By Honorary Reporter Gina Borinaga from Philippines

Photos = 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit

President Moon Jae-in (sixth from left) poses for group photos while holding hands with leaders from the ten ASEAN member states at the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit at BEXCO in Busan. From left are Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, President Moon, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Bruneian Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

While the Philippines is battling COVID-19 head on since a lockdown was implemented on March 16, the global pandemic is affecting all countries. Its neighboring countries have constantly sought not only to find a cure but also take the proper actions to resolve economic issues. The Philippines has thus received aid and cooperation to combat the disease from its friendly neighbors.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has joined the battle against COVID-19. On April 14, the association held a summit on the pandemic via videoconferencing with the heads of state of ASEAN member countries and Korea.

The summit's participants pledged to reaffirm their commitment to take collective action against COVID-19 and provide appropriate assistance and support to ASEAN member states.

The Korean government has never forgotten its good relations with the Philippines, with bilateral ties strengthened through this pandemic. Seoul has helped Manila curb the pandemic by sending test kits since the number of confirmed cases started to surge in March.

Moreover, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man recently announced a donation of  USD 500,000 to the Philippines for this battle. He has met with officials from the Philippine Department of Health and other agencies to provide information on Korea's globally acclaimed containment measures, as well as take part in online medical seminars to promote how Korea is battling the pandemic.

Private Korean groups are also helping the Philippines like LG Electronics, which recently donated products from LG Household and Health Care and hygiene kits to the city of Pasig. LG refrigerators, washers and personal hygiene kits given to Pasig City General Hospital were also donated to frontline workers, who are most at risk amid the pandemic.

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.