As one of the most famous women in the world, Angelina Jolie has been to all four corners of the globe. But her travels aren’t just limited to her responsibilities as an actress and celebrity, but also to her extensive humanitarian and charity work. For over two decades, Jolie has used her massive platform to spotlight and champion social causes and aid across several vulnerable regions, and this month, her work in doing so takes her to Manila for a special talk on supporting marginalized communities in Southeast Asia.
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Angelina Jolie Brings Her Humanitarian Voice to Manila
As the Philippines gears up to host the ASEAN Summit this November, several world leaders, government officials, and dignitaries will travel to the country to join talks and discussions on the region’s future and its place on the world stage. And among them is Angelina Jolie, who is set to participate in the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila as a featured speaker.
Happening on November 11, the event, which is hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and made possible by Mastercard, will see leaders from business, government, civil society, philanthropy, entertainment, and more gather to discuss the many changes Southeast Asia is currently facing and how the region can make the most of its resources and potential as opportunities to bring about a better, more inclusive, and resilient future.
For Jolie in particular, she’ll participate in a panel discussion alongside filmmaker Rithy Pahn and moderated by Shamina Singh on Cambodia’s resiliency and their work in supporting the country’s continued rebuilding following the harrowing years of the Khmer Rouge regime. It’s no random choice, as the country holds a special place in Jolie’s heart.
After first visiting the country more than twenty years ago, the actress has dedicated years to supporting refugees and displaced communities and efforts to protect women, children, and other vulnerable communities in the country. Her adopted son, Maddox, was born in the country, while Jolie herself was granted honorary Cambodian citizenship in 2005 for her humanitarian work in the country. She also founded the Maddox Foundation in 2003, which is a 100% locally run NGO dedicated to conservation, education, health, and agriculture in Cambodia’s Samlout district.
Jolie has even used her star power to tell their stories, most notably in directing the 2017 docudrama First They Killed My Father, which recounts author and human rights activist Loung Ung’s childhood under the rule of the Khmer Rouge. The talk will center on building lasting change and meaningful development alongside communities, which can have a greater impact in the region when growth is inclusive, sustainable, and centered on a people-first approach.
Joining Jolie throughout the event are also a handful of Filipino artists and creatives with their own talks and panels. Notably, Lea Salonga will sit down for an interview charting her decades-long career and the work it takes to champion and support Southeast Asian talent and culture on the world stage. Kylie Verzosa will participate in a chat on her businesses, from her shapewear brand SOLA to her mental health company. Rajo Laurel, meanwhile, will join a panel on Filipino creativity and making local design, fashion, and craft stay rooted in heritage even when it makes waves internationally.
With Angelina Jolie and several other global, regional, and local voices set to take the stage on November 11, Manila is about to be a hub of conversation on ASEAN’s future.
For more details on the summit, check out their website.
Featured Image: ENCYCLOPEDIA BRTIANNICA (via Website)
Frequently Asked Questions
Angelina Jolie is a featured speaker at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on November 11. The event is hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and gathers leaders from business, government, civil society, philanthropy, and entertainment to discuss Southeast Asia’s future.
Angelina Jolie will join a panel with filmmaker Rithy Panh, moderated by Shamina Singh, on Cambodia’s resiliency and continued rebuilding after the Khmer Rouge regime. The talk centers on lasting change and development alongside communities, with growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and people-first.
Angelina Jolie first visited Cambodia more than twenty years ago and received honorary Cambodian citizenship in 2005. Her son Maddox was born there, she founded the Maddox Foundation in 2003, and she directed the 2017 docudrama First They Killed My Father about Cambodian activist Loung Ung’s childhood.
The Maddox Foundation is a 100% locally run NGO that Angelina Jolie founded in 2003. It focuses on conservation, education, health, and agriculture in Cambodia’s Samlout district, and forms part of her long-running humanitarian work in the country supporting vulnerable communities.
Lea Salonga will sit down for an interview on her decades-long career and championing Southeast Asian talent. Kylie Verzosa will discuss her businesses, including shapewear brand SOLA and a mental health company, while Rajo Laurel joins a panel on keeping Filipino design rooted in heritage.
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