MANILA, Philippines- Target ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) na palakasin ang paggamit ng iba’t ibang languages o lenggwahe sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sa higher education institutions (HEIs) sa Pilipinas.
Sa naging talumpati ni CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III sa kick-off ceremony ng ASEAN’s 56th founding anniversary, sinabi ni de Vera na ang pagtuon sa ASEAN languages at pagkakakilanlan ang magpapatibay sa diwa ng pagkakaisa sa rehiyonal.
“It is better to show unity in diversity in ASEAN by harnessing the languages of different ASEAN countries in our competitions whether in songs, posters, etc.,” aniya pa rin.
Partikular na binanggit ang ideya ng “raising regional competitions” sa hanay ng Philippine HEIs sa larangan ng “arts at culinary.”
“Mag-compete ‘yung mga schools na gagawa ng songwriting competition, but they will write it in other languages of ASEAN, not English. So competitors will write a song that will be sung in Thai, or Vietnamese, etc. para exciting naman,” aniya pa rin.
Tinuran ni De Vera na ang aktibidad ay maaaring makaakit ng ASEAN ministers para obserbahan at i-adopt ang ideya sa kanilang bansa para palakasin ang “partnerships.”
“I think these are ways by which we can deepen our understanding of ASEAN,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Maliban sa language inclusion, hinikayat ni de Vera ang Philippine HEIs na i-exercise ang leadership roles sa rehiyon.
Pinuri naman nito ang dalawang unibersidad dahil sa naging papel ng mga ito, nagpapakita na “very good development” mula sa noon ay nag-aatubiling HEIs.
“De La Salle now leads the AUN (ASEAN University Network) Thematic Center for Culture and the Arts, and Ateneo heads the ASEAN University Network Thematic Center on ecological education and Culture,” aniya pa rin.
“Exercising leadership will boost the country’s capacity to be competitive worldwide,” ani De Vera sabay sabing, “Collaboration among the ASEAN member states can also further help in elevating the region’s performance in the global arena.”
“We aim to strengthen ASEAN as an organization that is robust and agile, equipped with enhanced capacity and institutional effectiveness to remain relevant to its people, to its countries, and the region,” litaniya ni De Vera.
Samantala, pinuri naman ni De Vera ang rehiyon sa pagpapakita ng “tremendous growth” sa ekonomiya at kultura.
“In higher education, you now see that some of the best universities in the world are coming from ASEAN,” aniya pa rin. Kris Jose
