Russia first opened formal relations with ASEAN in 1991, but recently rachetted up its visibility in Southeast Asia, hosting three regional conferences in 2016 and more actively engaging in bilateral negotiations with its member-states toward forging broader and closer partnerships with its eastern neighbors. Russia’s diplomatic offensive indicates its interest in claiming a place in Asia’s shifting economic and security architecture. But how does Russia see its role in the region’s geopolitical dynamics in which the US and a rising China present distinct poles? What are Russia’s economic, political and security interests in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, in particular? The public forum aims to tackle these questions at a time when the Philippine government itself has signified its willingness to explore a strategic partnership with Russia.