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The Secretary of Foreign Affairs H.E. Ma. Theresa Lazaro and the ACB Executive Director Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor led the tree planting activity

LAGUNA, Philippines – Ambassadors and official representatives from the embassies in the Philippines of the ASEAN Member States (AMS), Timor-Leste, and dialogue partners of the ASEAN celebrated the 58^th ASEAN Day with a tree planting activity on 9 August 2025.

The Secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), H.E. Ma. Theresa Lazaro and ACB Executive Director Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor led the activity at the Makiling Botanic Gardens of the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, an ASEAN Heritage Park in the Philippines. The ACB Headquarters are also located there.

Hon. Mayor Neil Andrew Nocon of the Municipality of Los Baños; University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor Dr. Jose Camacho Jr.; UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources Dean Marlo Mendoza; and UPLB Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) Director Dr. Lerma SJ. Maldia welcomed the distinguished guests. 

At the beginning of the event, Dr. Maldia also guided the guests in planting the native tree seedlings, specifically Bagtikan (Parashorea malaanonan), Saplungan (Hopea plagata), and Yakal (Shorea astylosa).

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director took part in the symbolic tree planting activity 

After the activity, the guests proceeded to the ACB Headquarters for a brief programme. In his welcome remarks, Dr. Montemayor thanked the DFA, the officials and the scientific community from the UPLB. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among the AMS and conservation partners in the ASEAN’s goal for sustainability. 

“As we join hands in planting native trees…in the face of the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, we are reminded that conservation and restoration are shared responsibilities that require a whole-of-society approach, and that the solutions to these challenges are also in nature. It gives us hope that the results of our current efforts will continue to grow, flourish, and help build a better world for generations to come,” he said.

In her message, Secretary Lazaro stressed the importance of ecosystem restoration as well as cooperation among the AMS and ASEAN’s partners in ensuring a prosperous future.

Representatives from the embassies of the ASEAN Member States and dialogue and development partners join officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity to celebrate the 58th Anniversary of ASEAN. 

“As we plant the seedlings that will grow into robust and vigorous trees in the future, so do we plant the foundation for productive, cooperative, and meaningful engagement among ASEAN Member States and our Dialogue Partners. Through this morning’s activity, we also support the Centre’s efforts to restore our forests and protect our biodiversity through the ASEAN Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 million native trees over a period of 10 years across all 10 ASEAN Member States. …I do encourage all those present here today to plant the seeds of conservation and cooperation as we work together to protect and preserve ASEAN’s priceless natural environment, securing a sustainable and prosperous future for our peoples,” she said.

The event was organised by the DFA and the ACB, in close coordination with the UPLB MCME.

Celebrating ASEAN across the globe 

For the first time, the ACB also joined members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of centres and entities associated with ASEAN, youth and academia, and other partners in celebrating ASEAN Day in Jakarta, Indonesia, this year.

Leading celebrations at the ASEAN Headquarters, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the theme “Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable ASEAN Future” during the opening programme. “This vision resonates deeply with the fundamental values we uphold as a united community,” he said. He also highlighted some important steps that ASEAN is taking towards concrete and urgent action on sustainability. “From our decades-long cooperation on transboundary haze, to the recent establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change in Brunei Darussalam, to our ongoing efforts to building a regional power grid or the ASEAN Power Grid and accelerate renewable energy transition—these reflect a growing resolve to confront the climate crisis together,” he added.

The Honourable Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chair of ASEAN 2025, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, H.E. Sugiono, also offered remarks before the ceremonial cutting of the ASEAN Day cake.

Photo by the ASEAN Secretariat

As part of the day’s activities, a talk show and an upcycling workshop entitled Living a Sustainable Life were held. Moderated by Dr. Vong Sok, Head of the Environment Division of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department, it showcased young leaders of sustainable businesses and initiatives. They are Melia Winata of Du Ayam, Angeline Callista of Sirsak, George Suwarno, Sr. of People Systems Consultancy, and Gema Putri Ramadhani Minang of Setali.

One of the highlights of the 58th ASEAN Day in Jakarta is the ASEAN Food Festival, which features booths from the AMS, Timor-Leste, and other ASEAN partners. There were also exhibits from various ASEAN entities and partner institutions, showcasing practices and products related to inclusivity and sustainability.

Meanwhile, at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, the ASEAN Secretariat held a weeklong celebration, which included a coffee showcase from the AMS at the ASEAN Pavilion and an ASEAN Special Day parade held at the Grand Ring of the World Expo site in Yumeshima, Osaka, Japan.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community Mr. Satvinder Singh graced the occasion by visiting various pavilions of the AMS and of the ASEAN Pavilion, where the ACB Forest Wall and exhibit are located. 

ACB Senior Director for Programmes Department, Ms. Clarissa Arida, briefly met with ASEAN Economic Community Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Sartvinder Singh at the ASEAN Pavilion during the ASEAN Day celebration at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.  

Ms. Clarissa Arida, Senior Director, ACB Programmes Department, joined the ASEAN Business Forum at the Osaka Chamber of Commerce (OCCI) jointly organised by the ASEAN-Japan Centre and the OCCI with the theme “Business Opportunities in the ASEAN Region in the Post-Expo Era’’. The forum aimed to promote the ASEAN region to Japanese businesses as attractive partners for trade and investment.

Donning their national costumes, representatives of the AMS led by the ASEAN Secretariat, joined the special day parade in Osaka. 

A special parade was also held on 8 August participated in by representatives of the AMS Pavilions, the ASEAN Pavilion, the ACB, and the Air Asia Foundation. One of the week’s highlights is the celebration of Brunei Darussalam’s National Day at the Expo National Day Hall.

In Thailand, an ASEAN Day celebration was held on 8 August, organised by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event included an ASEAN Flag Hoisting Ceremony and the 2.5-kilometre-long ASEAN Family Run. Meanwhile, the Embassy of Malaysia, together with all the ASEAN representatives in Bahrain observed the ASEAN Day with the Bahraini leaders and communities. -end-