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48th ASEAN Summit Opens in Cebu, Philippines
Lumad Basakanon dance troupe and two choral groups performed at the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit on May 8, 2026 in Cebu. The event featured a traditional dance and a rendition of the ASEAN anthem “The ASEAN Way.” Cebu-based ensembles with international competition wins highlighted local culture at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering.
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The 48th ASEAN Summit opened on May 8, 2026 in Cebu, Philippines, with a performance by local Cebuano cultural groups at the opening ceremony. Lumad Basakanon, a dance troupe from Barangay Basak, Cebu City and the Sinulog sa Dakbayan 2025 grand champion, performed a dance that showcased vibrant local culture and heritage. The performance formed a centerpiece of Friday's events.
A choral ensemble of Los Cantantes Cebu and the Jose R. ” Jonathan Velasco served as conductor for the performance. Los Cantantes Cebu won the 2024 Taipei International Choral Competition. The Jose R. Gullas Visayas Chorale, based in Cebu City, was the Grand Prix winner of the 2021 Busan Choral Festival and Competition.
The 48th ASEAN Summit is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. The opening ceremony took place on Friday, May 8.
A video of Lumad Basakanon's dance and the ASEAN anthem performance by Los Cantantes Cebu and the Jose R. Gullas Visayas Chorale is available on Rappler.
