Senator Loren Legarda on Wednesday underscored the importance of foresight and proactive leadership in navigating global challenges, as she addressed the Regional Foresight Conference on Emerging International Issues held on August 27, 2025, at Seda Manila Bay, Parañaque City.
The conference, hosted by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines in conjunction with the 2nd Retreat of Diplomatic Academies in Southeast Asia, emphasized the need to integrate foresight studies and future thinking into diplomatic training and foreign policy development.
“To speak of foresight in this context is not an academic exercise. It is the most practical expression of survival and the most strategic expression of leadership,” Legarda said.
She stressed that Southeast Asian nations must bolster their ability to anticipate and prepare for urgent issues, including climate change, technological disruptions, shifting power dynamics, health crises, and regional security concerns such as the South China Sea.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Culture and Arts and a leading advocate of environmental protection, Legarda pointed to the Philippines’ proactive role in environmental diplomacy. She cited the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, the country’s leadership in the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the V20 Group, as well as collaborations with global figures such as Ban Ki-moon, Bill Gates, and Kristalina Georgieva in advancing climate adaptation strategies.
Beyond environmental advocacy, Legarda highlighted cultural diplomacy as a tool for fostering global connections. Among her initiatives are Sentro Rizal, a worldwide network of Filipino cultural centers created under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, the Philippine Studies Program, which affirms Filipino scholarship in global academia, and the country’s return to the Venice Biennale, a premier global art and architecture platform.
She also announced that the Philippines will be the Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, marking a milestone for Southeast Asian cultural representation.
“Environmental diplomacy and cultural diplomacy are not separate pursuits. They are converging forces that give nations both the strength to endure and the power to inspire,” Legarda said.
The conference also showcased research presentations from participating diplomatic academies, developed independently or in partnership with academic institutions.
In closing, Legarda challenged Southeast Asia’s diplomatic educators and emerging leaders: “You are the torchbearers of foresight. You bear the responsibility of anticipating change, of preparing with discipline, of envisioning with courage, and of listening with humility.”
With reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
