Beyond her celebrated career in Hollywood, Academy Award-winning actress and filmmaker Angelina Jolie is also recognized for her longstanding humanitarian work, particularly her advocacy for refugees, women, and children.
Jolie arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, November 10, ahead of her participation as one of the featured speakers at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on Wednesday, November 11.
According to the summit organizers, Jolie will join Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh for a discussion titled “From Memory to Possibility: Cambodia, Courage and the Power of Staying.”
The session will highlight Cambodia’s resilience and rebuilding efforts, drawing from the experiences of Jolie and Panh, who previously collaborated on the 2017 film “First They Killed My Father.”
Jolie's involvement in humanitarian work spans more than two decades. She served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 2001 to 2012 before becoming a Special Envoy, a position she held until 2022.
Throughout her humanitarian work, she traveled to various countries to meet refugees and displaced communities, helping raise awareness about the challenges they face, including conflict, poverty, and forced displacement.
Her connection to Cambodia also extends beyond filmmaking. She first became familiar with the country while filming “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” in 2000. She later adopted her eldest son, Maddox, from Cambodia in 2002 and was granted Cambodian citizenship in 2005.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit, organized by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in partnership with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, brings together leaders from government, business, civil society, and philanthropy to discuss sustainable and inclusive economic development across Southeast Asia.
This year's summit carries the theme “Resilient and Rising,” with discussions covering financial inclusion, digital transformation, tourism, small businesses, and the creator economy.
Jolie's participation highlights how humanitarian advocacy and storytelling can contribute to broader conversations on inclusive growth, particularly in building communities where women, children, and vulnerable populations have opportunities to thrive.
Other featured speakers include Filipina theater star Lea Salonga, actress and entrepreneur Kylie Verzosa, and Filipino fashion designer Rajo Laurel.
