12/08/2026
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐
Samar State University (SSU) officially kicked off its ASEAN Month Celebration 2026 on August 10, 2026, with the theme โNavigating Our Future, Together.โ The celebration brought together university officials, faculty members, staff, students, and representatives from various colleges and offices in a vibrant gathering that highlighted the spirit of ASEAN unity, friendship, cooperation, and cultural diversity.
The kick-off featured five major activities: the Parada ng ASEAN, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Simultaneous Flag Raising Ceremony, Faculty and Student-led ASEAN Talks, and Kultura at Sining through an ASEAN Food Exhibit and Office of International Affairs (INTAF) Exhibit. Together, these activities brought the SSU community together to celebrate ASEANโs rich cultures, strengthen regional connections, and promote greater appreciation of international engagement.
The celebration opened with the Parada ng ASEAN, a colorful presentation of the ASEAN community through representatives from different colleges and offices of the University. The parade showcased the diversity of Southeast Asia and set the tone for a month-long celebration of cultural understanding and regional cooperation.
The parade was followed by the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, which officially marked the opening of the ASEAN Month celebration at SSU. Key university officials and students also participated in the Simultaneous Flag Raising Ceremony, joining public and private higher education institutions across the country in commemorating ASEAN Month. The ceremony was attended by 88 participants, including SSU key officials and students. Together, these activities served as a meaningful reminder of the shared identity, unity, and solidarity that connect the ASEAN community.
Adding color to the celebration was the ASEAN Costume Ramp, featuring male and female representatives from various colleges and offices dressed in ASEAN-inspired costumes. The representatives showcased Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, offering the SSU community a glimpse into the diverse cultural identities and traditions across Southeast Asia.
The celebration also featured the Faculty and Student-led ASEAN Talks, which provided a platform for sharing experiences, knowledge, and perspectives on ASEAN. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Social Studies Circle and brought together participants from higher education institutions (HEIs) in Catbalogan City through onsite and online participation via Zoom. Two representatives from Catbalogan City Community College attended onsite, while two representatives from St. Maryโs College of Catbalogan joined online. Representatives from various SSU student organizations also participated, bringing the total number of student participants to eighty one (81). The program included a Student ASEAN Talk featuring the experiences of Ms. Eloisa A. Baroga, one of SSUโs participants in the SEA-Teacher Program at D**g Thap University in Viet Nam, followed by the Faculty ASEAN Talk led by Dr. Marife M. Mustacisa, Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning. The program concluded with an open forum that encouraged dialogue, interaction, and the exchange of ideas among the participants.
Following the ASEAN Talks, the Student Ambassadors for National and Global Kinship Through Access and Mobility (SANGKAY), a student organization initiated by International Student Exchange Coordinator Prof. Theresa B. Probadora, was officially launched. The organization welcomed its 29 pioneering members and subsequently held its election of officers, with Mr. Haji Mahinay elected as its first president.
The kick-off celebration concluded with Kultura at Sining through an ASEAN Food Exhibit, where the Gastronome Society showcased a variety of ASEAN-inspired foods and delicacies, offering the university community a taste of the regionโs rich and diverse culinary heritage. The Office of International Affairs (INTAF) Exhibit also featured memorabilia from the Universityโs partner institutions abroad, highlighting SSUโs international partnerships and connections. Together, the exhibits celebrated ASEAN culture, friendship, and international engagement through food, art, and shared experiences.
Through the celebration, SSU continues to foster greater appreciation of ASEANโs rich cultural diversity while strengthening opportunities for learning, collaboration, cultural understanding, and international engagement. As the university continues its ASEAN Month activities, the theme โNavigating Our Future, Togetherโ serves as a reminder that the future of the region is shaped by collective action, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to cooperation.
