Organizer and Discussant: Sarah Jane O. Domingo, University of the Philippines
Chair: Raymond A. Abejo, University of the Philippines
The Philippines considers Korea as one of its major partners in Asia. The
long partnership between the two countries began as early as 1948. Although
this bilateral relation is officially preserved through state diplomacy, people-to-people
interactions also play a vital role in further enhancing Filipino-Korean amity
as the Philippines welcomes the influx of Korean tourists, missionaries, businessmen,
and students to the country as well as the return of Filipino migrant workers
from South Korea.
This panel examines the state of RP-Korea relations
and present the latest research on the Koreans in the Philippines. A background
on the current bilateral initiatives and agreements and their future prospects
will be tackled by Wennie Berganio’s paper, “Korea and the Philippines: Expanding the Frontiers
of Cooperation (1997-2006),” to be followed by Raymond Arthur Abejo’s
work, “Crossing Borders: Korean Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in
the Philippines (1977-2000).” While the paper of Emie Baylon assesses
the economic impacts of Korean tourists in the country’s business capital,
an anatomy of a Korean town and a slice of a Korean community in a particular
area – Angeles City – will be examined by Joyce Ann Dela Cruz. Finally,
Sarah Domingo’s paper, “Returnees from South Korea: The Role of
Filipino Migrant Workers in Shaping Filipino-Korean Relations in the Philippines,” elevates
the contribution of Filipino workers in affecting the amity of the Philippine
and South Korean states as well as the nature of interaction between and
among Filipino and Korean civilians within the borders of the country.
Wennie Berganio, University of the Philippines
The Philippines and Korea remain close neighbors since the establishment
of diplomatic relations in 1949. Long partnership led to security and military
cooperation during the Cold War when both countries stood by the United States
against the Communists, and to the development of rich and diverse forms of
dialogues and visits on various levels in the succeeding years.
Shared aspirations for peace and regional development brought about by the
same history of colonization have inspired both countries to greater cooperation
in the late 1990s and onward. Bilateral relations were further strengthened
through exchanges of support on initiatives, key bilateral issues, and candidatures
in international organizations. The robust economic development of Korea after
the 1997 Asian financial crisis has led to continuous flows of investments,
development assistance, and infrastructure projects to the Philippines. On the
other hand, the Philippines has accommodated greatly the influx of Koreans in
the country as part of its tourism-promotion efforts.
This paper describes the state of RP-Korea relations from 1997 to 2006, focusing
on the security and political, economic, energy security/environment, socio-cultural,
and developmental cooperation. Cooperative initiatives and bilateral agreements
are likewise discussed, along with the future prospects and other areas of concern
to be developed and strengthened for mutual benefit.
Raymond A. Abejo, University of the Philippines
During the first decade of the 20th century, the Korean Protestants began
sending missionaries to Manchuria, Japan, and China as a testament to the
growing religious zeal of Korean Protestant churches. Today, the number
of Korean missionaries in the world is still growing and an increasing number
of Korean Protestant churches play an active part in worldwide evangelization.
The Philippines is considered one of the major recipients of Korean missionaries.
This paper traces the historical development of missionary work of Korean
Presbyterian and Methodist churches in the Philippines from 1977 to 2000.
It attempts to elucidate the major mission activities of these two Korean
denominations and the interactions that occurred between the Filipinos and
Koreans. This paper argues that Korean Protestant mission agencies served
as a bridge of cultural interactions and linkages between the people of
the two countries. As a result of the different mission activities, an image
has been formed in the consciousness of the Filipinos about the Koreans
and Korea, and vice versa.
Emie Baylon, Assumption College
This paper seeks to assess the positive and the negative impacts of the
rapid influx of Korean tourists coming to the Philippines, specifically
to Makati City. This paper will relate these positive and negative impacts
of Korean tourists to the question of “economic leakage.” In
order to address this question, empirical data from government institutions
were gathered and interviews with Korean tourists in leisure trips and Filipinos
who had direct interaction with Korean tourists were also conducted. This
paper will prove that there is “economic leakage” in the Philippine
tourism sector especially on the Korean tourists. In spite of the rapidly
increasing number of Korean tourists contributing to economic development
of the Philippines, most of the Filipinos claimed that this does not necessary
translate to increased individual earning. In addition, most of the “package
tours” were pre-arranged in Korean by Korean traveling agencies.
Joyce Ann Dela Cruz, University of the Philippines
Clarkfield, Angeles City is a province about an hour and a half away
north of Manila. Over 1,200 Koreans reside in the area. They mostly started
as businessmen and eventually made Angeles City (the area around Clarkfield)
their home. This study presents the situation of the Korean community in
Angeles City: where they are, what they do, how they mingle with the local
Filipino community. It also determines the perceptions of the Korean residents
about the Philippines, the Filipinos, their culture, and the local community
in Angeles City.
This paper provides reflection of a Korean community in Angeles City,
Philippines under the Korean Wave diaspora. In examining this community
the paper shows a glimpse of the anatomy of a Korean town and its slice
of the organization of Philippine society. It also explores the factors
that encouraged the Koreans to go to the Philippines to find themselves
and interact within the community. The study also presents an analysis of
the Korean business establishments and social institutions such as churches,
schools, and medical centers in the area to better understand the socio-economic
contributions of the Koreans in the local community as well as the social
implications of their growing presence in Angeles City.
Primary interviews were conducted and several documents were analyzed.
Key informant interviews were also conducted to be able to discuss the transition
of the Koreans when they first came to the country and then took up residency
in Clarkfield, Angeles City.
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