ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original member

countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined
on 8 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Laos and Myanmar on 23 July 199, and Cambodia
on 30 April 1999. On 8 August 1967, five leaders, the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, sat down together in the main hall of the Department of
Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok, Thailand and signed a document. By virtue of that
document, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was born. The five Foreign
Ministers who signed it would subsequently be hailed as the Founding Fathers of probably the
most successful inter-governmental organization in the developing world today. And the
document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN Declaration. It was a short, simply-
worded document containing just five articles. It declared the establishment of an Association for
Regional Cooperation among the Countries of Southeast Asia to be known as the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and spelled out the aims and purposes of that Association.
These aims and purposes were about cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, technical,
educational and other fields, and in the promotion of regional peace and stability through abiding
respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations
Charter. It stipulated that the Association would be open for participation by all States in the
Southeast Asian region subscribing to its aims, principles and purposes. It proclaimed ASEAN as
representing “the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together in
friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and
for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity.”

And so in early August 1967, the five Foreign Ministers spent four days in the relative
isolation of a beach resort in Bang Saen, a coastal town less than a hundred kilometers southeast
of Bangkok. There they negotiated over that document in a decidedly informal manner which
they would later delight in describing as “sports-shirt diplomacy.” Yet it was by no means an
easy process: each man brought into the deliberations a historical and political perspective that
had no resemblance to that of any of the others. But with goodwill and good humor, as often as
they huddled at the negotiating table, they finessed their way through their differences as they
lined up their shots on the golf course and traded wisecracks on one another’s game, a style of
deliberation which would eventually become the ASEAN ministerial tradition.

ASEAN, in full Association of Southeast Asian Nations, international organization

established by the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand
in 1967 to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development and to promote
peace and security in Southeast Asia. Brunei joined in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos
and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. Under the banner of cooperative peace and shared
prosperity, ASEAN’s chief projects center on economic cooperation, the promotion of trade
among ASEAN countries and between ASEAN members and the rest of the world, and programs
for joint research and technical cooperation among member governments. ASEAN is not a
supranational organization but rather a regional association. The member states remain as the
reference point of a regional organization that aspires to be both a political and economic
community. ASEAN, as a bloc, does not have a common foreign policy but strives to achieve a
common position in issues that affect the region.

ASEAN is one of the cornerstones of the Philippines’ foreign and trade policies. This is
manifested in the Philippines policy to promote a more peaceful, stable, and free South East
Asia, through the pursuit of different initiatives, in the policy making, economic, trading and
functional cooperation activities. To illustrate, the Philippines actively participates in the
shaping of ASEAN’s regional agenda that will ensure the bloc’s relevance and importance in the
international arena. More importantly, the Philippines has constantly affirmed that ASEAN
centrality should be promoted at all times, both in the group’s internal and external dealings, and
that ASEAN continues to remain as the driver of regionalism, and act as an interlocutor between
competing regional powers. The underlying agenda of this is the Philippines’ strong support to
strengthen a regional order that promotes good behavior, international trade and which adheres to
internationally accepted norms and rules for the benefit of the region. This is in line with the
development of the AESAN Economic Community (AEC).

It’s important to understand that ASEAN isn’t a mere organization for leaders to get
together and make merry. It’s about the betterment of the people and the economy. An easier and
cheaper travel option for everyone is attained because ASEAN wants to provide easier travel
access and services for its people. However, even citizens can enjoy the benefit of improved air,
sea, or land travel. Thanks to ASEAN, there are now VISA-free entry countries like Cambodia,
Indonesia, and Malaysia. Last October 2017, during the 23rd ASEAN Transport Ministers
Meeting, members signed several plans to improve transportation within the region. With the
progressive dynamic between the ASEAN region, with easier and cheaper travel options, goods,
and services, it only makes sense that it comes with the extended bonus of better employment
opportunities. Take note, the continent makes up one-third of global GDP. You can only expect
that Asia will keep doing what it can to maintain and exceed this performance. It’s also highly
beneficial to the country’s IT industry, seeing as how ASEAN has 700 million digital consumers.
In fact, by 2025, the sector is expected to grow 500% to $200 billion. One of ASEAN’s goals,
after all, is to decrease “unemployment and underemployment” across the region. Overall,
ASEAN contributes to the advancement of the Philippines as a whole. Because of the incredible
support from other Southeast Asian nations, the country is better prepared for globalisation. With
the Filipinos’ way of life eventually improved, it will be no surprise if the economy contains to
perform well in the next few years. ASEAN is one of the many reasons why the Philippines is in
a good and stable pace and potential investors, businessmen, and its citizens need not worry
about the country’s stability.