Last November 13, on Day 2 of the Second ASEAN Plus Group (APG) Annual Meeting of 2025, special guests, industry leaders, and APG members gathered for a full day of discussions on key issues and developments shaping the ASEAN region.
Hosted by V&A Law Associate Warren Edrick G. Chu, the program opened with Welcome Remarks from V&A Law Managing Partner Sylvette Y. Tankiang, who underscored the continued importance of collaboration amidst global uncertainties. APG Chairman Azman Jaafar followed with an overview of the meeting’s objectives.
Assistant Secretary Eleazar E. Ricote, the Deputy Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines, delivered the keynote presentation, “Philippine Economic Outlook and Infrastructure Pipeline: Unlocking Growth Through Reforms and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).”
The keynote was followed by a panel discussion on doing business in Southeast Asia, which tackled topics ranging from the effects of the U.S. tariffs to using artificial intelligence (AI) in law practice. The session was led by V&A Law Partner Ma Carla P. Mapalo. She was joined by APG members Zachary Scully of RHTLaw Asia, who represented Singapore; Benjamin Yap of RHTLaw Vietnam; Esther Hor of Naqiz & Partners, representing Malaysia; and Yohanes Brilianto Hadi of GHP Law Firm, representing Indonesia. Nippita Pukdeetanakul of JNP Legal joined virtually to share perspectives from Thailand.
The afternoon sessions opened with an in-depth discussion on the rapidly evolving Fintech sector and both the challenges and opportunities it presents for the ASEAN region. The session was led by V&A Law Partner Richard Henrick I. Beltran. Richard was joined by Maricor Adriano, the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Mynt, and Siva Ramanathan, the Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Officer for Ksher group, a pioneer of cross-border payment in the ASEAN region. Danny Chong the Co-Chairman of the Digital Assets Association (DAA), also chimed in virtually.
The final session of the day focused on Employment and Immigration and what regional investors need to know. V&A Law Partner and Deputy Head of Labor and Employment Rashel Ann C. Pomoy provided an introduction to Philippine Employment Law, outlining compliance essentials and the common pitfalls in termination, contracting, and benefits. V&A Law Partner and Immigration Practice Group Head Mark Benjamin C. Yam followed with a discussion on mobility regulations and processes in the Philippines.
The day concluded with Closing Remarks from V&A Law Chairman and CEO Raoul R. Angangco, who reaffirmed the value of regional cooperation and strengthened cross-border connections in navigating the ASEAN region.