UPOU gathers experts in ASEAN to thicken the discourse on and advance the field of ASEANology.The International Symposium on ASEAN Studies (ISAS) was held on 24 February 2015 at the UPOU CCDL Auditorium, bringing together ASEAN academicians and experts to talk about ASEANology and promote the community of scholars on ASEAN.
Guided by the theme "Our ASEAN: Cultivating the Field," delegates from the 10 ASEAN member states participated in the whole day event to thicken the discourse on three sub-themes: Our History, Culture and Religion; Our Social, Economic and Political Community; and Our Geography & Natural Resources.
Keynote speakers and discussants were assigned under each sub-theme. Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, Chancellor of UP Open University, delivered the first keynote speech entitled "Capturing Orality and Visuality for eResearch, eTeaching and eLearning as Framework for Art in ASEAN." She showed how the Open and Distance eLearning framework allowed her to teach art as a phenomenon to be experienced in the course Art in the ASEAN (ASEAN 222), which she handles under UPOU's Master of ASEAN Studies program.
Ms. Elaine Tan, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, presented "ASEAN Identity through Arts and Culture." With Prof. Joefe Santarita moderating the first sub-theme, participants were able to share their thoughts on ASEAN in art, history, culture and religion and their implications on regional identities.
For the second sub-theme, a video interview of Prof. Luhulima of Universitas Terbuka was shown. The video captured ASEAN from the perspective of a member of an economic community. The video presentation was followed by presentations from four discussants. President Le Van Thanh of Hanoi Open University shared how Vietnam was able to gain its independence. Prof. Ramli Bin Bahroom of the Open University of Malaysia discussed Malaysia's Vision 2020. Dr. Sylvano D. Mahiwo of the University of the Philippines Diliman explained ASEANology. Dr. Maragtas Amante, UP System Vice-President for Administration, shared his comprative study of ASEAN labor and industrial relations. Prof. Rolando Talampas of UP Diliman moderated this session.
The third sub-theme on Geography and Natural Resources was moderated by Dr. Consuelo Habito of UP Open University. President Chailerd Pichitpornchai, President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, presented how Thailand's geography and resources affect the different aspects of the Thai people's lives. Dr. Inocencio Buot, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, discussed the richness of ASEAN's geography and natural resources and as a result, not a single ASEAN citizen should go hungry. Prof. Atwi Suparman's keynote presentation was entitled "ASEAN is Our Big Family," which delved into the importance of collaborative offering of educational programs to foster the ASEAN spirit.
ISAS was organized by UPOU in cooperation with the University of the Philippines System and the UPOU Foundation, Inc. (Anna Cañas-Llamas)
