FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City — Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran represented the Philippine Army as a panelist on the second day of the Australian Army's Chief of Army Symposium (CAS) 2026, held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in Western Australia on October 8, 2026, where he outlined the institution's approach to military adaptation and preservation.
Four Principles of Adaptation Under a Shared Theme
The symposium carried the theme "Hardwired for Adaptation." According to the Philippine Army's Office of the International Military Affairs (OIMA, PA), Lt. Gen. Gumiran presented four guiding principles through which the Philippine Army has operationalized adaptation.
The first principle holds that adaptation must begin with the capacity to unlearn. Lt. Gen. Gumiran cited how the Armed Forces of the Philippines tests concepts applicable to both internal security operations (ISO) and external security operations (ESO), requiring troops and institutions to shed outdated doctrine when circumstances demand it.
The second principle describes adaptation moving from the tactical edge to the institutional core. Lt. Gen. Gumiran referenced the government forces' response to the Siege of Marawi in 2017 as a concrete example of how battlefield lessons were absorbed into the army's institutional framework.
Archipelagic Defense and Exercises as Learning Laboratories
The third principle addresses force design, which Lt. Gen. Gumiran argued must be adaptive rather than deterministic — particularly for an archipelagic state like the Philippines. According to the OIMA, PA, this includes the integration of unmanned systems, counter-drone capabilities, and a reorientation of combined arms training, all designed to allow for continued evolution despite resource constraints.
The fourth principle reframes military exercises as laboratories for institutional learning. Lt. Gen. Gumiran stressed that exercises should expose troops to setbacks and build genuine adaptive capacity, rather than serving primarily as exercises in confirmation bias.
Whole-of-Nation Approach and International Partnerships
Beyond battlefield adaptation, Lt. Gen. Gumiran also highlighted the Philippine Army's role in the whole-of-nation approach to development and peace. He cited the enabling environment created by policymakers on counterinsurgency, as well as the execution of agreements and legal measures with international defense partners, according to the OIMA, PA.
The Philippine Army stated that its participation in the symposium demonstrates its vital role in advancing national and regional security, and that its gains in internal and external security operations provide a framework that partner nations can draw on for inspiration.
Regional Army Chiefs Convene in Perth
The Chief of Army Symposium 2026 brought together senior military leaders from the Indo-Pacific region. Other panelists included Chief of Singapore Army Maj. Gen. Cai Dexian, New Zealand Army Deputy Chief Brig. Hamish Gibbons, and Australian Army Deputy Chief Maj. Gen. Chris Smith, who served as panel moderator.
The CAS was held as part of the three-day Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition (Land Forces 2026), which ran from October 6 to 8 at the same Perth venue.
By the Numbers
- 4 — principles of adaptation outlined by Lt. Gen. Gumiran at the symposium
- 2017 — year of the Siege of Marawi, cited as a case study for institutional adaptation
- 3 — days of the Land Forces 2026 exposition (October 6–8, 2026)
- 3 — other senior army leaders on the panel (Singapore, New Zealand, Australia)
Why This Matters
The Philippine Army's participation as a panelist — not merely an attendee — at a major multilateral defence symposium signals growing recognition of the institution's operational experience among Indo-Pacific partners. Lt. Gen. Gumiran's presentation drew directly on the Siege of Marawi and ongoing internal and external security operations, framing Philippine doctrine as a practical reference point for allied armies. The engagement also reinforces the Philippines' deepening defence relationships with Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand at a time of evolving regional security dynamics.
Photo credit: Photo from the Chief of Army Symposium 2026 Livestream, Office of the International Military Affairs, Philippine Army (OIMA, PA)