05 October 2023, Seoul. The Call Hero Foundation of Korea, an organization composed of current and former Korean government officials, legislators, businesspeople, artists, retired military officers, and civic leaders, held a Commemoration ceremony for the naming of Filipino heroes during the Korean War on 24 September 2023. The event was held at the War Memorial Monument dedicated to Filipino veterans located in Goyang City, Korea.

The event, attended by nearly 200 people from the Filipino and Korean communities, featured a special naming segment where names of the 116 Filipinos who were killed in action during the Korean War were recited by representatives from the Philippines and Korea.

In his Opening Declaration, Call Hero President and former National Assembly Member Hwang Hak-Soo recalled the tremendous debt of gratitude of the Korean people to the Philippines for helping defend democracy and freedom during the war.

Adding to the voices of appreciation, National Assembly Member and current Chair of the Korea-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Association Rep. Kim Sung-Won delivered a tribute message and said that Korea would always consider the Philippines a close friend and ally. ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Director General Kang Yunjin delivered a message on behalf of MPVA Minister Park Min Shik.

Tributes to the bravery of Filipino and all other soldiers during the Korean War were likewise delivered by DND Senior Undersecretary Irineo C. Espino and Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Sec. Romulo V. Arugay. Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega, along with Ms. Jovena Damasen, President of the Descendants of PEFTOK veterans gave congratulatory remarks. Minister and Consul General Romulo Victor Israel and Defense Attache Col. Enriqueto Deocadez were likewise present at the ceremony.

Secretary Arugay provided the Call Hero Foundation with a reproduction of a rare photograph taken during the Korean War from his province mate in the Philippines. Senior Undersecretary Espino and Ambassador Dizon-de Vega recalled the bravery of the Filipino soldiers and the deep kinship forged between Korean and Filipino veterans through the decades since the war.

The written messages of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairperson of the Senate National Defense Committee and Representative Raul C. Tupas, Chairperson of the HOR National Defense and Security Committee were likewise provided to all the guests in the official program.

During the ceremony, the Call Hero Foundation announced the awarding of financial assistance grants to descendants of veterans in the Philippines.

The event included a community singing of "Arirang" by Filipino and Korea guests, a tribute poem, and a rendition of famous Filipino pop song "Anak" in Korean. The evening was capped by a fellowship dinner.

The activity served as a reminder of the shared sacrifices between the Philippines and Korea and the enduring bonds which help define the robust relations the two countries enjoy up to the present. END