The UP Asian Center, in partnership with the Foreign Service Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs, will hold the first installment of the Ambassador Lecture Series, "Timor Leste's Path to ASEAN Membership: Opportunities and Challenges" on 21 November 2025, 2 PM (GMT+8), at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online.
ABOUT THE AMBASSADOR LECTURE SERIES
Since regaining independence in 2002, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has actively pursued regional integration as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. One of its key aspirations has been to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reflecting its geographic, cultural, and political ties to the region.
After years of preparation and engagement, Timor-Leste was granted observer status in ASEAN in 2022 and has since participated in various ASEAN meetings. Few days ago, the country successfully entered as the newest member of the regional body, marking an important milestone in both Timor-Leste’s nation-building journey and ASEAN’s evolution as a regional community.
To deepen public understanding of this process, the Asian Center is organizing a lecture by H.E. Marciano Octavio Garcia Da Silva, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Philippines, to share insights on the nation’s path toward ASEAN membership and its implications for regional cooperation. This activity is part of the 70th anniversary celebration of the Asian Center’s establishment this November 2025.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
H.E. MARCIANO OCTAVIO GARDIA DA SILVA
Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste to the Philippines
His Excellency Marciano Octavio Garcia Da Silva currently serves as the Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Republic of the Philippines.With over 20 years of diplomatic service, he has held key roles including Ambassador to Switzerland and Monaco, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, and Chargé d’Affaires to the European Union and Belgium. He has represented Timor-Leste in numerous international forums and led his country’s delegation in border negotiations with Indonesia.
Ambassador da Silva is fluent in English, Portuguese, French, Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia, and Spanish, a skill set that has enhanced his capacity for cross-cultural diplomacy. He has participated in professional training programs across the United States, Europe, and Asia, further sharpening his expertise in international relations and policy negotiations. His distinguished service has been recognized through the Elie Wiesel Ethics Award from the United Nations.
In Manila, Ambassador da Silva is dedicated to advancing Timor-Leste–Philippines cooperation in education, labor mobility, technical training, academic exchanges, health services, and regional priorities such as ASEAN integration, peacebuilding, and disaster resilience.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
The first installment of the Ambassador Lecture Series is organized by the UP Asian Center in partnership with the DFA - Foreign Service Institute. The FSI is an institute under the Philippine Department of Affairs that designs and conducts training programs appropriate to the needs of personnel of the DFA and those of other government agencies who will be assigned to Philippine foreign service posts. It undertakes independent research on issues relevant to international relations and foreign policy as well as policy studies in aid of foreign policy formulation, management, and evaluation. It also provides institutional support to the DFA with regard to organizational development and management, including but not limited to the planning, review, and assessment of the policies and systems and procedures of the Department. Read more.