The UP Asian Center was honored to host a delegation of youth leaders from Timor-Leste on 3 June 2024. Education Attaché Mr. Tomas Mendonça from the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste led the visit which included a series of talks, question-and-answer, and information session.

Twelve Timorese youth leaders were selected to participate in an educational tour that aimed to expose themselves and exchange best practices with Philippine institutions and agencies in preparation for Timor-Leste’s membership in the ASEAN, a move expected to boost the nation's economic growth and modernization. Ms. Maria Abrantes, Vice President of the East Timor Youth Parliament, shared that among the top 100 of Timor-Leste’s brightest, the delegates were selected from various sectors such as the national parliament, academe, business, agriculture, technology, and youth organizations.

Highlighting the 29 years of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, the event kicked off with the opening remarks delivered by Asian Center Dean Henelito A. Sevilla, Jr. and followed by a short message by Attaché Mendonça.

Professor and former AC Dean Dr. Joefe Santarita delivered a lecture on Philippine economic policies in the context of the ASEAN. The discussion centered on the current steps being taken by the Philippines to reduce tariffs on Asian neighbors, as well as other investment promotions and fiscal incentives. He also devoted time to talk about the current transition to digital finance and economic sustainability.

Participants raised several points for discussion revolving around finances, trade, and MSMEs. The speakers highlighted the Philippines’ current financial situation, emphasizing that the rise of online platforms signals a shift in consumers’ spending habits. Members of the delegation also shared that these developments are something they hope to explore in their own country in the future.

During the exchange, UP Diliman Office of International Linkages (OIL) Director Carlene Perpetua Pilar-Arceo and UP System OIL Deputy Director Noel Christian A. Moratilla also discussed educational opportunities in the university. They described the different specialties of each constituent university, like agriculture in Los Baños and fisheries in Visayas. Director Pilar-Arceo brought up the idea of bilateral academic partnerships between the Philippines and Timor-Leste. Meanwhile, Prof. Moratilla noted that a collaborative lecture series would be good for knowledge exchange. The visit concluded with a tour of Asian Center facilities, including the library and the museum.

The Asian Center hosts many delegates from various countries each year. As the only college in the UP system with a regional area of specialization, it boasts collaborations and partnerships with various foreign universities, institutions, and offices. 

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The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website.For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.