The University, in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office XVIII – Negros Island Region (CHEDRO XVIII-NIR), successfully hosted the 2026 ASEAN Celebration in the Negros Island Region from August 3 to 4, 2026.
Held in commemoration of the 59th ASEAN Founding Anniversary, the two-day celebration gathered higher education administrators, faculty members, students, and other stakeholders from across the Negros Island Region for a series of activities promoting ASEAN awareness, regional cooperation, and internationalization.
Guided by the theme “Navigating Our Future Together,” the celebration formally opened on August 3 at the St. La Salle Coliseum, with Regional Director Raul Alvarez and other CHED officials leading the launching. The event brought together representatives from higher education institutions and other stakeholders across the region.
The two-day celebration featured cultural exhibits, intercultural forums, seminar-workshops, and the inaugural NAM-EATS: Flavors of Southeast Asia, highlighting ASEAN’s shared heritage through educational and cultural engagement.
On August 4, NAM-EATS: Flavors of Southeast Asia featured two regional competitions. Participants created dips and sauces inspired by ASEAN Member States for the Flavors in a Bowl: ASEAN Dip & Sauce Challenge, while the ASEAN Food Trails: Culinary Tour Guiding Challenge showcased the region’s cultural heritage and gastronomic destinations through interpretation and storytelling.
In the afternoon, the celebration concluded with the GastroASEAN Forum at the Mutien Marie Auditorium, bringing together students, educators, industry practitioners, and tourism professionals to discuss the role of gastronomy in cultural preservation and tourism development across Southeast Asia.
During the closing program, Central Philippine State University – Main Campus was recognized as champion of the Flavors in a Bowl: ASEAN Dip & Sauce Challenge, while Negros Oriental State University emerged as champion of the ASEAN Food Trails: Culinary Tour Guiding Challenge.
The 2026 ASEAN Celebration provided participants with opportunities to deepen their understanding of ASEAN cultures, strengthen academic and institutional collaboration, and explore the intersections of education, gastronomy, and tourism.