OSAKA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday visited the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 on Yumeshima Island, nearly two months after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba invited him to the global event during their summit in Manila.
On the second day of his working trip to Japan, Marcos Jr. toured the pavilion with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. The structure offers an immersive, multisensory experience that highlights the Philippines’ heritage, biodiversity and commitment to sustainability.
As of June 19, the pavilion had welcomed 372,611 visitors since the Expo opened.
With the theme “Nature, Culture, and Community: Woven Together for a Better Future,” the pavilion reflects the Expo’s broader goal of “Designing a Future Society for Our Lives.” At its center is a striking display of more than 200 handwoven panels by master artisans from across the country, one of the Philippines’ largest collaborative textile showcases to date.
During the visit, Marcos Jr. recalled his first trip to Japan for the 1970 Osaka Expo, when his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, served as the Philippine representative. He was welcomed by Japanese officials including Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Akiko Ikuina, Osaka Vice-Governor Kaori Watanabe and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama at the State Guest House.
The pavilion’s façade transforms into a live performance stage throughout the day, revealing dancers and storytellers. Inside, interactive installations and AI-powered displays allow guests to explore Filipino destinations and cultural traditions in fresh, engaging ways.
Marcos Jr. also visited the Japan Pavilion, which showcases circular technologies and sustainable design, including biogas generation using food waste from the Expo site. - Florenda Corpuz
(Photo courtesy of the Presidential Communications Office)
