BANGKOK, Thailand – It is a week of firsts for the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Like Duterte, National Youth Commission (NYC) chair Aiza Seguerra is set to meet with counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos.

As in Duterte’s case, it is also Seguerra’s first international meeting.

Seguerra spoke to Filipino journalists who spotted him at the Bangkok airport on Sunday evening, September 4.

Seguerra is scheduled to attend the Youth Interface for ASEAN Leaders on Tuesday, September 6.

Duterte, for his part, is set to arrive in Vientiane, Laos, for the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits from Tuesday to Thursday, September 8.

Asked how it feels to attend an international meeting for the first time, Seguerra said in jest, “Weird, man.”

Seguerra recounted packing his clothes on Saturday, September 3. “Kakaiba ‘to, puro barong ang ineempake ko. Medyo kakaiba lang.” (This is different. I’ve been packing only barongs. It’s a bit different.)

The NYC chairperson, who is also a popular singer, added, “First time, first time kong bumiyaheng walang gitara.” (It’s my first time to travel without a guitar.)

The NYC, under Seguerra, has recently started public consultation for the medium-term development plan for the youth sector.

Duterte is expected to arrive in Laos on Monday, September 5, for his international debut where he is expected to discuss, among other things, his war on drugs and the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute. – Rappler.com