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| (Photo courtesy: ASEAN 2026 PH Facebook) |
By Jerome Paunan
MANILA (PIA) — Tourism Undersecretary Verna Emeralda Buensuceso on Monday explained the symbolic elements of the official ASEAN 2026 chairship logo, each representing key aspects of regional cooperation and Filipino heritage.
“The rice stalk in the logo represents abundance and food security, reflecting agriculture’s foundational role in Southeast Asian economies and societies,” Buensuceso said.
Senior tourism officials from 11 ASEAN member states convened in Cebu for the 63rd ASEAN National Tourism Organization Meeting.
“The weave pattern symbolizes interconnection among member states, illustrating how ASEAN nations are intricately linked through shared history, culture, and economic ties,” she added.
Moreover, Buensuceso said the wave element signifies maritime cooperation, acknowledging the region’s extensive coastlines, vital shipping routes, and shared waters that connect rather than divide the archipelagic and coastal nations of Southeast Asia.
The logo’s centerpiece is the Balangay, a traditional Filipino boat representing collective journey and shared purpose.
The Balangay, dating back to the 8th to 10th century CE, stands among the oldest known seagoing vessels in Southeast Asia.
“The Balangay is an emblematic symbol of navigational prowess, trade, and cultural ingenuity, and more significantly, it is a symbol of the beginning of the journey for travel and tourism as we know it today,” Buensuceso said.
The ancient vessel’s inclusion emphasizes that ASEAN member states, like crews aboard a shared boat, navigate toward common destinations through cooperation and collective effort rather than isolated individual pursuits.
Buensuceso emphasized that the future of tourism will be shaped by how member states align strategies, standards, innovations, and resolve to ensure tourism remains a force for good.
The undersecretary noted that as heads of national tourism organizations, officials occupy critical positions to transform vision into practice, with meeting decisions translating into visitor journeys, destination competitiveness, enterprise resilience, and community livelihoods.
“May our discussions lead to outcomes that are concrete and forward-looking. Outcomes that support sustainability without sacrificing growth, that accelerate digital transformation while protecting trust and safety, and that keep communities at the heart of the tourism economy,” Buensuceso said.
The gathering brings together top tourism leaders to strengthen regional cooperation and promote ASEAN as a unified, competitive, and sustainable tourism destination in the global market.
The meeting in Cebu marks another meaningful turning point for ASEAN tourism cooperation, with Timor-Leste’s inclusion signaling “not just another chapter but a stronger and more inclusive direction for ASEAN tourism,” according to Buensuceso.
The ASEAN Tourism Summit will showcase regional tourism initiatives, facilitate business-to-business networking, and advance collaborative strategies supporting post-pandemic recovery and sustainable tourism development across Southeast Asia. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
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