Last January 30 to February 1, 2020, the UST Model ASEAN Meeting was held at the University of Sto. Tomas. This year marked the 6th UST-MAM since it was first launched in the year 2015.
Spearheaded by the UST Asian Studies Society, UST-MAM 2020 was guided by the theme “ASEAN 2025: Synergistic Community Mobilization and Sustainable Resource Allocation through Regional Cooperation.”
On the first day, the event began with talks from different key persons in three different fields that UST-MAM focuses on, namely socio-cultural, political-security, and economic aspects. The first speaker was Ms. Camille Ilagan, and she discussed Territorial Development and Urban Sustainability. This was followed by the second speaker, Mr. Wayne Winter Uyseco, who presented a talk on ASEAN’s Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime. The last speaker, Mr. Nestor Palabyab, lectured on the ASEAN Trade Negotiations.
The lectures were followed by the ASEAN Summit, wherein the Head of States of all the member countries conveyed their speeches which centered on this year’s theme for UST-MAM.
The three pillars then began to revise their declaration on the topics assigned to them. The topics are: Territorial Development and bran Sustainability, Prevention of Deforestation and Promotion of Forest Conservation, and Suppression of Transnational Crimes for the Economic Pillar, Socio-Cultural Pillar and Political-Security Pillar, respectively.
The second day was a continuation of a revision of the declarations headed by the ministers of each ASEAN member state. Later, the ASEAN Coordinating Council made final changes to the documents. The afternoon session was headed by the Head of State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the chairman for this year’s ASEAN Summit, Mr. Jericho James Bajar. He read the final drafts of each pillar. This was followed by the ASEAN Handshake and the awarding of certificates.
On the third and last day of the event, the delegates visited the “One With ASEAN” event that consisted of booths and cultural presentations that represented the ASEAN member countries.
In the evening, the delegates attended the Socials Nights. This began with a dinner and performances by AS Furasia, AScoustics and the delegates.
UST’s Model ASEAN Meeting is a simulation of the ASEAN proceedings. It is a continued effort by the UST Asian Studies Society to bring awareness to aspiring delegates and leaders to the challenges that the ASEAN region faces.
For more information please contact: @ustmodelaseanmeeting@gmail.com. Follow on our twitter: @USTModelASEAN and like the Facebook page: facebook.com/ustmam2020
