The third edition of the UST Model ASEAN Meeting was officially launched last January 23 at the University of Santo Tomas- Manila, Philippines.
Around 60 delegates from different schools across the Philippines participated in a 3-day simulation of the ASEAN Meeting. Universities who participated include the Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, Quezon City Polytechnic University, University of the East, and the University of Santo Tomas.
The UST MAM 2017 allows students to take the role of ASEAN junior and senior foreign ministers in deliberating and drafting consensus-based resolutions on pressing regional issues in the Economic, Political and Security and Socio-Cultural pillars of the ASEAN Community. Break-out sessions such as Sectoral Bodies Meetings and an ASEAN Ministerial Meeting were conducted throughout the 3-day summit. Prior to the break-out sessions, the delegates were graced by distinguished speakers coming from the different sectors of the ASEAN Community. Mr. RJ Naguit, a medicine student of the University of Santo Tomas, tackled on the issue of mental health awareness in the context of its increasing role in the development and well-being of people in ASEAN. Atty. Anwar Ito, the Principal Assistant of the ASEAN Political Security Cooperation Division of the DFA-Office of ASEAN Affairs (Philippines), discoursed on ASEAN’S cooperation on drug matters in the region. Meanwhile, the mentor-director of the I Am SAM Foundation and Project Officer of Bridging the Gap Philippines, Mr. Rod Magat, briefed the delegates on the procedures of the Model ASEAN meeting.
Mr. Magat in his talk also highlighted the objective of the Model ASEAN Meeting by which students gain a brighter perspective of how ASEAN works. The meeting, as Magat emphasized, serves as a venue for cultivating skills on research, diplomacy, public speaking and team work. “By researching on your designated country, you students as young as you are, get to experience knowledge exchange and thereby facilitating the necessary skills necessary to become an ambassador.”he also added.
Before involving themselves in high-level discussions in the meetings, participants thoroughly researched on the policies of their assigned countries. With the theme, “Envisioning Development Beyond the Challenges of Integration”, delegates engaged in a collaborative effort in drafting ministerial documents. The documents were then formally signed with the Chairman’s statement and a turnover ceremony of the Chair to the Government of Singapore was conducted afterwards.
“It was really challenging on our part since the Philippines is the Chair for ASEAN’s 50th year. Nevertheless, the three day summit was an amazing experience.” Ms. Joan Isabel Rancapero, a student delegate representing as Chair of the Economic Community, said in a statement.
“It was more than satisfying, for the best way to learn how ASEAN works is to actually experience it.” Mr. Edson Yuzon, who was awarded as the Best Delegate for the Political Security Community, remarked after the closing ceremony.
The UST Model ASEAN Meeting, which ran from 23 January to 25 January, 2017, is one of the highlights in the week-long event entitled “One With ASEAN 2017: Envisioning Development Beyond the Challenges of Integration”. Organized by the Asian Studies Society of the University of Santo Tomas, the event primarily aimed to bridge the gap of awareness of ASEAN integration among students in the country. Aside from the Model ASEAN Meeting, these series of events entailed a cultural exposition of ASEAN member countries. The week-long event formally ended with a closing ceremony yesterday, 27 January 2017.
