CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — Travelers arriving at Clark International Airport can now learn more about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through the “ASEAN 2026: Navigating Our Future, Together” photo exhibit at the airport’s International Arrivals Area.
Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary for State Media Allan C. Francisco delivers a message during the launch of the ASEAN 2026 interlocking photo exhibit at Clark International Airport, emphasizing the importance of unity and public awareness in strengthening ASEAN cooperation. (Mark Anthony G. Pangan/PIA)
The exhibit, organized by the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS), an attached agency of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in partnership with the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, showcases ASEAN’s history, milestones, and shared aspirations as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.
During the exhibit launch, PCO Assistant Secretary for State Media Allan C. Francisco underscored the role of communication in helping Filipinos better understand ASEAN’s significance and its impact on their daily lives.
Quoting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Francisco said that ASEAN has always drawn its strength not from uniformity, but from unity.
“Ang pagkakaisang ito ang patuloy na gumagabay sa atin sa pagharap sa mga hamon at oportunidad,” he added.
Francisco explained that the exhibit seeks to make ASEAN more accessible to the public by presenting its story through compelling visuals and informative displays.
“Iyan din ang layunin ng photo exhibit na ito—gawing mas malinaw, mas relatable, at mas malapit sa publiko ang kahalagahan at benepisyo ng ASEAN,” he said.
He added that ASEAN is more than a regional organization, describing it as a community that promotes cooperation, creates opportunities, and advances shared progress among its member states.
“As we continue to take on the responsibility of leading ASEAN and hosting the upcoming summits, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusive growth, cooperation, and shared progress,” Francisco said.
Meanwhile, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez, through a message delivered by Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Atty. Mylin-Deina L. Espiritu, thanked Clark International Airport and LIPAD Corporation for hosting the exhibit.
“Allow me to also thank, on behalf of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the ASEAN 2026 National Organizing Council, the Clark International Airport and LIPAD Corporation for hosting the launch of this exhibit,” the message read.
Espiritu noted that airports symbolize connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, reflecting ASEAN’s vision of regional cooperation and integration.
“As a gateway that connects people, communities, businesses, and destinations, this airport reflects the same spirit of connectivity and cooperation that ASEAN seeks to strengthen across the region,” she said.
The exhibit features key moments in ASEAN’s history, from the signing of the 1967 Bangkok Declaration to major ASEAN summits and regional initiatives. It also highlights the Philippines’ contributions to ASEAN, including discussions from the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings held in Cebu.
According to organizers, the exhibit aims to deepen public appreciation of ASEAN’s role in promoting peace, stability, economic growth, and regional cooperation while raising awareness of the Philippines’ leadership as ASEAN Chair in 2026.
The photo exhibit serves both as a celebration of ASEAN’s shared achievements and an invitation for the public to take part in building a more connected, resilient, and prosperous Southeast Asian community. (MJSC/MAGP, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)