As part of the ASEAN Immersion Program, young leaders from Timor-Leste visited the Philippine Normal University (PNU) on June 26, 2025, for a courtesy visit and learning dialogue. The delegation was accompanied by His Excellency Marciano Octavio Garcia da Silva, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Philippines.
The activity served as a platform for a substantive exchange of insights, practices, and strategies relevant to advancing education systems, particularly as Timor-Leste prepares for its anticipated integration as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In his welcome remarks, PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga emphasized the university’s pivotal role as the National Center for Teacher Education in shaping education policies and legislative reforms in the Philippines. He also expressed his hope that the dialogue would contribute to mutual learning and deeper regional cooperation in education.
Ambassador da Silva conveyed his gratitude to PNU for hosting the delegation and affirmed his commitment to supporting the outcomes of the dialogue. He underscored the importance of such engagements in guiding Timor-Leste’s educational reforms.
The dialogue featured key presentations from university officials. Dr. Celia M. Ilanan, Dean of the College of Alternative and Lifelong Learning, discussed PNU’s adaptive pedagogical strategies and flexible learning modalities in response to evolving educational contexts. Dr. Brando C. Palomar, Director of the Research Institute for Teacher Quality, highlighted the findings of the second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) and their potential relevance to Timor-Leste’s education landscape. Meanwhile, Prof. Eisha Vienna M. Fernandez, Director of the Community Partnership and Extension Office, shared insights from her prior work in Timor-Leste and offered recommendations for strengthening educational capacity-building efforts.
A dynamic open forum followed, where the young leaders raised thoughtful questions on curriculum development, quality assurance, pedagogical innovations, and the broader challenges of Philippine education, eliciting detailed responses from PNU officials on how the university addresses these areas.
The program concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Denmark L. Yonson, Vice President for Student Success and Stakeholders Services, who thanked the delegation and expressed optimism that the engagement would lead to sustained collaborations between PNU and Timor-Leste.
