Camille Naredo

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with the Filipino community in Busan at the Wyndham Grand Busan on October 30, 2025, as he begins his official activities in the Republic of Korea ahead of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool/File

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with the Filipino community in Busan at the Wyndham Grand Busan on October 30, 2025, as he begins his official activities in the Republic of Korea ahead of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
As of June 2025, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul reported 70,266 registered Filipinos residing in South Korea, with 59% (or 42,104) holding employment-related visas.
Most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Korea are employed in manufacturing, agriculture, and fishing, while others work as performing artists, educators, professionals, and skilled laborers.
Yummie Dingding, PPA pool

Article (news)

MARCOS-PH

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176312812108420251030-marcos-filipino-community-busan-PPA.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. meets with the Filipino community in Busan at the Wyndham Grand Busan on October 30, 2025, as he begins his official activities in the Republic of Korea ahead of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool/File</div>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday launched the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, underscoring a focus on artificial intelligence and developing regional policies for its ethical use.The ASEAN 2026’s theme will center on “Navigating Our Future, Together,” as the regional bloc “embraces innovation, leverages its diversity, and equips our people for the challenges that we face today and tomorrow,” Marcos Jr. said in his speech at the launching event in Intramuros, Manila.“In the area of peace and security, our Chairship will highlight the responsible and ethical use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to strengthen ASEAN’s capacity to anticipate and to respond to new and evolving security challenges,” he said.“We shall harness AI for early warning systems, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), ensuring that technology becomes a force for stability rather than division,” he added.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/28/philippines-to-take-asean-chair-with-focus-on-south-china-sea-1921">READ: Philippines to take ASEAN chair with focus on South China Sea</a></div>The regional bloc’s discussions next week will also focus on how AI can help “drive ASEAN’s transition into a digitally empowered community” especially in terms of economics, the President said.“By promoting the safe, ethical, responsible, equitable, and sustainable adoption of AI in all areas such as trade facilitation, digitalization, and innovation, we aim to enhance regional competitiveness, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and unlock new opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth,” he said.“Under the socio-cultural pillar, the Philippines will champion the responsible use of AI to enhance healthcare, education, and youth empowerment — broadening access to essential services and cultivating creativity for the next generation,” he said.“We will also explore AI-driven solutions that strengthen the ASEAN Family and advance the silver economy, fostering a more connected, resilient, and age-inclusive community. Of course, AI will not replace our human touch; rather, it will magnify our capacity to care, to teach, [and] to uplift communities across ASEAN.”The ASEAN 2026 logo incorporates the following symbols: - Rice stalk - symbol of nourishment and abundance, ASEAN’s commitment to food security, 11 grains represent each ASEAN member state- Weave pattern - symbolizes the strength found in interconnection- Wave - signifies maritime security and cooperation- Balangay - traditional Filipino boat that symbolizes the bloc’s commitment to moving forward aboard a single vesselASEAN meetings next year will be held in Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Laoag, Iloilo, Tagaytay and Clark, Marcos Jr. said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/26/marcos-jr-wants-practical-inclusive-and-measurable-initiative-hosting-of-asean-2026-1704">READ: Marcos Jr. wants &#x27;practical, inclusive and measurable initiative&#x27; hosting of ASEAN 2026 -- Palace</a></div>“Each of these places will host ASEAN meetings and events that celebrate our diversity, showcase our culture, and advance our shared goals,” he said.“Together, these venues tell the story of a nation that mirrors ASEAN itself — diverse yet united, traditional yet forward-looking, and increasingly future-ready through innovation and through technology,” he said.Meantime, Marcos Jr. has designated Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro as the Philippines’ Special Envoy of the Chair on Myanmar.“We are confident that she shall bring a constructive, principled, and inclusive approach to supporting the people of Myanmar, guided by her mandate and the Five-Point Consensus, as we work together towards peace, stability, and reconciliation,” he said.“Secretary Tess, you better get this done. I already made a promise to everyone,” he added.Marcos Jr. did not say if the Philippines intends to finalize during its chairmanship the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, which will set ground rules for countries with overlapping claims in the strategic waterway that has been the cause of tension between China and several Southeast Asian countries.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/1/marcos-says-no-west-ph-sea-talk-with-xi-jinping-at-apec-2025-sidelines-1914">READ: Marcos says no West PH Sea talk with Xi Jinping at APEC 2025 sidelines</a></div>But Marcos Jr. noted that the Philippines will “continue to champion peace and stability through dialogue, adherence to international law, and enhanced cooperation on traditional and non-traditional security issues.”The Philippines assumed the chairmanship of the 11-member bloc earlier this year, after Myanmar begged off from hosting the annual summit due to local unrest.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday launched the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, underscoring a focus on artificial intelligence and developing regional policies for its ethical use.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday launched the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, underscoring a focus on artificial intelligence and developing regional policies for its ethical use.

PH launches ASEAN 2026 chairmanship with focus on AI

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PH launches ASEAN 2026 chairmanship with focus on AI

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 14, 2025 09:55 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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