Cris James - MU Marketing Department
November 5, 2026 8:50 A.M.
40Misamis University Showcases Filipino and ASEAN Cultures at ASEAN+2 Celebration
Misamis University, through the Office of Linkages and International Affairs, held its ASEAN+2 Day Celebration at the Hilarion T. Feliciano Activity Center on July 10, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event was part of the university’s 2026 International Exchange and Cultural Learning Program, in which international students participated.
The celebration highlighted Filipino, ASEAN, and broader Asian cultures, with a particular focus on the cultures represented by the participating international students. Featured traditions included main dishes, dances, and songs from the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. The event also supported the Philippines’ hosting of the 59th ASEAN anniversary celebrations this year.
This program promoted unity and cultural understanding among higher education institutions (HEIs) in ASEAN member states, as well as partner institutions in Taiwan and South Korea, represented by “+2” in the event title. It strengthened engagement among partner HEIs and enhanced students’ intercultural awareness, supporting the university’s international collaboration. Participants included international students in the exchange program and Misamis University students.
The ASEAN+2 Day Celebration was a major component of the 14-day MU International Exchange and Cultural Learning Program, held from June 29 to July 11, 2026, and served as the program’s culminating activity.
The international students included Aitsara Rittisakcgonladet, Narisa Musikun, Pattaratorn Nakphairat, and Usanisa Tinnnakon from Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand; and Akbar Darujati Kusumo from Universitas Brawijaya in Malang, Indonesia.
Students from the University’s eleven colleges and the Basic Education Department, along with the deans, faculty and staff, also participated in the celebration. In total, approximately 600 people attended.
Misamis University’s partner institutions in the ASEAN region and Asia, particularly Kasetsart University in Thailand and Universitas Brawijaya in Indonesia, actively participated by sending students to attend the 2026 MU International Exchange and Cultural Learning Program and the ASEAN+2 event in person. The presidents of the partner universities were invited to deliver messages of support and to join the celebration.
In the program, Dr. Karen Belina F. De Leon, University President, delivered the welcome address. This was followed by recorded messages from Dr. Ok-Hyun Yoon, President of Gimcheon University in South Korea; Dr. Christine Nabor Ferrer, Chief of the CHED International Affairs Service at the Central Office; and H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Cultural performances followed the messages. MU dancers performed the Cariñosa, a traditional Filipino folk dance. A video presentation featuring a Chinese dance by Gimcheon University came next. Akbar Darujati Kusumo, together with a group of MU students, then performed an Indonesian dance, followed by a Thai dance performed by four Thai students: Aitsara, Narisa, Pattaratorn, and Usanisa.
This was followed by a performance by the MU Chorale of Rosas Pandan, a popular Bisaya song known in the Philippines and abroad. University choirs in other countries have also performed the song.
Another series of recorded messages from university presidents and foreign dignitaries followed. These included a message from Dr. Berlilana, M.Kom., M.Si., Rector of Universitas Amikom Purwokerto in Purwokerto, Indonesia, and H.E. Victorina Hesti Dewayani, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manila.
Another cultural presentation followed, with MU dancers performing the Subanen dance for the second time. Next, a video featured Indonesian, Thai, and Filipino dishes prepared by Indonesian, Thai, and MU students. The MU Chorale then sang Paru-parong Bukid, another popular Filipino folk song.
The final round of messages from university presidents and foreign dignitaries followed. Speakers included Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., Med.Sc., Rector of Universitas Brawijaya in Malang, Indonesia, and H.E. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
To conclude the celebration, participants joined the Interactive Unity Dance, which featured simple Filipino dance steps and invited everyone to take part. The MU Chorale sang Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas (“Choose the Philippines”), and all participants danced to the song. Its message encouraged foreigners to visit the Philippines and inspired Filipinos to feel greater patriotism. This was followed by a presentation of the 14-day activities of the MU International Exchange and Cultural Learning Program 2026.
Dr. Lloyd B. Ranises, Director of Linkages and International Affairs, closed the program by thanking the university partners and everyone who contributed to the event’s success.
Through this activity, Misamis University strengthened its commitment to cultural exchange and learning. The program celebrated Filipino culture through food, songs, and dances, using these shared experiences to foster unity and harmony. It also extended that sense of connection beyond the Filipino community by bringing together participants from neighboring ASEAN and other Asian countries. The activity strengthened partnerships among universities and enriched students’ experiences and learning programs, promoting unity and harmony across borders.
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