Marcos meets with Chile, South Korea leaders

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos arrived in Manila yesterday following his participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea.

During the summit, Marcos met with his Chilean and South Korean counterparts to bolster the country’s ties with its partners and allies.

The plane carrying Marcos and his delegation landed at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay at 2:23 p.m.

“From supply chain disruptions and climate change to persistent economic inequality, and the accelerating pace of technological transformation, I’m pleased to report that our engagements were robust, our discussions fruitful, and our shared commitment to collective action reaffirmed,” the President said in his arrival message.

Marcos said he had the opportunity to advance the Philippines’ priorities, including narrowing the digital divide for micro, small and medium enterprises; advancing seamless movements of goods and people through infrastructure development; promoting supply chain resiliency amid shocks and crises; and promoting digital literacy and upskilling for MSMEs, women, and other segments whose full economic potential can be realized through digitalization.

“These priorities were well-received, and we worked with our partners to identify concrete ways forward, as reflected in the outcome documents adopted and concluded during the visit,” the Chief Executive said.

Marcos also managed to shake hands with China President Xi Jinping to congratulate him for his upcoming role as chairman of next year’s APEC. The Philippines is embroiled in a longstanding row with China over the latter’s acts of provocations and illegal takeover of land features within Philippine sovereign waters in the South China Sea.

The President also met with top executives from Korean corporations and witnessed the signing of a supplemental agreement between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines.

The deal valued at over P50 billion is expected to generate more than 3,000 new high technology jobs for Filipino engineers, and technicians.

The company also committed to the training of Filipinos and establishing research and development centers with some Philippine universities, Marcos said.

The President said the business meetings, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, aimed to significantly deepen economic ties, leveraging the momentum of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force last year.

Marcos also met with the Filipino community upon his arrival in Busan on Thursday.

Bilateral meetings

During a bilateral meeting with Chile President Gabriel Boric yesterday, Marcos discussed trade concerns as well as the two countries’ shared heritage.

He cited the need to finalize the Philippines-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA, which would be the Philippines’ first free trade agreement in Latin America. Manila hosted the third round of talks for the agreement in October.

“Both leaders agreed to facilitating the signing of the agreement by end of this year,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement distributed by Malacañang.

The Philippines and Chile will celebrate the 80th anniversary of their relations next year.

Philippines, South Korea: Very special friends

Meanwhile, Marcos’ meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed the more-than-seven-decades-old ties between Manila and Seoul.

Lee said the Philippines and South Korea are “very special friends,” noting that when Seoul was grappling with a national crisis, Manila deployed its military to provide assistance.

“The people of Korea will never forget the contributions and dedication and sacrifices made by the Philippines,” Lee said through a translator during the bilateral meeting.

Marcos and Lee also vowed to cooperate to facilitate the smooth operations of Korean companies in the Philippines and to boost ties in the areas of defense industry, shipbuilding and infrastructure.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in March 1949. They formalized their strategic partnership through a joint declaration last year.

South Korea was the biggest source of foreign investments to the Philippines from January to June this year. In 2024, the East Asian country ranked as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade reaching $13.2 billion. South Korea was also the Philippines’ top source of foreign tourists last year, accounting for more than 26 percent of total arrivals.

Honoring war veterans

Marcos capped his visit to South Korea by honoring the Filipino soldiers who perished during the Korean War, a historic episode that cemented the deep relations between Manila and Seoul.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos visited the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, where they led a wreath-laying ceremony and a tree-planting activity.

The Philippine deployed 7,420 troops during the Korean War, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The sending of Filipino expeditionary force to South Korea to help repel communist aggression was made possible by the enactment of the Philippine Military Aid to the UN Act in 1950.

Former president Fidel Ramos and two former Philippine ambassadors to South Korea were among those who were sent to the conflict.

A total of 112 Filipino soldiers were killed during the war.

Marcos visits pa’s tomb

Upon his return yesterday, the President, accompanied by the First Lady, visited the tomb of his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Marcos Sr. died while in exile in Hawaii in September 1989 at the age of 72. — Alexis Romero