Today, August 26, 2025, the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) highlighted its commitment to global partnership and sustainable growth as it staged the ASEAN Month Celebration 2025 at the ASSCAT Sports and Socio-Cultural Center. With the theme “Buwan ng ASEAN: Sama-sama sa Pag-unlad,” the event was spearheaded by the International Relations and External Linkages Affairs under the leadership of Dr. Vivian C. Peligro.

Students enlivened the celebration by donning the traditional attire of ASEAN member-states, serving as a vivid reminder of the diversity that strengthens regional cooperation. Competitions in jingle writing, logo design, and poster making further encouraged participants to creatively express ASEAN ideals of unity, identity, and collaboration.

In her keynote rationale, Dr. Peligro explained the foundations of ASEAN, highlighting how the regional body works through consensus-building, cooperation, and people-centered initiatives. She emphasized that ASEAN’s relevance lies in its ability to foster collective responsibility and sustainable progress across nations.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joy C. Capistrano, in her message of solidarity, connected ASSCAT’s goal of becoming “the globally-engaged institution of sustainable agriculture and innovation” to ASEAN’s broader vision. She underscored that both ASEAN and ASSCAT share a commitment to resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth, principles that also echo the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those on quality education, partnerships, and climate action.

The celebration affirmed that ASEAN is not an abstract geopolitical concept but a living framework that shapes opportunities for education, mobility, and innovation. For ASSCAT students, the activities provided an opportunity to appreciate how regional integration relates to their future roles as professionals and changemakers.

By embedding ASEAN ideals into its academic and cultural life, ASSCAT reaffirmed its readiness to nurture globally competent graduates who can contribute to sustainable development both locally and across the wider Southeast Asian community.