PH Mission Celebrates ASEAN’s Maritime Heritage with ASEAN Heritage Parks Exhibit

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Elizabeth T. Te of the Philippine Mission to ASEAN and the Secretary- General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn unveil a digital painting of the Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef National Park as a gift of the Philippine Mission to the ASEAN Secretariat. (Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat)

JAKARTA 28 October 2024 – In simple ceremonies at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth T. Te of the Philippine Mission to ASEAN and the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, jointly launched the “Maritime Heritage at the ASEAN Heritage Parks” exhibition on 22 October 2024. 

In her remarks, Ms. Te highlighted that as a maritime and archipelagic nation, the Philippines through the Philippine Mission to ASEAN aimed to showcase the wealth of heritage found in the ASEAN Heritage Parks, centered around coastal or marine environments, as well as heritage parks that are connected to the sea through lakes, rivers, and other waterways. She noted that the Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was ongoing, and that in the ASEAN Joint Statement on Biodiversity to the Meeting, ASEAN envisioned a region with enhanced connectivity and resilience bolstered by the judicious stewardship of a healthy and abundant terrestrial and marine biodiversity, which contributes to an inclusive and sustainable future. 

Dr. Kao noted in his remarks that “By celebrating these Heritage Parks, we acknowledge and recognize the significance of safeguarding our maritime resources and the cultural identities they support, ensuring that future generations can continue to draw inspiration from our rich maritime history.” He concluded by encouraging guests from ASEAN Member States and its External Partners to engage in similar initiatives celebrating the region’s maritime heritage, hoping that such initiatives foster greater cooperation in marine conservation, “ensuring they continue to nourish and inspire generations in the future.” 

The event culminated in the unveiling of a digital painting of the Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef, one of the 11 ASEAN Heritage Parks featured in the exhibition. The painting is a gift from the Philippine Mission and will be mounted on the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat’s Tubbataha Meeting Room. 

The exhibition will be on display at the lobby of the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat New Building from 22 to 25 October, and coincides with the 40th anniversary of the ASEAN Heritage Parks as well as the Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. END 

Representatives from each ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste, with the Philippine Mission’s gift. (Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat)

For more information, visit http://www.jakartapm.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionJakarta.