Pardon me for posting this late, you see, things have been so
crazy and hectic for the last few months that I never got the opportunity to
update this humble blog of mine. lol The class that I am into has been frantically
going to and fro trying to finish everything from tiny works such as making of
props, planning out presentations, running errands up to finishing off the meat
of the matter for our ASEAN AWARENESS DAYS activity. We recently held our ASEAN culmination night. However, the culmination of our activity or the ASEAN NIGHT was not the
end of this campaign and in this entry I hope that, aside from sharing our
experiences, I could impart a portion of what I know about this topic.
Our class initiated the ASEAN AWARENESS DAYS to raise public awareness because the ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY draws on apace. The ASEAN Economic
Community or AEC shall be the goal of regional economic integration by
2015 and it implies that there will be a single market and free trade for all
the ASEAN member states. This program is remarkable for other economically
stable ASEAN states, however for the Philippines, we cannot fully say that we
are ready. Nevertheless, we should all brace
ourselves from the upcoming integration.
This integration will be helpful to all ten member states. I can’t
help but imagine that one day ASEAN will be akin to EU. (Don't you envision
that too? Hihi.)
While it appears daunting to many industries in our country, let’s remain
unfazed and cool over the upcoming regional economic integration ‘cause there is something greater
coming. After all, the AEC only desires the collective good. We
should know as well that the business sector and consumers alike are in for a better
position. A new way of business is about to happen. Think positive, these are exciting times J
Going back to the events our class has
initiated, we can say that we are now enjoying our “day off”. Haha. From on-the-spot
planning of the ASEAN flag emblem and other member states’ flag raising
program, organizing the ASEAN Quiz Bees, late night making and guarding the
ASEAN Exhibit at Robinsons’, those early morning fuss to catch The Morning
Show’s interview, conducting symposiums, ASEAN patrols up to all the upheaval our entire
class has experienced.. Uggghhh, the list would never end to tell you (of course I am exaggerating). Hahaha.
The event was first in our university and probably in the whole Island of Negros! I'm so proud to be part of the organizing team. ✌✌✌
To show you how the event looked like, here are some photos: J
This was a forum we conducted as a class last first semester of 2013 in our International Relations Study
This is where it all started J
Another symposium we spearheaded in connection to our ASEAN AWARENESS DAYS campaign J
We also had our diplomatic dinner in which the food served are all from the ASEAN member states. I guess I don't have to enumerate them all since it's the 21st century and I know you can achieve knowledge right in your fingertips (literally) heheh. By the way, the Vietnamese spring rolls and the Indonesian Fish curry are superb!
Parade of Nations.
Every one in the class were required to wear the traditional costumes of their assigned nation.
Mine was Thailand! Yaaaay! J
Speeches of appreciation and readiness of the nations for the upcoming AEC were given by the chosen diplomats.
Candle Lighting to close the ceremony
Photo ops will always be present after every event. Haha
Selfies, of course! Haha.
This time, with our then very grumpy but now very happy professor who prompted and pushed us to organize this successful event.
ABPO3A
With my beloved BFFs. I just love these crazies!
Forgive me, but I just had to post my OOTN here. Haha ✌
❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀
After all the hustle and bustle our class went through to pull this thing off, we finally gained the fruit of our labor! You can certainly see the gladness gleaming in our eyes when we celebrated our culmination. It was indeed a tough ride but the glory of what we have contributed to the public is priceless.
