4th Philippine-Korea Leadership Exchange

4th Philippine-Korea Leadership Exchange Signifies Development for AllLights Korean Village in Nueva Ecija

Inspired by the recent advancements of GPFF AllLights Project in the communities, Hon. Aurelio Umali, Governor of Nueva Ecija, offered few hectares of land to be developed as an AllLights Korean Village during his discussion with Dr. David Yoo, President of GPFF Korea. The discussion took place during the 4th Global Peace Leadership Exchange held in municipalities of Llanera and Rizal in Nueva Ecija, Philippines on April 3-5, 2012.

Hon. Mayor Lorna F. Vero and Hon. Mayor Eugenio Placido Jr. of Llanera and Rizal municipalities respectively, hosted the GPLE program. Thirty eight Korean delegates arrived for the AllLights Village project where 64 local leaders and 32 beneficiaries from 2 big sitios also participated for the brotherhood and sisterhood ceremony. GPFF also installed the 4th to 9th AllLights Village where another 200 families were awarded with solar lanterns.

A mini cultural festival, featuring Tinikling dance, drum and lyre band and boodle feast (unlimited eating of rice cakes & fruits) were introduced to the Korean delegates to strengthen the camaraderie. Centering on the created teams, Mayor Vero prepared a tree planting activity on the way to AllLights Village in Sitio Cabiao, Barangay Bagumbayan, Llanera. Koreans were happy and inspired to leave a legacy where their names are written on the tree guard.

Half of the Korean delegation with their brotherhood/sisterhood counterpart went to Rizal for home visitation and half stayed in Llanera. Their experiences were so inspiring for them to have a greater commitment of influencing and encouraging more Koreans to adopt a community in the Philippines.

A journalist from a prime weekly newspaper in South Korea came to cover the 1st AllLights Village in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija and interviewed family beneficiaries of Llanera. TV 48, a local channel of Nueva Ecija, also covered the welcome banquet and the GPLE program.

Submitted by:
Joy Florentino, GPFF Philippines