LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu (Philippines): As the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Cebu came to a close, photos of local officials with Prince Abdul Mateen circulated online, drawing attention from netizens.
Mateen, accompanied his father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who represented Brunei at the high-level regional summit and related meetings.
The prince is fifth in the line of succession to the Bruneian throne.
Posing with the Prince
In a social media post, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro described her encounter with the prince as a “mission accomplished.”
Congressman Junard “Ahong” Chan and his daughter, Basak Barangay Captain Jasmine Chan, also posed for photos with Mateen.
Jasmine Chan playfully captioned her post: “Why so handsome, Prince Abdul Mateen?”
Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi King-Chan shared that although she was unable to take a photo with the prince, she still received a gift from the Sultan.
“Thank you Sultan and Prince Mateen sa pagbisita pagbalik sa Lapu-Lapu (for visiting Lapu-Lapu again). Wishing you will come back for a longer stay next time,” King-Chan said.
The officials attended a gala dinner hosted by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, which formally capped the 48th Asean Summit.
Sultan Bolkiah pilots his plane
Earlier, Sultan Bolkiah also drew attention on social media after flying his own plane to Cebu for the summit.
The monarch, a licensed pilot, personally flew the aircraft, which landed at the Mactan–Benito Ebuen Air Base.
He then attended the summit and related meetings until May 8, 2026, where leaders of Asean member-states discussed regional concerns and cooperative efforts amid geopolitical tensions. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
