MANILA, Philippines — The government is 90 to 95 percent prepared to host the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit from Nov. 15 to 17, with only the contingency and security measures being finalized, Malacañang said yesterday.
Executive Secretary and ASEAN National Organizing Council chairman Ralph Recto inspected the preparations last Friday, nine days before the Leaders’ Summit that is expected to be attended by more than 20 leaders from the regional bloc and dialogue partners.
“I am proud to say that we are 90 to 95 percent ready, with the remaining five to 10 percent being contingent circumstances such as the weather and other last-minute security arrangements,” Recto said. The summit’s main venue is the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
He said he did a walkthrough to ensure that preparations are on track and President Marcos’ instructions are fully carried out ahead of his own inspection.
According to Recto, the President and First Lady Liza Marcos are “very hands-on” in their preparations as hosts of the regional meet.
He thanked the organizing team for their “tireless work behind the scenes” and urged them to sustain the same dedication and momentum through the roughly 100 meetings still remaining under the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship.
Leading the inspection were ASEAN director-general for operations Hellen Dela Vega and Undersecretary Roy Cervantes of the Office of the Executive Secretary. With them were Trade Secretary Christina Roque, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Robert de Claro, Budget Secretary Kim De Leon and Presidential Communications Secretary Lino Cayetano.
Last Friday, guests and delegates to the summit were treated to a tour of the Marikina Shoe Museum where local shoemakers’ craftmanship was showcased.
Mayor Marjorie Ann Teodoro and her husband, First District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, welcomed the delegates from the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council at the Shoe Museum where they witnessed the unique talents of the city’s shoe artisans.
The delegates were senior officials and ministers from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Timor-Leste and Laos. They were accompanied by Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
“We are very honored to be among the first stops in the cities of Metro Manila to welcome delegates from our neighboring ASEAN countries, giving us the opportunity to showcase the high-quality and world-class craftsmanship of our local shoemakers here at the Shoe Capital of the Philippines,” Teodoro said.
The museum houses 800 pairs of shoes, mostly from former first lady Imelda Marcos’ collection, while some were donated by former Philippine presidents and mayors, celebrities, athletes, business tycoons and other prominent figures.
The event also highlighted the rich local history and beginnings of Marikina’s shoe industry, featuring the old and modern tools, equipment, materials and methods used by artisan shoemakers.
The delegates interacted with shoemakers through a live shoemaking demonstration by artisans from local brand Zapateria. — Emmanuel Tupas