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메뉴This paper explores how ASEAN Identity among Southeast Asia countries can be realized by applying the concepts of “shared cultural heritage” and “socio-cultural solidarity.” Guided by the official documents—the ASEAN Identity Narrative and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, this paper analyzes how regional cohesiveness can develop through common emphasis on historical, social, and cultural bonds among the ASEAN member states manifested through religiosity, nationalism, humanitarianism, cultural expressions, regionalism, and futurism. Moreover, initiatives and cultural policies that promote mutual understanding, respect for cultural diversity, and the building of collective projects that reinforce the notion of an ASEAN identity are considered within the analysis. By providing illustration as to how the concepts of “shared cultural heritage” and “socio-cultural solidarity” serve the foundation toward the construction of a conscious ethos geared toward establishing a common future based on diversity in the Southeast Asian region, this paper argues that the ASEAN identity is constructed via strong national selfhood and regional cultural ties. The implication drawn from this this paper’s proposal is that having a common or shared identity, or a cultural consistency of the regional actors will most likely reduce conflicts or misunderstanding in the region, thus allowing them to achieve common goals.
This research explores Korea's approach to digital Official Development Assistance (ODA) for cultural heritage preservation within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Leveraging its advanced digital technologies, Korea has been introducing innovative solutions such as 3D scanning, virtual reality, and geographic information systems, to document and protect both tangible and intangible cultural assets in partner countries. The study highlights key case studies demonstrating how digital ODA initiatives have enhanced cultural resilience, fostering regional identity and sustainable development. Emphasis placed on the role of triangular cooperation as a critical strategy, allowing Korea, through collaboration with BIMP-EAGA nations, to optimize resources and achieve shared goals in heritage preservation. This collaborative framework, combining community engagement and advanced digital tools, underscores the importance of adaptable, context-sensitive approaches in preserving cultural heritage amidst modern challenges.
This paper explores how improving inter-state relations and deepening links and growing trade flows between Thailand and Laos are manifest at the level of local traders in the Thai-Lao borderlands. Drawing on interviews with key informants including Thai and Lao traders and Thai officers and participant observation in a border market, the paper unsettles two assumptions that implicitly underpin policies concerning the management of cross-border trade. First is the assumption that cross-border trade and linkages with Laos were largely absent or somehow insufficient before 1988. And second, that the official opening of the border has smoothly and inclusively stimulated greater trade and interaction. Focusing on small-scale and informal traders, the paper argues that trade and cross-border interactions were always present even when relations were at their worst and that the formalization of trade has had negative effects on informal and small-scale activities which were so important at the local level. The paper also shows, however, that in the market itself there is a small space of informalization—where formal rules and regulations are informalized in the interests of local people.
Amidst the global pandemic aftermath, the Philippine tourism industry’s revival depends on its supply chain adaptability. This study assesses Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) of selected travel companies in the Philippines. Employing a supply chain business continuity framework, it seeks to uncover prevalent characteristics and status trends within a specific group. Travel companies, vital intermediaries within this chain, play a pivotal role in distributing, aggregating, marketing, and promoting destinations. To navigate uncertainties effectively, these companies must have robust business continuity plans (BCPs) together with adaptive protocols that complement the current situation. Continuous improvements and change management may be evident in its processes and operating procedures. This study assesses selected travel companies’ readiness through a descriptive survey, evaluating their business continuity plans (BCPs). The research aims to uncover the preparedness levels to withstand disruptions and aid the industry’s revival. Findings can inform strategies to enhance resilience, foster growth, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Philippine tourism industry.
Female ghosts are relatively common figures in Southeast Asian folklore. Besides studies on female ghosts from the perspective of spiritual symbols, studies from a gender perspective expose cultural constructions and constraints that produce trauma in individuals. By comparing the Nak ghost in the movie Pee Mak Phrakanong in Thailand and the female ghost in The Story of The Cotton Tree in Vietnam, this article argues that folk authors create the figure of female ghosts to release women’s desires and reveal their sense of social resistance. The openness and boldness in the concept of sexuality, sensuality, and the power of beauty since the medieval period also show the seeds of feminism in Southeast Asia before the reception of Western feminism. In addition, this research contributes to promoting the endogenous strength of indigenous and once-vulnerable areas and communities.
This is a descriptive case study of Yangon Film School (Yangon, Myanmar) in a setting of protracted civil conflict that has persisted since 1968. It examined the school’s approach in the teaching of documentary filmmaking and analyzed key aspects of the school’s operations. Findings show that the documentary filmmaking taught in the school was informed by social advocacy. This was fostered through the students’ participation in films commissioned to the school by civil society organizations and the practice of participatory filmmaking. The school stood out in the Myanmar setting for its dual character as a training center and a production company, and for its goal of offering film education at par with international standards. Students were held to an international standard of documentary filmmaking by a faculty of reputable filmmakers, mostly Europeans. Applicants to the program were screened along principles of gender inclusivity and ethnic diversity while academic qualification was less emphasized. The school has trained a considerable number of young Myanmar documentary filmmakers, many of them women. A constant challenge the school faced was inadequate funding. With an eye on sustainability, it was envisioned that students would eventually take over instructional and management functions to reduce the school’s dependence on foreign resources.
Many linguistic landscape (LL) studies have been done in the Philippines, but despite its archipelagic nature, there is not much LL research that considers the context of an island. This paper investigates the LL of a Philippine island, with special attention to multilingualism. It focuses on the languages displayed in the signs, top-down and bottom-up signs, their functions, and their materiality. These features are analyzed to describe how the island’s LL establishes orders of indexicality. The results show that despite the local language being used in the daily affairs of the locals, English dominates the island’s LL. Moreover, the LL is dominated by top-down signs, which, considering their materiality, places the local government in a memorializing and authoritative position, leaving the public voice seemingly suppressed. This study coincides with previous research about the omnipresence of the global English and the preference for majority over minority languages, especially in LL.
Euphemism, as a linguistic and cultural phenomenon, serves as a reflection of the values and norms within a specific language community. Understanding the functions of euphemisms provides valuable insights into a culture's belief systems, social structures and historical contexts, shedding light on the intricacies of language, culture and beliefs. This paper explores euphemism functions among the Bidayuh Biatah speakers, utilizing Burridge's (2012) framework of six euphemism functions. Through an in-depth examination of euphemisms, this study aims to elucidate aspects of the Biatah culture. The data was gathered through interviews with eight Biatah informants aged 55 to 79 who are residing Kampung Quop, Padawan, Sarawak in Malaysia. The findings unveiled five euphemism functions within the Biatah dialect: Protective euphemism, Underhand euphemism, Uplifting euphemism, Cohesive euphemism and Ludic euphemism, providing a better understanding of the Bidayuh Biatah language and culture.
The study investigated the relationship between sleep duration, physical activity, and well-being among Filipino university students under remote education due to the pandemic. A sample of 1,050 university students volunteered to participate in the study. The participants reported an average sleep duration of 6.68 hours which is below recommended levels. The study found that male students perceived better well-being than females, and those sleeping more than 7 hours had higher well-being. Engaging in regular physical activity was associated with better well-being. Regression analysis revealed that both sleep duration and physical activity significantly predicted well-being, with sleep having a stronger impact. Overall, the study emphasized the importance of adequate sleep and physical activity for students' well-being during remote education.
Firefighting is a strenuous occupation that requires firefighters to be in peak physical condition. However, there is a limited study focusing on firefighters’ fitness assessment, especially in association with fitness for duty. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature on firefighter fitness for duty. The review was taken from various literature taken from various electronic databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Publications and grey literature between the years 2000 to present were used. The study found that existing literature have indicated that there is a lack of studies focusing on firefighter’s fitness for duty evaluation and availability of proper tools with similar standards globally to assess firefighter’s fitness-for duty, including in the contexts of Indonesia and Qatar which have different unique characteristics in terms of the importance of fire incident prevention-protection and firefighter’s fitness status. Significant gaps remain in the literature and could be opportunities for further studies.
