25 October 2016 — Professor Macrina Hannah Morados, Dean of the Institute of Islamic Studies in the University of the Philippines Diliman, delivered a lecture on "Arab and Islamic Influences in ASEAN” on October 19 and 20 in Amman, Jordan. This is the first such event in the ASEAN Lecture Series organized by the ASEAN Committee in Amman (ACA), which is composed of the Ambassadors of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand and currently under the chairmanship of Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Junever Mahilum-West.
Dean Morados and the ACA Ambassadors also met with University of Jordan President Dr. Azmi Mahafza and Dr. Abdullah Al Nagrash, Dean of the Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II School of International Studies at the University of Jordan on October 19. Possible partnerships, faculty/student exchange programs and research collaboration were explored during the meeting.
Mr. Mahafza shared the University of Jordan's growing interest to "Look East" towards ASEAN in establishing academic linkages and partnerships. Dean Morados meanwhile spoke about Islamic Law and Civilization as possible areas of study and collaboration. Ambassador Mahilum-West recalled a precedent in academic exchanges during the 1980s, when some 7,000 Jordanians graduated from Philippine colleges and universities. These alumni now form the core group of the incipient Jordan-Philippines Friendship Council.
Dean Morados delivered her lecture as well at the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy, the training arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and headed by Ambassador Lina Arafat. During this event, Ambassador Mahilum-West took the opportunity to raise with Ambassador Arafat the possibility of institutional linkages and collaboration between the diplomatic training institutes of Jordan and of ASEAN countries.
The lecture was greatly appreciated by both audiences, as the general public know little of ASEAN's and the Philippines' Arab and Islamic heritage. Greater interest on the subject was nurtured through the active efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II in the promotion of interfaith dialogue and harmony.
The pilot edition of the ASEAN Lecture Series was made possible by the sponsorship of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines. END
