Cebu, Philippines – The 48th ASEAN Summit formally opened on Friday, May 8, at what regional leaders described as a defining moment for Southeast Asia, as the bloc confronts mounting geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and the widening impact of the Middle East crisis. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., serving as ASEAN Chair for 2026, opened the summit in Cebu by warning that the increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East is already affecting ASEAN economies and livelihoods. “The increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East has impacted our region, challenging us to remain agile in the face of uncertainties which threaten lifestyles, livelihoods, and lives,” Marcos said during his opening remarks. “Many of our countrymen continue to look to us, their leaders, not only for stability, but for reassurance and for hope,” the president added. The summit is being held under the Philippine chairmanship theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Marcos said…