By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia welcomed foreign and local delegates, yesterday, during the opening ceremony of the 15th Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) at the SMX Convention Center.
“On behalf of our people, I say, welcome to our dignitaries and guests from Southeast Asia and the rest of the world,” he said in his welcome.
“I would always say to our visitors ‘Welcome to the Philippines’ City of Smiles,’” he added. “But now I say Welcome to Southeast Asia’s City of Smiles.”
Leonardia called the meeting a step in the right direction.
“We realize that the way to the future is in partnerships with other nations, to meld our uniqueness with theirs, and share with the rest of the world what each of us has been blessed with,” he said.
In his address, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael Sueno said, “It is here that we may talk in close quarters about economic, political, social, and cultural development through the eyes of our respective nations and through the eyes of the region as a whole.”
He emphasized the importance of this year’s summit, commemorating the 50th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN and keeping in mind all the region has accomplished over the last five decades.
Using the cliché “knowledge is power,” Sueno explained how knowledge is a tool that unlocks infinite possibilities.
“Information is crucial to ASEAN’s regional strategy of promoting the ASEAN community and the unique benefits and opportunities that we have within the region,” he said. “We see the same key relationship in the Philippine society.”/WDJ