HOLLYWOOD actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie arrived in Manila on Tuesday, welcomed by supporters and security personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport ahead of the Asean Inclusive Growth Summit.
Her arrival marks her first public appearance in Manila, where she is scheduled to join regional leaders, business executives and other advocates at the 2026 Asean Inclusive Growth Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Multiple videos of Jolie’s arrival surfaced on social media, showing the Oscar-winning actress making her way through the airport accompanied by security personnel. She was also seen acknowledging people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of her.
Jolie kept her airport look understated, wearing a long brown coat over a white blouse, paired with loose-fitting gray trousers and dark shoes. She carried a cream-colored tote bag and a mustard-yellow wide-brimmed hat.
The summit is organized by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in partnership with the Asean Business Advisory Council Philippines. It will bring together leaders from business, government, civil society and philanthropy to discuss ways to strengthen economic opportunities and promote inclusive growth across Southeast Asia.
According to the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Jolie will join Cambodian filmmaker, writer and producer Rithy Panh for a session titled “From Memory to Possibility: Cambodia, Courage and the Power of Staying.” The discussion will be moderated by Shamina Singh, founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.
The session will explore Cambodia’s recovery from decades of conflict and the role of long-term partnerships, trust and community involvement in rebuilding communities. It will also highlight how lasting development requires working alongside local communities and allowing them to lead solutions to their own challenges.
Mastercard’s announcement highlighted Jolie’s humanitarian work, particularly her advocacy for refugees, displaced populations and the protection of women and children.
Jolie’s connection to Cambodia began in 2000 when she filmed “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” in the country. The experience developed into a lasting commitment to Cambodia and its communities.
In 2003, she established the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, named after her eldest son, to support environmental conservation, healthcare, education and community development in the country.
Her relationship with Cambodian filmmaker Panh also developed through their work on the 2017 film “First They Killed My Father,” which Jolie directed and produced. Based on the memoir of Cambodian human rights activist Loung Ung, the film tells the story of a young girl’s experience during the murderous Khmer Rouge regime under Pol Pot.
Panh, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge period, has devoted much of his filmmaking career to documenting Cambodia’s history and preserving the stories of its people. Their collaboration is among the examples of long-term partnerships that will be discussed during the Manila summit.
Jolie is also known for her performances in “Girl, Interrupted,” for which she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress, as well as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Wanted,” “Salt” and Disney’s “Maleficent.” Beyond her film career, she has spent more than two decades working on humanitarian causes. She served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees beginning in 2001 before becoming a special envoy in 2012. She undertook more than 60 field missions during her tenure and ended her formal association with the agency in 2022.
Joining Jolie among the summit’s featured speakers is Filipino Broadway star Lea Salonga, alongside business leaders, policymakers and advocates from across the region.
