Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano stressed the need for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to look out for one another.
"We need to think more of 'we' than 'I.' We need to think that we are a community," he emphasized.
Cayetano spoke at the closing ceremony of the grand celebration for ASEAN's 50th Anniversary.
The event is being held on Tuesday at the Philippine International Conventiom Center (PICC).
"We go home as partners for change," Cayetano told the audience.
He also said, "we want ASEAN delegates to keep the Filipino hospitality in their hearts."
Meanwhile, roads near the venue will be closed to motorists at 2 pm in view of ASEAN-related activities.
Some schools near PICC have also suspended classes.