Liceo U ASEAN Forum Spotlights Youth, Unity, Sustainable Development
As
part of its ASEAN Month activities, Liceo de Cagayan University staged the
ASEAN Month Celebration Forum on August 26, 2025, at Rodelsa Hall. Spearheaded
by the Licean Corps Diplomatique in partnership with the Office of
International Relations and Linkages (IRL), the gathering underscored ASEAN’s
vision of regional solidarity while amplifying the role of youth in shaping
sustainable futures.
Keynote
speaker Prof. Angelie Azcuna-Collera delivered a lecture on “Understanding and
Integrating SDGs in Youth-Led Initiatives,” stressing the importance of
empowering young leaders to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) within the ASEAN region. Her talk was enriched by the reflections
of Mr. Salm Kairo Dumanlag, Atty. Nurfaiz Mambuay, and Ms. Althea Galinada from
the College of Arts and Sciences.
The
forum also featured the ASEAN Solidarity Message from Hon. Deddy Faisal bin
Ahmad Salleh, Consul General of Malaysia in Davao City, who emphasized the
continuing importance of cooperation, peace, and unity among ASEAN nations.
Lending further academic and institutional support were Dr. Chona V. Palomares,
IRL Director; Dr. Salvador C. Dela Peña III, Dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences; and Mr. Winston B. Gallinero, Chair of the Department of Social
Sciences, whose message was delivered by Ms. Katherine Rose Rosalinas.
Adding
vibrance to the program were cultural performances from the Tala ng Lahi
Folkloric Dance Troupe, the Next Moves Dance Company, and the Conservatory of
Music, Theater, and Dance Choir, which capped the forum with a rousing finale.
The event was made possible with the support of the College of Arts and
Sciences Student Body Organization (CASSBO) and was ably guided by Ms. Thea
Rena Silmaro as Master of Ceremonies.
More
than an academic gathering, the ASEAN Forum reflected Liceo U’s commitment to
cultivating globally minded graduates, deepening international linkages, and
preparing students to engage actively in regional and global affairs, all while
celebrating ASEAN’s enduring principle of unity in diversity.
Photos
by: Deane Kretchli Yang, LCD Deputy Prime Minister and Liceo Creatives - Miguel
Benedict D. Escudero