Seoul, 30 June 2019 - Ambassador Noe A. Wong led in the conferment of Certificates to ninety-five (95) OFW-participants who completed the various livelihood seminars conducted by POLO OWWA for the 1st semester of 2019 during the Graduation Ceremony of the Reintegration Training Program held on 30 June 2019 at the Sentro Rizal, Philippine Embassy ? Seoul.

In his message, Ambassador Wong lauded the extraordinary talent and competence of Filipinos overseas and encouraged them to value and love their work. He stated that Filipinos in Korea are very fortunate to have employment opportunities with good remuneration package and social protection under Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS). He enjoined the graduates to continue to participate in the National Reintegration Programs, which is the primary program of the Philippine government for OFWs, internalize what they learn, and cascade these skills even to the members of their families to maximize the benefits of overseas employment and ensure their successful return and reintegration.

The Ambassador also announced the forthcoming activities that the Embassy has lined up to commemorate the 70th year of Bilateral Relations of the Philippines and Korea this year. The said activities include the Diplomatic Reception, PHL-ROK Bayanihan Parade, Commemoration of the Landing of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea and others.

On behalf of the participants, Mrs. Geraldine Mortel expressed appreciation for the training programs conducted by the Embassy through POLO OWWA, to their teachers, and the highly interactive format of the training that enabled them to immediately apply their learnings. Barely two (2) weeks after attending the Longganisa and Tofu Making Training, Ms Mortel said that she was already able to develop and sell her longganisa products, and has been receiving steady orders ever since.

Assisting Ambassador Wong during the Graduation Ceremony were Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama, Welfare Officer Pops Deuna, Asst. Labor Attache Terelou Pimentel, Second Secretary Mildred Abordo, and OWWA Interpreter Joey Fiedacan.

For the first semester of 2019, POLO OWWA conducted the following training: Traditional Korea Wine Making, Basic Photography Class, Basic Sewing and Dressmaking Class, Basic Massage Therapy Training, and Longganisa and Tofu Making Training. OFWs in Korea are invited to participate in forthcoming training for the 2nd half of 2019, which includes Advanced Sewing Class, Financial Education, Agri-Entrepreneurship Training, Table Setting, and Flower Arrangement Seminars, and others. Interested persons may call (822)37853634/5. END