Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III extended an invitation to young Southeast Asian lawmakers to visit the Philippines in the future, highlighting Bohol as a symbol of the region’s shared natural and cultural heritage.
Speaking at the 3rd Consultative Meeting of the Young Parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), held virtually under the Philippines’ hosting, Dy expressed regret that participants were unable to gather in Panglao, Bohol as originally planned, but emphasized that the invitation remains open.
“We had planned to gather in Panglao, Bohol so that all of you could sample the best of what the Philippines has to offer.”
“We had planned to gather in Panglao, Bohol so that all of you could sample the best of what the Philippines has to offer: its beautiful beaches, the gracious hospitality of our people, and the rich tapestry of our culture and history,” the Speaker said.
The veteran legislator noted that beyond its scenic landscapes, Bohol also represents a unique ecological link within Southeast Asia.
“As a bonus, we had hoped you would meet one of our region’s most remarkable little ambassadors—the tarsier.”
“As a bonus, we had hoped you would meet one of our region’s most remarkable little ambassadors—the tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world, found only in Bohol and other parts of Southeast Asia,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Bohol is home to the Philippine Tarsier. Other species of the tarsier can be found in other Southeast Asian nations such as Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
“We hope that in the future you will grant us the privilege of hosting you there,” he said, reiterating the Philippines’ commitment to fostering closer people-to-people and parliamentary exchanges within ASEAN.
Originally scheduled as an in-person gathering in Panglao, the meeting was moved online as part of a calibrated approach to streamline official engagements and manage rising global costs amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, while ensuring that regional cooperation continues uninterrupted.
