Dr. Nining Sri Astuti Soesilo, President of the ASEAN Spouses’ Circle (ASC) Washington, D.C., credited diplomatic spouses with sustaining family, educational and cultural ties during ASEAN Culture Day on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Silver Spring Civic Center in Maryland, where 11 Southeast Asian countries presented their fashion, textiles and food.
ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was founded in 1967 to promote regional cooperation. Its work covers political, economic, social and cultural affairs.
Soesilo spoke about the work spouses undertake within diplomatic communities and the part they have played in the Circle’s history.
“The history of the ASEAN Spouses’ Circle reminds us that ASEAN history is written not only by those who stand at the podium but also by those who quietly nurture family, education, and social life amid changing times,” she said.
She traced the organization’s origins to the ASEAN Women’s Circle, which she said Madame Nelly Adam Malik founded in 1975. In Washington, she described how separate embassy cultural days developed into a joint ASEAN event. The change from “Women’s Circle” to “Spouses’ Circle,” she explained, made the organization more inclusive.
Soesilo, the spouse of H.E. Indroyono Soesilo, Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States, served as Honorary Advisor to this year’s event committee.
The event’s theme was “Threads of ASEAN Sisterhood: From Traditional to Modern Attire, Weaving Peace Across the World.” Participating spouses spoke in their native languages about the fabrics they wore and explained the significance of their clothing.
The fashion presentations and textile exhibitions gave visitors an opportunity to examine weaving techniques, garment construction and patterns from across Southeast Asia. Country guides supplied additional information about the clothing, crafts and food on display.
Soesilo cited Indonesia’s Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, commonly translated as “Unity in Diversity,” when discussing cooperation among the participating countries. Indonesia was one of ASEAN’s five founding members on August 8, 1967.
She also recalled the service of two Indonesian predecessors in the Circle. Madame Reshanty Bowoleksono assumed the presidency in 2017, while Madame Ayu Rosan Roeslani served when ASEAN Culture Day took place at the U.S. State Department in 2023.
This year’s event featured Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Soesilo thanked the Indonesian Embassy, fellow ASC members, sponsors, donors and volunteers for their support. She also invited suggestions for future activities.