Timor-Leste PM tours ‘beautiful’ Cebu City

Local

FOLLOWING the conclusion of the two-day regional meetings for the 48th ASEAN Summit 2026 in Mactan, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão toured several historical landmarks in downtown Cebu City on Saturday, May 9.

Gusmão, who joined fellow Southeast Asian leaders and delegates in the summit discussions, visited key heritage sites, including the Fort San Pedro and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, as part of a brief cultural stop in the city.

In an interview, Gusmão described Cebu as “beautiful” despite the heat, and said touring the city’s historical landmarks offered insight into the region’s colonial past and shared history.

“Of course, because we can look at the past. We know how history was made,” he said when asked about his visit to the Basilica.

The Timor-Leste leader also reflected on the country’s historical experiences under colonial rule and wartime occupation, drawing parallels with the histories of other Southeast Asian nations.

Gusmão said the visit marked his first time in Cebu and noted the warm reception extended by local officials and residents.

“This is the first time I've come to Cebu,” he said.

He added that Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival personally encouraged him to visit Fort San Pedro before leaving the city.

The Timor-Leste prime minister also spoke about his country’s continuing integration into ASEAN, clarifying that while Timor-Leste had already joined the regional bloc in principle, it continues to complete requirements for full membership participation.

“We have been members of ASEAN since October 2025, but we are not yet a fully-fledged member because we need to accomplish many, many works,” Gusmão said.

He stressed the need for stronger regional solidarity amid global uncertainties.

“ASEAN needs to be more united, more free, to be able to resist all of this crisis,” he added.

Timor-Leste formally gained observer status in ASEAN before being admitted in principle as the bloc’s 11th member, with the country continuing preparations to meet the organization’s economic and institutional benchmarks for full integration.

The 48th ASEAN Summit 2026, hosted in Cebu, gathered heads of state, ministers, and senior officials from across Southeast Asia to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, sustainability, and geopolitical challenges.(TGP)