ARS, TF-LKYSPP concludes regional learning journey to the PH with SEA next gen leaders

Next Generation Leaders pose for the camera.

Amador Research Services (ARS), in partnership with the Temasek Foundation (TF) and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), successfully wrapped up the second leg of the 2nd TF-LKYSPP Southeast Asia Next-Gen Leaders Programme featuring select Southeast Asian (SEA) thought leaders as part of a regional learning journey event to the Philippines centered on exploring their roles as future trailblazers and changemakers of the world. 

32 leaders from public and private sectors working in fields such as education, technology, economic affairs, policymaking, among others, gathered together at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City from 20 to 25 July 2025, a month after the Online Futures Thinking Workshop, the first leg of the program, that took place from 27 to 29 May 2025. 

The highlights of the 6-day regional journey, apart from a series of collaborative sessions among the participants and their on-site visit to Ayala Museum in Makati, were the open fora with esteemed luminaries from the public and private sectors.

22 July, Tuesday

The third day of the program boasted a set of professionals from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippines’ governmental agency responsible for espousing Filipinos’ access to quality tertiary and graduate education; the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Education, an academic unit within UP Diliman specializing in teacher education, education research, and the like; and the SEAMEO Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology or SEAMEO INNOTECH, a training and educational research institution aimed to empower SEA students through technology education and innovation.

The presentation from CHED was divided into three distinct themes. 

The first one, presented by Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, CESO III, OIC Deputy Executive Director and International Affairs Service Director, revolved around CHED’s existing initiatives and programs from community-based, institutional, people-centered (students and faculty), system-level angles. Some at the helm are its Partnership Innovation Grants for academic collaborations and capacity-building efforts in support of universities’ internalization grants as well as the StudyPH Program, an education tourism initiative responsible for promoting the Philippines as a potential learning hub for international students. 

The second presentation, led by Dr. Raul F. Muyong, Director IV of the Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance, expounded on the role of the Philippine Quality Assurance Framework (PQAF) as a guide for higher education institutions (HEIs) in ensuring that their bachelor to doctoral degree programs are on par with national standards. CHED, according to Muyong, ensures program compliance through mandatory certification.

Thirdly, Dr. Mary Sylvette T. Gunigundo, Director IV of the Office of Planning, Research, and Knowledge Management, gave a walkthrough on CHED’s current organizational structure, zeroing in on its divisions and respective functions. 

UP College of Education’s discussion, meanwhile, centered on the Philippine education crisis, the Department of Education (DepEd)’s curriculum reforms, and an overview about the UP College of Education. 

Facilitated by Professor Maricris B. Acido-Muega, the session started off with Ms. Jona Kristen Valdez, DepEd Senior Education Program Specialist, who cited the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) report in enumerating key issues in Philippine education such as severe learning crisis among grade 3 students, child undernutrition, textbook shortages, disaster-related learning loss, teacher workload, and dropout and access issues in higher education. 

Valdez also talked about the K-10 Curriculum Revision which began in 2021, highlighting its collaboration with the UP College of Education and UP Philosophy of Education in its formation and integration of an intensified values and peace education program across all grade levels. She also introduced the revised Senior High School curriculum and support systems for this endeavor such as the DepEd Memorandum 48, which stipulates the guidelines for the pilot implementation of the curriculum for School Year 2025-2026. 

Dr. Joel C. Javiniar, UP College of Education Dean, on the other hand, gave an orientation about the UP College of Education - including its faculty and students, academic programs and certifications, contributions to reform and scholarships, innovations, pandemic response, and international linkages. Javier also spotlighted the institution’s recognition as a Center of Excellence (COE) for Teacher Education in the Philippines and Center for ASEAN training in preventive and drug education. 

The third discussion, spearheaded by SEAMEO INNOTECH, focused on the promotion of the institution, particularly its offices and respective units; the Philippine Pedagogical Approaches Study, a joint project with DepEd that evaluates the implementation of theories, practices and applications in the classroom; its learning design principles and practices; and programs for teachers such as the Early Literacy which promotes evidence-based reading instruction for k-3 teachers and the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) framework which trains teachers to integrate SEL in class.

24 July, Thursday

H.E. Lai Tai Binh, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Philippines, graced the event for an open forum with the participants. In his speech, he emphasized the role of leadership in today’s global and regional climates triggered by various geopolitical challenges and intensified by gaps in multilateral cooperation that often lead to tensions and fragmented consensus. Diplomats, according to Binh, must continuously facilitate dialogues to help their leaders reach agreements especially on issues of nuclear disarmament, trade, tax, and climate action. 

For a more robust future for SEA, Binh outlined three recommendations: strengthen national capacities - countries should first heed to internal affairs to effectively communicate in regional dialogues; deepen ASEAN integration - utilize existing frameworks to approach regional challenges like labor mobility and political disputes; and participate in global efforts - engage in global causes that aim to solve or alleviate transnational problems like marine plastic waste, artificial intelligence (AI), and climate change. 

Binh also zoomed in on Philippines-Vietnam ties, acknowledging the nations’ strong bilateral relationship and labeling it as a model that prioritizes cooperation over confrontation. He expressed hope that their ties can serve as an example in resolving global issues such as the South China Sea dispute. 

25 July, Friday

The last day of the program brought in a set of panelists from the public and private sectors namely: Ambassador Constance See Sin Yuan, Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines; Mr. Ronald Mendoza, DepEd Undersecretary’ and Mr. Hannibal Camua, Philippine Business of Education (PBEd) Executive Director. 

Facilitated by Dr. Jared Poon, Principal Consultant at Counter-Fictional, the panel discussion tackled a broad range of topics from Singapore’s strong relations with the Philippines down to the challenges posed by systemic issues such as education crisis and AI, and the many ways to deal with them effectively. 

In her introductory speech, Yuan divulged Singapore's sustained investment in the Philippines across a wide array of sectors such as telecommunications, hospitality, retail, renewable energy and climate solutions. She also talked about the launch of the partnership program of the Singapore Embassy and Philippine government - the Digital Leadership Programme for the Philippine Civil Service - which aimed to train 10,000 civil servants to strengthen digital leadership capabilities in the Philippines.

Mendoza, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government-approach in augmenting human capital, especially in the early years (0-5) to support children’s cognitive development. Reforms on basic education and AI must also be prioritized to address education inequality - the kind that advocates for nationwide equity rather than isolated innovations. 

Lastly, Camua talked about PBEd’s role in promoting education-to-employment reforms, suggesting his organization’s success in pushing for the K-12 educational reform and reactivating EDCOM II. One of PBEd’s programs, the YouthWorks PH Program, helped equip marginalized out-of-school-youths with life and job skills.

During the Q&A segment, the panelists left a few words of wisdom for the young SEA leaders to formally conclude the discussion. Camua said that leadership begins with recognizing that they are already on that path, and while treading it, they must continue to take every opportunity seriously, ask questions, and stay open to learning. Yuan and Mendoza, on the other hand, shared similar sentiments. They echoed the need for future leaders to identify common causes such as food security, energy resilience, and climate action, and use these to venture on collaborative efforts that can help solve issues and promote mutual support.

Photos of the event below.

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