She was accompanied by her spouse, the Honorable Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute. 

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