Fourteen fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) students of the University of San Agustin (USA), accompanied by Director John Paul P. Mondejar of the International Relations Office (IRO) as faculty adviser, visited the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 09 September 2026, gaining firsthand exposure to the work of the ASEAN Secretariat as the Philippines serves as ASEAN Chair for 2026.
The visit formed part of the University’s International Academic and Cultural Exchange Program in Indonesia, which provides BSFS students with experiential learning opportunities in diplomacy, international relations, and regional cooperation.
The ASEAN Secretariat facilitated a briefing and tour of the Headquarters led by Ms. Marisol Hernandez, Director of the Community Relations Division (CRD), together with Mr. Andhie Ananta of the CRD.
The briefing introduced the students to the structure and functions of the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as its role in supporting cooperation among ASEAN Member States. The students were also given insights into the work of the Secretariat in advancing ASEAN cooperation across the region.
The visit was particularly timely as the Philippines holds the ASEAN Chairship in 2026, providing the students with a closer institutional perspective on the regional organization at a time when their own country is playing a leading role in shaping and coordinating ASEAN’s agenda.
For the students, the experience brought classroom discussions on ASEAN, regionalism, and diplomacy into an actual international institutional setting.
For Sasskia Olde Casidsid, the visit provided an opportunity to see ASEAN beyond academic discussions.
“Visiting the ASEAN Headquarters allowed me to see ASEAN beyond what we usually encounter in textbooks and lectures. Being in the institution where regional cooperation is coordinated made me appreciate how much work goes into bringing ASEAN Member States together, especially as the Philippines is the ASEAN chair this year.”
For Val Ryan Flores, the experience highlighted the growing role of technology in regional cooperation and governance.
“The visit gave me a clearer understanding of how ASEAN cooperation works beyond what we learn in the classroom. It also made me realize how important technology has become in strengthening regional cooperation, communication, and development. As future Foreign Service professionals, we need to understand these changes and how they shape the way countries engage with one another.”
Meanwhile, Chryztian Jude Mendez emphasized the value of experiential learning in preparing students for careers in the Foreign Service.
“The visit reminded me that our formation as Foreign Service students goes beyond the classroom. Seeing the ASEAN Headquarters and learning directly from the Secretariat gave us a deeper perspective on the kind of environment we may eventually work in as future diplomats and international affairs professionals. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect what we learn in the classroom with the realities of the profession we aspire to pursue.”
For Director Mondejar, the visit provided an important opportunity for the students to connect their academic formation with the work of a major regional institution.
“With the Philippines serving as ASEAN Chair this 2026, it was particularly meaningful for our Foreign Service students to visit the ASEAN Headquarters and see firsthand the institution that supports the work of our regional community. It gives them a deeper appreciation of ASEAN cooperation and of the role that Philippine diplomats and foreign service professionals play in advancing our country’s engagement with the region,” Director Mondejar said.
The visit also reinforced the importance of understanding ASEAN from an institutional and regional perspective. As future Foreign Service professionals, the students are expected to engage with regional developments that extend beyond traditional diplomatic concerns, including cooperation in areas such as technology, connectivity, education, culture, and sustainable development.
The ASEAN Headquarters visit was among the academic and institutional engagements undertaken by the BSFS delegation during its Indonesia program. Other activities included engagements with Philippine diplomatic representatives, academic institutions, and organizations in Indonesia, allowing the students to gain broader perspectives on Philippine foreign relations, ASEAN regionalism, and the country’s role in Southeast Asia.
Through international academic and cultural exchange programs such as this, the University of San Agustin continues to provide its Foreign Service students with opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world diplomatic and international affairs settings, strengthening their preparation for future careers in the Foreign Service and related fields.
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