SEOUL, 12 March 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez called on the leaders of the Filipino community in Korea at the Leaders' Forum for 2016 held on Saturday, 12 March 2016 at the Bulwagang Rizal in the Philippine Embassy Chancery in Seoul to mobilize their members to exercise their rights to vote for the 2016 national elections.

"I encourage you to exercise your right of suffrage to elect officials who we feel will best serve the country in their time in office." the Philippines' top envoy in Korea appealed to the 57 participating Filipino leaders, stressing that the Embassy will be open for eight hours every day to allow all registered overseas Filipino voters to cast their ballots from 09 April to 09 May 2016.

Vice Consul Ella Karina R. Mitra provided detailed information about the conduct of overseas voting, including how media organizations and Filipino community groups can apply for accreditation until the end of the March 2016.

She also presented updates on consular matters, followed by a report on the Philippine Embassy's contingency plan by First Secretary and Consular General Roderico Atienza and labor-related updates by Labor Attache Felicitas Q. Bay before Ambassador Hernandez fielded questions from the Filipino community leaders.

Ambassador Hernandez awarded plaques of recognition to outgoing Labor Attache Bay and Tourism Director and Attache Maricon Basco-Ebron, who will end their tour of duty at the end of March and April, respectively.

Atty. Bay, who arrived in Seoul in March 2010, was recognized for her "exemplary leadership" in ensuring the implementation of the Philippine overseas employment program for the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare and interests of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

She was also cited for her "dedication to enhancing and improving" the reputation, competencies and competitiveness of OFWs in Korea through her work with the Korean government, diplomatic community, international organizations and non-government institutions under the One Country-Team Approach.

Director Ebron, who arrived in July 2007, was recognized for "her tireless and innovative strategy" to promote travel by Korean nationals to the Philippines, resulting in boosting arrivals to over 1 million annually.

She was also cited for her "pioneering initiative" to open the Philippine Department of Tourism-Korea (PDOT?Korea) in 2007 and the Philippine Showroom in 2012, "thereby securing the Philippines' pole position in the Korea travel market under One Country-Team Approach."

Also during the event, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez together with Pag-IBIG Fund Department Manager Mr. Juanito Angelito A. Jareno, Central Luzon 1 Area Head Ms. Imelda Nimfa A. De Guzman and Labor Attache Felicitas Q. Bay awarded the winners of the Pag-IBIG Fund Raffle Draw.

Grand prize winner Mr. Joel A. Turingan, an EPS worker, won US$ 10,000 tax-free, while Ms. Anneth Bun-as, Korean spouse from Geoje City, North Gyeongsang Province, won one unit of MacBook Air.