On 8 August 2017, H.E. Mr. Viraksakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Grand Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN at the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC), Manila. In addition to commemorating this special occasion, this event was part of the Closing Ceremony of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related Meetings. H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, along with delegates of the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related Meetings and the Secretary General of ASEAN presided over the Grand Celebration. 

          On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines, and H.E. Mr. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines presented the plagues to the descendants/ representatives of the Founding Fathers of ASEAN as one of the activities under the “Tribute to the Founding Fathers of ASEAN” commemorative activity in remembrance to all 5  Founding Fathers of ASEAN ; H.E. Dr. Thanat Khoman, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Adam Malik, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, H.E. Tun Abdul Razak, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Mr. Narciso Ramos, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, and H.E. Mr. S. Rajaratnam, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.  Mr. Amarin Khoman, the nephew of Dr. Thanat Khoman represented the family member of Dr. Thanat Khoman, at this event. 

          In addition, three more awards were presented during the ceremony and the awardees from Thailand are as follows: Dr. Nonn Panitvong for the ASEAN Biodiversity Heroes Award, Mr. Bunmee Surakhot, President of the Ban Um-Sang Rice Community and Dr. Jirapong Jairin from Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Center in Thailand for the ASEAN Rice Science and Technology Ambassadors Award, and Mr. Prawit Kruasarp for the ASEAN Youth Social Entrepreneurship Award.

          ASEAN took birth in Thailand by Dr. Thanat Khoman, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand who initiated the idea to form ASEAN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The ASEAN Declaration was also signed at Saranrom Palace in Bangkok on 8 August 1967.  From then to now, from an Association of 5 countries to a Community of 10 Member States, ASEAN will strongly grow, leaving no one behind. Dr. Thanat Khoman passed away in 2016 at the age of 101 seeing ASEAN growing into a Community.