28 November 2016 — Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo delivered a lecture on the Philippines’ 2017 chairmanship of ASEAN on November 23. Upon the invitation of the Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies – Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS-YII)
The event was co-organized by the ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS-YII and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore under the institute’s ASEAN lecture series. The Philippines is the second incoming ASEAN chair that has been invited to the lecture series following Lao PDR in December of last year.
Officials and representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore led by Ambassador Antonio A. Morales, diplomatic missions in Singapore, government agencies, international organizations, media groups, academic institutions, think tanks and the business sector attended the lecture.
Undersecretary Manalo provided an overview on ASEAN to set the context of the Philippine chairmanship, which President Rodrigo R. Duterte formally accepted at the conclusion of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR on September 08.
According to Undersecretary Manalo, the Philippines considers its chairmanship important since the country has a big stake in the regional aggrupation being one of its founding members and given recent developments in and around the region and beyond.
According to Undersecretary Manalo, championing positive change in the community to produce a unified voice in the world is the core message of the Philippine chairmanship, which has six thematic priorities, namely: A people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN; Peace and stability in the region; Maritime security and cooperation; Inclusive, innovation-led growth; A resilient ASEAN; and ASEAN: A model of regionalism, a global player.
He also provided a preview of the meetings that will be convened, logistical arrangements as well as activities to commemorate ASEAN’s golden jubilee.
After the lecture, Undersecretary Manalo had a one-on-one interview with Mr. Albert Wai of TODAY, the largest circulated daily in Singapore followed by a working lunch hosted by his counterpart, the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Leader of Singapore, Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong.
Undersecretary Manalo also attended the annual ASEAN Gala Night held at the Shangri-La Hotel as one of the VIP invitees to the event on November 23. At the gala night, he had an opportunity to meet the personnel of the Philippine Embassy as well as leaders of the Filipino community and representatives of the Philippine business sector in Singapore. END
