In exile

I believe I was sent to cover the ASEAN meetings in Cebu for a reason, with this being the fourth piece indirectly shaped by that experience. Apart from the tourism forum, I also listened closely to the press statements issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs on what transpired during the ministers’ meeting. There was a deep discussion on Myanmar and the country’s planned election amid the continued rule of the military junta. The Philippines was firm in its position of not recognizing this election --one move I did not realize would have such a significant impact on the Burmese community.

As I write this, I am inside a room with people living in exile. They are from Myanmar, individuals who had to flee their homes because of the tension and violence unfolding in their country. Many villages have been targeted by airstrikes, and opportunities to thrive, or even survive, have become increasingly scarce. By exile, they are forced to continue their lives in a foreign land, but with limitations. Work is uncertain, mobility is restricted, and the idea of permanence is fragile. The concept of home has become bleak, while those in power continue to usurp from citizens what should have been rightfully theirs.

This is where ASEAN plays a critical role. While each member-state governs independently, it is important to understand that regional decisions shape foreign relations and global perception. When ASEAN collectively signals that it does not recognize a particular election, the rest of the world takes notice. This position gives others, especially the majority who do not support military rule, some form of moral leverage to question who should truly govern them. Beyond governance, however, there is the urgent need for intervention. There are many Burmese now living in refugee camps, staring at an uncertain future. While they may have survived the immediate brutality of oppression, they remain unsure whether rebuilding their lives is even possible.

This is the bleaker side of ASEAN that often goes unseen. In every meeting, leaders perform the ASEAN handshake, arms and hands interlocked in symbolic unity. Yet the reality on the ground does not always reflect that gesture. Border tensions persist, such as those between Thailand and Cambodia, reminding us that solidarity has limits. The Philippines, for its part, is largely spared from hosting refugees because of geographical constraints, but we continue to battle our own border issues. Most notably, this is our struggle to assert ownership over the West Philippine Sea.

Whether diplomatic meetings will result in solutions that are sustainable and workable remains uncertain. State leaders can convene, pose for photographs, and issue joint statements, only to encounter immense difficulty when translating these into action on the ground. For those living in exile, time moves differently. Every delay is not abstract; it is another day without certainty, without a home, and without a clear path forward. I wish for them to be able to go home and experience life before the guns were drawn. We all deserve to live in peace.