?I always wanted to share whatever I?ve learned and initiate changes for our community,? said Consul Juan ?Jed? Dayang Jr. in his Financial Literacy Campaign Seminar, a flagship government project for Filipino communities in South Korea.

At 36, he has spent years in valuable public service and challenged lives in the peninsula from 1993 to 2008 as scholar as well as Second Secretary and Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.

Empowering Oneself thru Education

In 1996, Dayang earned a scholarship for an MBA, Major in Industrial Business and Economics, graduating with highest honors at the Graduate Institute of Peace Studies in Kyung Hee University (Seoul), also becoming the first foreigner to be elected student council president.

?I held the position for I wanted to speak out as Filipino and support our OFWs who suffered from work-related abuses in news articles I?ve read, which prompted me to write, proving that Filipinos are no ordinary students and workers in South Korea,? he said.

Before heading back to the Philippines, Dayang wrote ?The Philippines in APEC and ASEAN: Congruency,? judged the year?s Best Thesis. Next focusing on Philippine culture and the APEC Youth Forum, which he spearheaded, with former President Fidel Ramos as guest of honor, he said, ?I wanted to talk about how Philippine culture could sustain itself in globalization.?

Youth in Politics and Foreign Affairs

Dayang?s involvement in youth forums led the way to organizing the Alliance for Youth Solidarity (AYOS) in 1997 to ensure the voice and protect youth rights in the first Philippine partylist election. AYOS received 67,000 votes nationwide, enough to be proclaimed in the partylist group with one seat in Congress.

?As I get older, I realize that aside from individual capacity, one needs the support of others for I couldn?t do it all alone. Aside for having a social worker mother and a journalist dad, I had my early exposure and knowledge of international issues and began to espouse public service with the global mindset,? this young leader said when he assumed his position in the Philippine Embassy of Seoul in 2002.

As Administrative Officer, he has supervised the daily activities of the embassy like personnel, finance, records, communications and properties since 2003. He has also headed the Diplomacy Unit, coordinated the Assistance to National Unit; was Philippine delegation liaison officer and head of the Support Group to APEC in 2005; chaired the first Absentee Voting in 2003; arranged the Kyungsung University-Busan?s conferment of an honorary PhD of Laws to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the APEC Summit of 2006; chaired the Working Group of ASEAN Sub-Com for ASEAN?s 40th Anniversary Seminar in Seoul in 2007); and coordinated the Financial Literacy Program for OFWs in March 2008.

Taking Actions, Views and Possibilities

For six years, the Philippine embassy has been proactive to issues confronting OFWs, helping to negotiate with the Korean government in solving problems and making improvements. ?I?ve worked with four ambassadors and dealt with issues. It was during the time of Ambassador Villacorte that the embassy put much effort in curbing human trafficking by disseminating relevant information on the rights of the OFWs like our entertainers,? Dayang added.

Through the Employment Permit system, the world recognized how Korea became more democratic with programs on labor and the rights of multicultural families. Dayang has also been assertive on the possibility of Filipinos teaching English to Koreans, a job currently allowed only for native speakers. ?We have the initiative and if given the opportunity, we can provide them with the best and brightest teachers. I believe they have high regard for our quality education, and for our teachers (can) improve their skills while teaching and, after work contract, share the acquired skills back with our public schools,? he suggested.

Fostering Filipino Ties and Support

The Filipino community in South Korea has been the staunchest alley of the Philippine government in providing services to our expats for years. Dayang firmly believes in building public trust by listening, guiding and being honest with people who naturally understand Filipino strengths and weaknesses.

?I get inspired with our OFWs in South Korea who continuously bring hope and pride to our country. and to God for giving me the strength and wisdom to share this Financial Literacy Program (FLP) with full trust and support from Ambassador Luis Cruz and friends,? said Dayang.

Currently, he his a candidate for graduation to a Masters of Public Administration under the University of Oklahoma, and researching on the ?Effects of Financial Education among Filipino Overseas Workers in Seoul, Korea.? This study shows that FLP is effective in increasing knowledge on changing behaviors when knowledge is shared with families. The campaign, Save First before Spending, is now paramount to OFWs and their families back home in global financial crisis.

?Through Financial Education, we take a step closer to eradicating poverty,? added Jed Dayang.