HWONFEX 2026 Day 2 Highlights ASEAN Wellness, Longevity and Regional Wellness Tourism

HWONFEX 2026 Day 2 Highlights ASEAN Wellness, Longevity and Regional Wellness Tourism | MANILA, Philippines — The second and final day of the Health & Wellness Confex (HWONFEX) 2026 at the SMX Convention Center Manila moved from high-level discussions to practical strategies for advancing health, wellness, and longevity across Southeast Asia.

Held as an Official ASEAN Side Event, Day 2 brought together wellness innovators, functional nutrition experts, fitness executives, healthcare advocates, and community leaders to explore how emerging health technologies can work alongside sustainable nutrition, fitness, mental wellness, leadership development, and grassroots communities.

The day’s program was organized around five interconnected pillars—Mind, Body, Heart & Soul, and Balance & Vitality—offering a holistic framework for addressing the region’s evolving wellness needs.

Advancing Early Diagnostics and Preventive Health

The Mind track opened discussions on the growing importance of early and accessible health monitoring.

Rhea Montes, General Manager of Health Design, discussed emerging infrastructure models for regenerative medicine, while Jocehiro Inoue, Overseas Representative of Yuurea International, highlighted home-based biomarker screening and localized health tracking as tools that could support more proactive approaches to preventive care.

The sessions emphasized the role of accessible health data in helping individuals better understand and manage their wellness.

Gut Health, Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems

The Body track examined the relationship between nutrition, gut health, and long-term well-being.

Dr. Junhyung Park, Director of TrioHealix, explored the role of the gut microbiome in metabolic health and longevity.

The discussion also connected clinical nutrition with agriculture and local economic development. Allan Monreal, Vice President for Mindanao of United UBE PH, presented the Ube Pavilion and its potential to connect local farming communities with growing international markets for specialty and functional foods.

The discussion highlighted how sustainable food production can contribute not only to individual nutrition but also to livelihoods and regional economic opportunities.

From Fitness to Longevity and Functional Movement

The afternoon sessions focused on the evolving wellness industry and the shift toward maintaining health and physical function throughout longer lives.

Mike Chan, Founder of House of Gaia, discussed functional biohacking approaches designed to support healthy aging and an increasingly aging workforce.

Meanwhile, Ryan Kenneth Trullench, VP-Luzon of WeTAP and Director of Surge Fitness + Lifestyle, presented perspectives on fitness industry metrics and the integration of longevity-focused services into broader fitness and lifestyle platforms.

Together, the sessions explored how fitness, preventive health, and wellness services can become part of a more comprehensive approach to active aging.

Mental Wellness, Workplace Well-Being and Community Resilience

The Heart & Soul pillar shifted the conversation toward psychosocial health and the human side of wellness.

Annaliza Laxamana, Founder of Naheal, discussed approaches to empathetic workplace management and the development of environments that support healing and employee well-being.

Hannah Morillo, Executive Director of the MLAC Institute, highlighted the importance of psychosocial services and community resilience, underscoring the role of emotional support systems in strengthening individuals, workplaces, and communities.

The discussions reinforced the idea that wellness extends beyond physical health to include mental, emotional, and social well-being.

Leadership and the Architecture of Vitality

The program culminated in a joint executive keynote featuring Blue Avelino, CEO of Maxwell Leadership Philippines, and Elizabeth Rose Lo, Functional Nutrition Coach.

The speakers connected leadership development with personal well-being, exploring how physical vitality, mental resilience, and effective leadership can intersect in professional and organizational settings.

Their presentation completed the event’s five-pillar framework, emphasizing a more integrated approach to wellness that considers the individual, workplace, and wider community.

HWONFEX Launches “Go & Get Better” Wellness Circuit

Beyond the conference sessions, HWONFEX 2026 also introduced the “Go & Get Better” Retreat Wellness Circuit Packages, designed around cross-border ASEAN wellness travel.

The packages aim to connect international wellness travelers with local and eco-conscious destinations outside major urban centers, creating opportunities for provincial communities to participate in the region’s growing wellness tourism economy.

The initiative reflects the event’s broader focus on connecting wellness innovation with local communities, sustainable tourism, and livelihood development.

The conference concluded with an immersive sound-healing session facilitated by the Aruga Collective, followed by the closing ceremony led by the HWONFEX Executive Committee and its core partners.

Building an ASEAN Wellness Ecosystem

HWONFEX 2026 positioned wellness as a multidimensional sector spanning healthcare innovation, nutrition, fitness, mental health, leadership, tourism, agriculture, and community development.

By bringing together industry experts and community stakeholders, the event highlighted potential pathways for integrating modern wellness technologies with sustainable and locally rooted practices across Southeast Asia.