Philippine Ambassador Macaraig speaks at ISEAS seminar on 60 years of the Philippines in ASEAN

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo G. Macaraig delivered remarks at an ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute hybrid seminar on 28 October marking six decades of Philippine engagement in ASEAN, in the year the Philippines holds the ASEAN Chairship.

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore attended the hybrid seminar “The Philippines in ASEAN: 60 Years of Engagement and Commitment” at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute on 28 October 2026, the embassy said in a photo release. The event was held under the Philippine Studies Program, according to the embassy, in ISEAS Seminar Room 2 and online as a webinar.

Ambassador Medardo G. Macaraig delivered remarks highlighting the Philippines' contribution to ASEAN over the past 60 years and the ways regional cooperation has served the interests of the country and of Filipinos, according to the embassy. He also expressed appreciation to ISEAS for sustaining thoughtful discussion of the Philippines and its place in the region, especially in this year of the Philippines' ASEAN Chairship.

What the seminar covered

The seminar was supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia and featured two panel discussions on the Philippines' contributions to ASEAN and the wider region over nearly six decades. The embassy said the discussions covered ASEAN's three pillars: political-security cooperation, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

According to the embassy, the first panel explored the Philippines' commitment to ASEAN and its mechanisms, particularly in maritime security as well as traditional and non-traditional security issues. The second panel focused on the economic and socio-cultural pillars, with topics including:

• Labour and migrant protection
• Education and people-to-people exchanges
• Connectivity
• Environment, biodiversity and climate change
• Culture and tourism
• MSMEs

ISEAS described the session as examining the reciprocal relationship between Philippine foreign policy interests and ASEAN cooperation, including how ASEAN cooperation has advanced Philippine interests in areas such as maritime governance, trade and investment, labour and migrant protection, public health and people-to-people relations.

ISEAS events are conducted under the Chatham House Rule, meaning information from the event may be used but the identity and affiliation of speakers and participants are not revealed without their consent.

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