The Republic of the Philippines signed its official participation contract for GREEN×EXPO 2027 on 21 May 2026. A ceremonial signing followed in Tokyo on 25 May, held during a visit by Philippine government representatives. The GREEN×EXPO Association (formally the Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama) announced the signing on 4 June.
Basic information
The table below is drawn from Ministry of Foreign Affairs data current as of 3 September 2026.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Republic of the Philippines |
| Area | 298,170 square kilometres (about 80% of Japan’s land area), across 7,641 islands |
| Population | 112,729,484 (2024 Philippine census) |
| Capital | Manila (metro area population about 14 million) |
| Languages | National language Filipino; official languages Filipino and English; more than 180 languages spoken |
| Religion | Catholic 83%, other Christian 10%, Muslim 5% |
| Government and head of state | Republic with a presidential system; President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. |
| Japanese residents in the Philippines | 12,648 (as of October 2024) |
| Filipino residents in Japan | 341,518 (end of 2024, Ministry of Justice figures); 10.0% of all foreign residents and the fourth-largest nationality after China, South Korea and Vietnam |
| Bilateral relations | Designated a “Strategic Partnership” since September 2011; the most recent high-level visit was Foreign Minister Motegi’s trip to the Philippines in January 2026 |
The Philippines is an island nation of more than 100 million people, and its two official languages are Filipino and English. Since English is one of them, Filipino visitors and staff may find it relatively easy to communicate at the GREEN×EXPO 2027 venue.
Official exhibit information
Per the Association’s announcement, the Philippines’ Commissioner General of Section is Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. The ceremonial signing was held in Tokyo on 25 May 2026, timed to the Secretary’s visit accompanying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines. The official participation contract itself was signed earlier, on 21 May.
The exhibit theme is “Bukás: Gardens of the Bayanihan Spirit.” According to the Association, the Filipino word “Bukás” means both “open” and “tomorrow.” The Association adds that the theme reflects the Philippines as a country open to nature, innovation and collaboration, moving toward a greener future.
In line with this theme, the exhibit is planned to present the Philippines’ rich nature, traditional horticultural culture and sustainable agriculture. As of September 2026, however, we could not find any announcement about the pavilion’s location, building design or specific exhibits. This article will be updated as further details are announced.
A cultural primer
The Philippine Department of Tourism’s official Japanese-language site introduces two flower-themed festivals.
The Panagbenga Flower Festival is held every year in the second week of February in Baguio, a highland resort city in northern Luzon. “Panagbenga” is a word from the Baguio dialect meaning “season of blooming, time for flowering.” The festival has parades of giant floats decorated with real flowers. Baguio’s low temperatures at that time of year, sometimes dropping below 10°C, make it a distinctly cool retreat compared with the rest of the Philippines.
The Pahiyas Harvest Festival is held every year on 15 May in the towns of Lucban and Sariaya in Quezon Province. It honours San Isidro Labrador, a farmer and saint of Spanish origin. Houses throughout the towns are decorated with colourful flowers and vegetables, and parades pass through.
On food, the Department of Tourism’s site highlights sinigang, a soup known for its tamarind sourness; adobo, a home-style dish cooked with vinegar; and lechon, whole roast pig served at festivals and weddings. Calamansi, a citrus fruit, is commonly used in place of lemon in Filipino cooking.
Our take
The Philippines chose “Bayanihan,” or mutual help, as the guiding idea of its exhibit. We think it wants to show more than tropical flowers and greenery: the culture of communities building daily life together by helping one another. Panagbenga and Pahiyas are both festivals that whole communities put together. We are curious how that spirit will come through in the pavilion at GREEN×EXPO 2027.
Other participating countries are listed in our participating countries guide. For the expo’s dates, how to get there, tickets and where to stay, see our GREEN×EXPO 2027 page.