On behalf of the Asia Pacific Laryngology Association, it is my great pleasure to welcome to you to the 2nd APLA Congress, in the wonderful city of Manila, the Philippines.

Our inaugural congress in 2019 was a resounding success, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of everybody, from attendees, speakers, sponsors, to support teams. The Covid-19 pandemic meant that we could not hold another in-person congress until now. But it also allowed us a break from travel. For some it gave time for introspection, and almost for all an opportunity to renew our perspective on how we conduct our lives and practices. Academic activity never ceases, and continued with a flurry of online meetings.

For the 2022 APLA congress, the organising team in the Philippines have compiled an exciting and engaging program with a broad range of incisive topics. I look forward to this immensely. It is no small task though putting together a program of this nature, and each member of the organising team deserves our wholehearted congratulations!

I believe that coming together like this as APLA has huge benefits for all of us. Different countries have varying spectrums of pathology, unequal resources, and diverse cultural practices. Yet we are all working together towards one goal, which is to improve the lives of our patients. This is a wonderful platform to learn from each other.

I look forward to meeting you all again in Manila!!