Legarda calls for foresight in diplomacy, champions environmental and cultural leadership at Southeast Asia diplomatic conference

Senator Loren Legarda made a strong call to action for foresight-driven diplomacy and leadership during the Regional Foresight Conference on Emerging International Issues on August 27, 2025, at Seda Manila Bay, Parañaque City.

The conference, hosted by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines in connection with the 2nd Retreat of Diplomatic Academies in Southeast Asia, highlighted the increasing recognition that foresight studies and future thinking must be integral to diplomatic training and the development of foreign policy.

“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.

Legarda stressed that Southeast Asian nations must strengthen their capacity to anticipate and prepare for pressing challenges such as climate change and environmental risks, technological disruptions, shifting global power dynamics and geopolitical rivalries, health crises and pandemics, and regional security and maritime issues, including the South China Sea.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Culture and Arts and an advocate of environmental protection and climate action, underscored 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 leaders, including Ban Ki-moon, Bill Gates, and Kristalina Georgieva in developing climate adaptation strategies.

In addition to environmental advocacy, the four-term senator highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy in fostering connections between nations. Legarda mentioned initiatives she spearheaded such as Sentro Rizal, a global network of cultural centers that brings Filipino arts, language, and heritage to the world (under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which she authored); the Philippine Studies Program, which affirms Filipinos as knowledge producers in the global academic community; and the country’s return to the Venice Biennale, the world’s foremost contemporary art and architecture exhibition.

She also mentioned that the Philippines will be the Guest of Honour country at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, marking a significant moment 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,” said Legarda.

The conference featured research presentations from participating diplomatic academies, created independently or in collaboration with academic institutions.

“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,” Legarda concluded, challenging the region’s diplomatic educators and future leaders. (30)

Legarda nanawagan para sa diplomasyang may malay sa hinaharap, itinataguyod ang pamumunong pangkalikasan at pangkultura sa kumperensiyang diplomatiko ng Timog‐silangang Asya

Nanawagan si Senadora Loren Legarda para sa diplomasyang may malay sa hinaharap at matatag na pamumuno o foresight-driven diplomacy and leadership sa ginanap na Regional Foresight Conference on Emerging International Issues noong Agosto 27, 2025 sa Seda Manila Bay, Parañaque City.

Ang kumperensiya, na inorganisa ng Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines kaugnay ng 2nd Retreat of Diplomatic Academies in Southeast Asia, ay nagbigay-diin sa lumalawak na pagkilala na ang foresight studies at future thinking ay kailangang maging bahagi ng pagsasanay diplomatiko at pagbuo ng patakarang panlabas.

“Ang pagtalakay sa foresight sa ganitong konteksto ay hindi isang akademikong ehersisyo. Ito ang pinakapraktikal na pahayag ng pag‐survive at ang pinakaestratehikong anyo ng pamumuno,” ani Legarda.

Binigyang-diin niya na dapat palakasin ng mga bansa sa Timog‐silangang Asya ang kakayahang maghanda sa mga hamon gaya ng pagbabago ng klima, panganib sa kapaligiran, teknolohikal na pag‐aagwat, pagbabago sa pandaigdigang kapangyarihan, krisis sa kalusugan, pandemya, at mga usaping panseguridad sa rehiyon at karagatan, kabilang ang South China Sea.

Bilang Tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Culture and Arts at masigasig na tagapagtaguyod ng kalikasan at klima, itinampok ni Legarda ang aktibong papel ng Pilipinas sa diplomasiyang pangkalikasan.

Binanggit niya ang Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, ang pamumuno ng bansa sa Climate Vulnerable Forum at V20 Group, pati na rin ang pakikipagtulungan sa mga pandaigdigang lider gaya nina Ban Ki‐moon, Bill Gates at Kristalina Georgieva sa pagbuo ng mga estratehiya sa climate adaptation.

Bukod sa adbokasiyang pangkalikasan, binigyang-halaga rin ni Legarda ang diplomasiyang pangkultura bilang susi sa mas malalim na ugnayan ng mga bansa. Ibinahagi niya ang mga inisyatibong kanyang pinangunahan tulad ng Sentro Rizal, isang pandaigdigang network ng mga sentrong pangkultura na nagtatampok ng sining, wika, at pamana ng Pilipinas; ang Philippine Studies Program na kinikilala ang mga Pilipino bilang tagalikha ng kaalaman sa pandaigdigang akademya; at ang pagbabalik ng bansa sa Venice Biennale, ang nangungunang eksibisyon sa kontemporaryong sining at arkitektura.

Ipinagmalaki rin ni Legarda na ang Pilipinas ang magiging Guest of Honour sa 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, isang makasaysayang pagkakataon para sa representasyong pangkultura ng Timog‐silangang Asya.

“Hindi magkaibang landas ang diplomasiyang pangkalikasan at pangkultura. Ang dalawang ito ay nagsasanib na nagbibigay sa bansa ng tibay upang magpatuloy at lakas upang magbigay-inspirasyon,” ani Legarda.

Tampok sa kumperensiya ang mga presentasyon ng pananaliksik mula sa mga akademiyang diplomatiko, na isinagawa nang malaya o sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga institusyong pang-akademya.

“Kayo ang tagapagdala ng ilaw ng foresight. Tangan ninyo ang tungkulin na tuklasin ang pagbabago, maghanda nang may disiplina, mangarap nang may tapang, at makinig nang may kababaang-loob,” pagtatapos ni Legarda sa kanyang hamon sa mga guro at hinaharap na lider diplomatiko ng rehiyon. (30)