Hey there Kampers, this is Jandi again! 🖐️🌱

PIKO, another winner of the K-campus Club Shout-out Challenge, is the main character this time and will be sharing with you what they do and how PIKO works! 🥳

Jandi🌱Hello PIKO! Could you give us a brief introduction of yourself? 

PIKO💬Studying in Korea may come as a dream for some. It comes with hurdles and sacrifices that every scholar who goes abroad experiences once they leave their motherland. We are PIKO or Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (Filipino Scholars in Korea; 주한필리핀유학생회), an organization established by Filipino students in 2006 to promote cooperation and fellowship amongst our fellowmen, or “kababayan” in Filipino. 

🌱How was PIKO formed? Would you give us some more background information? 

💬With the increasing number of talented students pursuing advanced studies here in Korea, the organization became a development network for promising talents. PIKO is duly recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Korea and by NIIED (National Institute for International Education). 

With PIKO’s formative network, our organization becomes the bridge to all Filipino students across the 9-assigned regional chapters regarding the official and formal dissemination of information. PIKO also caters to every Filipino student's needs when it comes to embassy assistance and legal matters as well as camaraderie among our peers. Filipinos tend to miss home a lot, and with our numbers being lower than other nationalities in other universities, we find family in each other's company.

🌱Who can be a part of PIKO?

💬Simply put, our Kababayans, as we fondly call ourselves in the streets of Hyehwa-dong every Sunday, who are currently studying in Korea, can be full-fledged members of PIKO.

These include, but are not limited to, students in language, research/internship, undergraduate and graduate studies. We also welcome honorary members and students who are of Korean descent but were born and raised in the Philippines due to their unique circumstances. 

This is a testament to our enthusiasm as we represent our country internationally. However, once a member graduates, he or she never fully leaves PIKO.

Like Korea, we warmly honor our sunbae (선배님들) and vicariously learn from their experiences.

🌱What are the main activities of PIKO?

💬Most of our organization's activities involve networking and acquainting ourselves with the rest of the Filipino students and already Filipino professionals who graduated in Korea.