HWONFEX ASEAN Handshake: (Center) Wanda Tulfo Teo, Former DOT Secretary and Wellness Tourism Advocate; Macky Beltran-Soriano, Managing Director of HWONFEX; (L-R) Jerome Tumambing, Officer-In-Charge, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC); Dr. Hernando Delizo, Director for Health and Wellness of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Clinica Manila; Catherine Turvill, Chair for Health and Wellness of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and President of Nurture Wellness Village; Dr. Prem Jagyasi, Internationally acclaimed consultant, speaker, and global authority on medical tourism, wellness resorts, and healthcare marketing; Dr. Honey Carandang, National Scientist and Founder of MLAC Institute for Psychosocial Services, Inc.; Ebb Hinchliffe, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham Philippines); Brigadier General Fatima Claire S. Navarro, Surgeon General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Dr. Janice A. Saraza, MD, Officer-in-Charge of the Health Services and Wellness Department of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR); Dr. Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., President and CEO of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT)
Key Highlights from Day 1
The High-Level Summit Launch: The event commenced with an institutional framework set by Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang (DOT Director for Health and Wellness Tourism), alongside messages of regional solidarity from DFA Undersecretary Leo M. Herrera-Lim (Philippine ASEAN Senior Official Meeting Leader), PCCI President Mr. Perry A. Ferrer, and ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines Chairman Mr. Jose Ma “Joey” Concepcion III.
The Grand Ceremonial Opening: Following a VVIP Luncheon, the afternoon launched with a mindful Sound Healing Session and a prestigious Grand Processional. HWONFEX Organizer Ms. Macky Beltran-Soriano joined Former DOT Secretary and Wellness Tourism Advocate Ms. Wanda Tulfo-Teo in setting the strategic vision, noting that global travel patterns have fundamentally shifted into an active search for authentic healing environments and long-term vitality.
Diplomatic & Cabinet Concurrence: High-profile keynote address blocks unified regional cross-border strategies. His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino (Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines) and Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac (Department of Migrant Workers) mapped policies safeguarding human resources. Concurrently, Dr. Ma. Teresa C. Iñigo (Director General of PITAHC) unified the integration of alternative and indigenous traditional healthcare networks.
Institutional Representation & Activation: Key national agencies participated through strategic representations, including the Department of Agriculture (represented by Asec. Atty. Genevive Velicaria-Guevarra), the Department of Tourism (represented by Dr. Paulo Benito S. Tugbang), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Chief of Staff General Antonio Nafarrete), and PAGCOR (represented by Dra. Janice Saraza).
Anchoring Public Health as the Ultimate Social Safety Net
The afternoon reached its zenith during the HWONFEX ASEAN Handshake and the "ASEAN Wellness as One" Ecosystem Activation, breaking open trade access points across four operational tracks: VIP Guided Expo Floor Tours, the soft launch of the specialty Ube Pavilion, PITAHC Centerstage Feature launches, and live B2B Corporate Matchmaking channels.
Delivering the foundational keynote address of the summit, DSWD Secretary Rexlon Ting Gatchalian laid out the strategic framework connecting social welfare directly to public health, preventative wellness, and human capital preservation:
"A resilient economy cannot be built on reactive healthcare; it must be anchored on proactive wellness and the systemic protection of human capital," stated DSWD Secretary Rexlon Ting Gatchalian. "By endorsing HWONFEX 2026 as an Official ASEAN Side Event, the DSWD recognizes that preventative health, nutritional sustainability, and holistic well-being serve as the ultimate social safety net for our people. True social development means shifting from simply managing vulnerabilities to actively empowering our grassroots workforce to thrive. When we bridge public welfare policy with high-value health trade, we build healthier local communities and elevate the entire ASEAN region into a unified, wealthy economic bloc."
Event Details & Public Access Elements
While the High-Level Summit sessions operate under premium passes, major wings of the convention remain fully accessible to the general public for free.
HilomX: Philippine Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) eXposition and eXperience — Pre-register for FREE access
HWONFEX Day 2 Centerstage Program & General Trade Show Floor: — Pre-register for FREE access
Exposition Public Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Trade visitors, investors, and medical professionals can access registration details at WellnessConfex.com
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