Cebu Technological University (CTU) Ethics Professors, Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) Director and Chairpersons made appearance in Practical Ethics in a Diverse ASEAN: New Challenges and Priorities for Action, a web seminar jointly organized by the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat, ASEAN Human Development Organization (AHDO) and the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST) on January 28, 2021 at 9:00 – 11:30 (Bangkok/Jakarta local time).
COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the building of ASEAN community to find a prevalent ethical ground despite the various range of value systems and cultural differences. With that, this ethical forum seeks to bring people all together from different sectors in ASEAN community to confer ethical challenges in the field of business, education, and society.
Moreover, the purpose of this online meeting is to identify ethics issues within the ASEAN region; discuss and advise actions and initiatives to make an impact; connect and agree to collaborate across ASEAN entities and with the ASEAN Secretariat; and leverage the networks of ASEAN entities for research, white papers, and common actions.
“After the cataclysmic year that is 2020, humanity is now facing the challenge of not only reevaluating societal norms but also confronting deep-rooted issues. That is why our aim is to identify ethical priorities in the ASEAN region through a cross-sector examination and to generate possible avenues of research or solution,” claimed by Dr. Choltis Dirathiti, (AUN Executive Director).
According to Dr. Ryan Urbano (CTU’s University Director for Research and Development/Ethics Professor) “…more than the ethical policies and programs that ASEAN adopts in the face of adversities, is the insight that these policies and programs would be ineffective in the absence of moral self-transformation where each individual takes the initiative to be ethical.”.
Also, Dr. Herel Cabanlit (Faculty and Dean of the Graduate School, CTU-Daanbantayan Campus) has given his takeaway from the webinar: “Ethics has to be understood holistically even during the pandemic where there are several but diversified understanding by some. “
The online meeting has invited six (6) distinguished speakers namely:
Dr. Marzuki Darusma (Co-founder and Chairman of the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards); Ms. Dora Heng, (Master student in Public Administration in International Development at Harvard Kennedy of Government in the US); Prof. Dr. Eko Suwardi, (Chairman of ASEAN University Network for Business and Economic (AUN-BE) Network); Dr. Antonette Palma-Angeles, (Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University); Dr. Paul Lim, (Lecturer of Organisational Behavior and Human Resource, Lee Kang Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University); and
Mr. Senjaya Mulia, (Founder of ASEAN Youth Organisation (AYO)).
And, representatives from CTU were:
Dr. Ryan Urbano (University Director for Research and Development/Ethics Professor);
Dr. Doris O. Gascon (University Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration);
Ethics Professors and Internationalization and ASEAN Integration Chairpersons:
Profs. Danilo Libradilla, Andrea Matildo – (CTU Barili);
Profs. Chelo Durante, Joel Durante, Carmencita Quiño, Zyra P. Dionson and Jason Hermosilla – (CTU Danao);
Prof. Herel Cabanit – (CTU Daanbantayan);
Profs. Sheilalane Romulo (Ethics Review), Alvin Estreba (CTU Main);
Prof. Ma. Ellyn Timario (CTU Naga);
Profs. Vincent Borres and Leslie Ann K. Monares (CTU Francisco);
Profs. Anabelle Carcusia, Pearl Angeli Cañete, Bobeth Manalili, Bartolome A. Pablo and Alma Rosilo-Magno (CTU-CCMC).
Lastly, there were over a thousand of participants who engaged in the event; present were professionals, social entrepreneurs and leaders across different sectors from — universities, business, youth groups and students, civil organizations, individuals working on ethical issues and the government.