PH Embassy in Seoul Caps National Women’s Month with Forum, Painting Exhibition

Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez (leftmost) with guest speakers, Ms.Youngha Go (second from left), Ms. Kim Hooran (middle), Ms. Susan MacDonald (second from right), and Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez (rightmost) during the Women’s Month Forum organized by the Embassy for some 60 Filipino female community leaders in South Korea. (Seoul PE photo)

SEOUL 08 April 2019 – In celebration of National Women’s Month and as part of its Gender and Development efforts to advance women empowerment, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul organized a forum and a painting exhibition at the Embassy for over 60 female members of the Filipino community in South Korea on 31 March 2019.

The event featured four guest speakers: AMC Asia and AHAVA Korea Chief Executive Officer Young Ha Go, general news section editor Hooran Kim of The Korea Herald, the largest English-language daily published in Seoul, first-ever female executive and Director of the Market Intelligence Team Susan MacDonald of SYS Global, an affiliate company of ET Land, one of the largest consumer retail/online electronics companies and private conglomerates in South Korea, and Madame Ana A. Hernandez, author of the books “Binibining Stewardess: Mga Kuwento ng Flight Attendant at Iba Pa” and “Welcome Aboard! The Ultimate Flight Attendant Guide for a Successful Sky -high Career,” and the spouse of Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez.

Under the overarching theme, “We Make Change Work for Women,” the forum was devoted to celebrating and promoting women empowerment and the greater participation of female leaders in the Korean community. The discussions centered on the role of women in galvanizing change in an otherwise traditionally male-dominated society. The guest speakers also candidly shared their personal experiences on balancing family life and career and offered insights on how Filipinas in South Korea can bring about positive change through meaningful engagements.

Ambassador Hernandez, in his opening remarks, highlighted the great strides which the Philippines has made in recent years in terms of narrowing gender gaps, as supported by data from the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report in 2018 where the Philippines ranked eighth out of 149 countries surveyed.

After the two-hour forum, the guests witnessed the opening of the Embassy’s National Women’s Month Painting Exhibition. The exhibition featured artworks of Madame Ana Hernandez, Attache Cheryl Navarro, and FilCom member Michael Popatco. A total of 26 pieces depicting the influence of women in todays’ society were put on display.

The participants of the event were treated to a musical performance by MERJ, a local singing group that performs at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, as well Filipino fare such as pansit palabok, maja blanca, and puto. END

Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez (front row, middle), together with the guest speakers, pose with Embassy officials and staff and the members of the Filipino Community after the two-hour Women’s Month forum. (Seoul PE photo)

Ambassador and Madame Hernandez (middle), together with Ms. Kim Hooran (leftmost), Ms. Youngha Go (second from left), Ms. Susan MacDonald (second from right), and Ms. Cheryl Navarro (rightmost), lead the opening ceremony of the Women’s Month Painting Exhibition of the Embassy. (Seoul PE photo)

Art pieces by Madame Maria Ana A. Hernandez on display at the Painting Exhibition. Madame Hernandez exhibited three collections – her Working Women Series, the Koreana Series, and the Filipiniana Series. All artworks on display depict the influence of women in todays’ society. (Seoul PE photo)

For more information, visit www.seoulpe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philembassy-seoul.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinKorea/.