Angelina Jolie and Lea Salonga are among the featured speakers at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on November 11, bringing two internationally recognized names in entertainment into discussions on the region’s future.
Their appearances will explore different connections between creative work and community progress: Jolie through her longstanding involvement in Cambodia, and Salonga through the opportunities available to Southeast Asian artists.
According to the official program, Salonga will join broadcaster Rico Hizon for “In unison: Amplifying every voice in ASEAN.” The conversation will examine how the region’s creativity can become a sustainable livelihood for more artists, drawing on her journey from Manila to Broadway and beyond.
Jolie, meanwhile, will appear with Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh in a separate session exploring their collaboration and commitment to Cambodian communities. Their work together includes First They Killed My Father, Jolie’s film about a child’s experience under the Khmer Rouge.
Titled “From memory to possibility: Cambodia, courage and the power of staying,” the discussion will focus on listening to local voices and building partnerships that endure beyond individual projects, according to organizers.
The actress’s humanitarian experience spans more than two decades with the United Nations refugee agency. She served as goodwill ambassador from 2001 to 2012 and special envoy until 2022, before pursuing broader humanitarian and human rights initiatives.
Other Filipino personalities on the program include actress-entrepreneur Kylie Verzosa and designer Rajo Laurel, with sessions examining business-building and how Filipino design can generate greater value for its makers and communities.
Hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, the summit carries the theme “Resilient and rising.” Its agenda connects these creative perspectives with wider discussions on small businesses, financial health, tourism and digital transformation.