PHL Embassy in South Korea Lauds Filipino Graduates of Korean Universities

Twenty-one Filipino students who completed their post-graduate studies in Korean universities were given recognition by the Philippine Embassy in South Korea, together with twelve students who achieved distinction in various fields, for their tireless efforts in obtaining their advanced degrees and acquiring new knowledge and skills for themselves, their family and their country.

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez congratulated the seven graduates of Master of Arts, eleven of Masters of Sciences/Engineering and two Doctors of Philosophy at the fall recognition ceremonies of the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO), the official association representing Filipino students in South Korea, at the Embassy Chancery on August 23.

In his closing message at the event, called “Hayo PIKO: Pagkilala sa mga Nagsipagtapos na mga Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea,” the seventh hosted by the Embassy for PIKO since August 2012, Ambassador Hernandez spoke on behalf of the parents who could not be present at a key moment in the lives of the students, who are closing one chapter as they open another.

“Just like the parents who couldn’t come today, I feel vicarious pride at your having made it this far through the sweat and tears of studying while making ends meet,” he said. “For many of you, studying in Korea must have been not just a one-time baptism of fire but rather a long period of testing that ushered the way toward being a full-fledged adult.”

Ambassador Hernandez encouraged the graduating students to return to the Philippines and to contribute to its development. “In so doing, you will contribute not only to the welfare of other people, but also to ensuring your own happiness and to giving pride to our developing nation,” he told them.

In addition, six of the Masters graduates won prizes such as top score in the comprehensive exams, best oral presentation, best poster and model student awards, while another six students still undergoing their studies, led by PIKO President Judee Nemeno, a PhD student at Konkuk University, were also given recognition for academic and non-academic achievements.

First Secretary and Consul Roderico C. Atienza, concurrently the Embassy’s education officer and PIKO adviser, handed the Embassy’s Certificates of Recognition to the 16 students who attended the ceremony. PIKO Adviser Dr Aileen C. Park, Research Fellow at the Asian Center for Women’s Studies (ACWS) in the Ewha Womans University, gave an inspirational talk to the graduates.

There are hundreds of Filipino students in exchange, undergraduate and graduate programs in around 40 universities in Korea. While exact figures are not available, there are more Filipino students who receive university- and professor-sponsored scholarships than those who receive fuller subsidies under the Korean Government Scholarship Program.

While PIKO maintains an alumni network, Filipino graduates of Korean universities have yet to establish a formal alumni association.

Source: www.dfa.gov.ph