Angelina Jolie (left) and Lea Salonga are scheduled to speak at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on November 11. – Photo credit: Foreign and Commonwealth Office / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0); Philip Romano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
Actress and humanitarian to discuss Cambodia with filmmaker Rithy Panh as Filipino Broadway star joins forum on creative industries
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and Filipino Broadway star Lea Salonga are among the featured speakers at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on Wednesday, November 11, bringing international attention to a gathering of business executives, government officials and development leaders examining economic opportunities across Southeast Asia.
The summit, organized by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in partnership with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, will take place at Shangri-La The Fort. Its agenda covers financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, technology, tourism and the economic potential of cultural and creative industries.
Jolie, an Academy Award winner and longtime humanitarian advocate, will join Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh in a discussion titled “From Memory to Possibility: Cambodia, Courage and the Power of Staying.”
Moderated by Shamina Singh, founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the conversation will examine their work in Cambodia and the importance of sustained involvement in communities recovering from conflict.
Jolie’s ties to Cambodia
Jolie and Panh collaborated on the 2017 film First They Killed My Father, directed by Jolie and produced by both filmmakers. Adapted from Cambodian author Loung Ung’s memoir, the film recounts her childhood under the Khmer Rouge regime.
Panh, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge period, has spent decades documenting Cambodia’s history through films that examine memory, violence and the experiences of survivors.
Jolie’s humanitarian involvement with Cambodia dates back more than two decades. Her work has included advocacy for refugees and displaced populations, alongside initiatives supporting communities affected by conflict.
She served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations refugee agency from 2001 to 2012 and as its special envoy from 2012 until December 2022.
The summit discussion will focus on the experiences of Jolie and Panh in Cambodia, with organizers emphasizing the role of local communities in directing long-term development efforts.
Salonga and the creative economy
Salonga will participate in a separate program titled “In Unison: Amplifying Every Voice in ASEAN,” examining the opportunities and challenges facing artists and cultural workers in Southeast Asia.
The session, conducted by Filipino broadcaster Rico Hizon, is scheduled to include conversation and song.
Salonga won the Tony Award for best actress in a musical for her performance in Miss Saigon. She also provided the singing voices of Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and the title character in Mulan.
Her participation will bring attention to the relationship between artistic achievement and economic opportunity in a region where performers, designers and other creative professionals increasingly reach audiences beyond their home countries.
Filipino fashion designer Rajo Laurel will take part in a separate discussion on design, craftsmanship and the economic value of heritage textiles. Actress and entrepreneur Kylie Verzosa is scheduled to discuss business development, including her ventures in shapewear and telehealth.
A fashion presentation featuring designer Dexter Alazas’ HABLONUEVO collection, which incorporates Cebuano handwoven textiles, is also part of the program. First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos is expected to attend, according to the organizers.
Regional leaders join economic discussions
The summit will also feature Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, GCash President and Chief Executive Officer Martha Sazon and SM Investments Vice Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson.
Ayala Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and his son, ACMobility Chief Executive Officer Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, are scheduled to discuss leadership and succession in family businesses.
Other sessions will examine digital fraud, artificial intelligence, access to financing for smaller enterprises and the economic contribution of online content creators.
The November 11 forum takes place during the Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ahead of other regional business and political meetings scheduled in Manila. It is organized separately from the formal summit of ASEAN heads of government.
