The UP Asian Center will host the onsite public forum "The Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship: Gains, Accomplishments, and Prospects" on 29 October 2026, 2 PM (GMT+8), at the Seminar Room, Asian Center, UP Diliman. The event is open to the public. Snacks will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to register online.
ABOUT THE FORUM
The year 2026 has been a landmark year for the Philippines as it assumed the Chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Building on Malaysia's achievements in 2025, the Philippines was set to lead ASEAN, the world’s fifth-largest economy, with nearly 700 million people, toward strengthening cooperation and commitment to shared aspirations. Guided by the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the Philippines has defined strategic priorities for its term: peace and security, economic prosperity, and people empowerment. This agenda affirms the region’s aspiration for an “open, inclusive and outward-looking regional community” rooted in its own brand of community building.
Over the last few months, the Philippines welcomed delegates from across Southeast Asia to discuss organizational obligations, various issues and agreements, and opportunities for collaboration. Key matters highlighted included maritime security, climate change and disasters, energy security through the ASEAN Common Shared Power Grid and Petroleum Security Agreements, and safe and ethical AI and digital literacy through the landmark Digital Economy Framework Agreement, among others.
With the chairship coming to an end and the annual ASEAN Summit in November, there is a need to assess ASEAN’s progress and prospects. Recognizing that the organization’s chairship is not only about pursuing new initiatives but also about translating the vision and interests of its member states into concrete actions and institutions, this public forum seeks to evaluate major developments achieved through Philippine leadership. By bringing together diplomats, policymakers, scholars, and other stakeholders, this activity seeks to provide a platform for discussing the Philippines' ASEAN Chairmanship, its gains, accomplishments, and prospects. Discussions will focus on major achievements across the three community-building pillars, examining these advancements in the context of growing economic uncertainties and heightened geopolitical rivalry within and beyond the region.