21 April 2024, Gangwon - The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, in coordination with the MWO-OWWA-Seoul and ODAFA-Seoul, held its first Filipino Community Leadership Camp from 20 to 21 April 2024 in Hoengseong National Forest Center in Gangwon-do, South Korea.

Attended by at least 50 Filipino community leaders from across South Korea, the groundbreaking event was aimed to equip the participants with essential skills and knowledge to excel as Filipino community leaders and foster a more cohesive and empowered Filipino community as a whole. Through a combination of seminars, outdoor activities, and immersive training sessions, participants gained tools and strategies needed to thrive as leaders within their respective organizations.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said that the camp is designed to empower Overseas Filipino Community Leaders with the tools and strategies they need to make a positive impact in their organizations and the broader Filipino community in the ROK. She emphasized that the growing Overseas Filipino community in South Korea calls for leaders who are both resilient and well-informed to be able to effectively address the evolving needs and challenges faced by the community.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega also gave a presentation on the Bagong Pilipinas initiatives by the Philippine Government, and key initiatives of the Embassy in commemoration of the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea this 2024.

Management experts Mr. Bernard "Nad" Pating and Mr. Carl Dy, as well as Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista joined the camp and shared their knowledge on key and effective leadership traits, management strategies, financial acumen and organizational regulations that would enable the participants to effectively lead their organizations.

The Camp also featured an emergency preparedness seminar in which participants learned about the basic Emergency Management Framework (Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery) and the importance of preparedness within the community context.
Consul General Romulo Victor M. Israel, Jr., who leads the Embassy's working group on the matter, said that the seminar aimed to enhance participants' awareness and readiness in handling various emergency situations that may arise within the community, and underscored the significance of collaboration and coordination among community leaders in times of crisis.

Speakers from the Embassy included Consul General Israel, Jr., Second Secretary Ernest Diga, Defense Attache LtCol. Don Templonuevo on the PHL Government's crisis alert levels; and Labor Attache Maya Valderrama on the development of a volunteer area coordinator system among the Filipino community organizations; Vice Consul Jill De Dumo-Cornista on legal considerations during emergencies; and Welfare Officer Cornelia DG. Chanco on community engagement and resilience. Mr. Jayson Amboy also delivered a brief demonstration of basic medical responses, including CPR and the Heimlich maneuver.

Model go-bags or emergency kits were distributed to the participants, in the hopes of encouraging them to replicate the initiative within their own communities.

The camp was capped off by a fellowship night wherein participants showcased their unique talents. Certificates of Registration were also turned over to two (2) new Filipino community organizations, the We Are One Jeju (WAO-Jeju) and the Confederation of Ilocano Association, Inc. (CIASI); while existing organizations were given a renewal Certificate in the spirit of continuing collaboration and partnership with the Embassy. END