The Philippine Pavilion from Expo 2025 Osaka returns at TRAVEX 2026 with cultural and trade-driven impact.
The journey of the Philippine Pavilion after EXPO 2025 Osaka continues at the ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) 2026, where its materials reappear in a new context on the regional tourism trade floor. Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the booth reflects a conscious decision to extend the Pavilion’s life beyond a world exposition. Around 70 percent of its aesthetic components were carried over from Osaka and adapted for the trade floor.
READ MORE: Philippine Pavilion At Expo 2025 Osaka Wins Silver Award For Exhibition Design
The Philippine booth at TRAVEX 2026 integrates repurposed architectural and design elements from the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, demonstrating sustainability as a working practice while hosting business-to-business meetings with international buyers at Mactan ExpoA Pavilion That Captivated The World
The Pavilion first drew international attention in Osaka with its façade of 212 handwoven textile panels and sustainably sourced rattan, highlighting weaving traditions from across the country. The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) later awarded the project the Silver Plaque for Exhibition Design, citing its presentation and visitor experience.
Handwoven textile artworks originally showcased at the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka are reintroduced at TRAVEX 2026. These pieces offer delegates a closer encounter with regional identity within a trade-focused setting.
At TRAVEX, the presentation becomes more intimate. Four large handwoven artworks, originally part of the Pavilion’s exterior, now stand at the Philippine booth. Representing Davao, Cebu, Bicol, and Ilocos, the works bring regional identity to the forefront for delegates engaged in meetings and negotiations.
Linking Tourism, Livelihood, And Culture
This approach connects tourism promotion with livelihood and cultural pride. Rather than treating cultural production as a one-time display, the Philippines integrates it into ongoing tourism development.
A scale model highlights the design language of the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. Elements of the pavilion, including rattan structures and woven components, have been repurposed for the Philippine booth at TRAVEX 2026, extending the pavilion’s life beyond the global expo.
“Expo 2025 Osaka gave the Philippines strong visibility on the global stage,” says TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles. “Bringing these materials into TRAVEX allows that momentum to continue–where cultural presentation supports real business conversations, and global exposure translates into partnerships that benefit our communities.”
What Comes Next
Following TRAVEX 2026, selected Pavilion elements will be transferred to the National Museum of the Philippines. This move will ensure that what began as a global exhibition remains accessible to Filipinos in the years ahead.
Photos courtesy of The Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines
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