At the opening ceremony of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 49th Summit, renowned Myanmar geologist and seismologist Hla Hla Aung was awarded the 2026 ASEAN Prize in recognition of her lifelong dedication to advancing community-based disaster resilience and earthquake preparedness across Myanmar and Southeast Asia.
“Receiving the ASEAN Prize is a reminder that the true measure of our contributions lies not only in what we achieve, but in the difference we make to the community,” Hla Hla Aung told the opening ceremony of the 49th ASEAN Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila on Sunday.
“At 79 years of age, I have come to appreciate that time is our most precious asset, and how we choose to use it defines our legacy. Throughout my journey as a geologist, researcher, educator, and above all, a mother, I have remained guided by the belief that knowledge must serve humanity,” she added.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., serving as the 2026 ASEAN Chair, joined ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn in presenting the ASEAN Prize to Hla Hla Aung before regional heads of state, members of the diplomatic corps, and international dignitaries.
A veteran researcher, educator, and patron of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee, Hla Hla Aung becomes the ninth laureate of the ASEAN Prize since its establishment in 2018.
Administered by the ASEAN Secretariat and Singapore’s Temasek Foundation—with additional support this year from the Ayala Foundation of the Philippines—the award carries a trophy and a monetary prize of $20,000 USD.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn commended Hla Hla Aung’s work as a blueprint for regional cooperation, noting that her initiatives embody the bloc’s aspiration to build a “people-centred, people-oriented, and resilient ASEAN Community.”
