SEOUL, 2 November 2016 ? Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez, together with Embassy officials and staff, welcomed to his Official Residence the participants of Yonsei University's Cultural Tour of Foreign Embassies in Korea, a special program organized by the University's Institute of Continuing Education for the Future (ICEF).

The group, composed of 20 CEOs and senior level executives from the banking, food, IT, and retail industries, as well as other professionals, was accompanied by ICEF Director Professor Lee Doo-won, who established the program in 2014. This is the second time the Embassy has participated in the event.

The 13-week course aims to expose the participants from private firms and public institutions to the history and traditions of various countries through a cultural program hosted by ambassadors at their official residence or chancery. This semester, the group will be visiting the official residences of Ambassadors of Peru, Panama, Singapore, Kuwait, among others.

For the Philippine segment, Ambassador Hernandez hosted a dinner for the participants and organized a special cultural program featuring award-winning Korea-based Filipino artists playing the kulintang, and performing the subli and pangalay folk dances. A Filipina talent also sang a repertoire of kundiman and other Philippine traditional songs.

Over dinner, Ambassador Hernandez took the opportunity to introduce Philippine cuisine to the Korean participants by serving a multi-course menu featuring kare-kare and pansit.

In his welcome remarks, the Ambassador underscored the dynamic and robust relations between the Philippines and Korea. He also highlighted the importance of Korea to the Philippines in the areas of trade and investment, defense, tourism, and social and cultural exchanges.

Prof. Lee, who spoke on behalf of the participants, thanked the Ambassador for his kind and positive gesture on accepting his proposal to hold the program at his Official Residence for the second time.

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