March 4, 2026 — Romblon State University (RSU) President Merian Mani represented the MIMAROPA SUCs at the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) High-Level Forum 2026, at The Peninsula Manila.
Organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship 2026, the forum gathered ASCC Ministers, Senior Officials, Dialogue Partners, and stakeholders to chart people-centered strategies toward the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The event, themed “Navigating Our Future, Together: Empowering People for a Resilient and Cohesive ASEAN,” featured high-level speakers from across the region in two major panel discussions.
The morning session, Panel Discussion 1: Empowering ASEAN People (moderated by Ms. Karen Davila), featured ministers from Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Lao PDR discussing family and community empowerment, culture and sports, social protection, future-ready learning, whole-of-society approaches, and culture-tourism linkages.
The afternoon session, Panel Discussion 2: Cross-Pillar and Cross-Sectoral Endeavors and Partnership (moderated by Ms. Bernadette Sembrano), brought together high-level officials from the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam, and the ASEAN Secretary General to explore social protection platforms, tourism-arts-culture bridges, social harmony, rural development and housing, effective institutions, and whole-of-ASEAN action under the 2045 Vision.
The insights gained from these high-level discussions are expected to strengthen Philippine SUCs’ contributions to ASEAN’s socio-cultural pillar, particularly in education, culture, social protection, and people empowerment.
President Merian Mani’s active participation highlights Romblon State University’s steadfast support to CHED’s initiatives for regional cooperation and internationalization.
The morning session, Panel Discussion 1: Empowering ASEAN People (moderated by Ms. Karen Davila), featured ministers from Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Lao PDR discussing family and community empowerment, culture and sports, social protection, future-ready learning, whole-of-society approaches, and culture-tourism linkages.
The afternoon session, Panel Discussion 2: Cross-Pillar and Cross-Sectoral Endeavors and Partnership (moderated by Ms. Bernadette Sembrano), brought together high-level officials from the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam, and the ASEAN Secretary General to explore social protection platforms, tourism-arts-culture bridges, social harmony, rural development and housing, effective institutions, and whole-of-ASEAN action under the 2045 Vision.
The insights gained from these high-level discussions are expected to strengthen Philippine SUCs’ contributions to ASEAN’s socio-cultural pillar, particularly in education, culture, social protection, and people empowerment.
President Merian Mani’s active participation highlights Romblon State University’s steadfast support to CHED’s initiatives for regional cooperation and internationalization.
