The National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) will present the Cultural Heritage of Asean, a special exhibit approved by the Asean Committee on Culture and Information (COCI), to coincide with the 3rd Asean Informal Summit in Manila.

Preparatory meetings to the runup of the summit proper on November 28 started today.

The NCCA said the exhibit brings together photos of heritage pieces and sites of the ten Asean member countries.

The various images, according to the NCCA, include textile, pre-historic pottery, indigenous, ethnic and traditional musical instruments, costumes and special sites named as heritage sites in the country.

The collection hopes to reflect the underlying similarities found in the culture and traditions of the countries of Southeast Asia, the NCCA said.

The NCAA said the exhibit is also in line with the COCI's thrust for the 21st century to focus on the preservation, conservation, documentation and dissemination of information on the cultural heritage of the region, which is fast disappearing in this period of globalization.

The first venue of the exhibit is the Executive Lounge of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). An "intimate opening" on Nov. 27 will be graced by Mrs. Kay Siazon, spouse of Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon, and spouses' of the Asean ministers.

The NCCA said the exhibit will tour various venues in Metro Manila in the succeeding months. Other venues include the NCCA galleries in Intramuros and the Enterprise Center in Makati City.