Mariano Marcos
State University

Sociology student joins ASEAN University Network symposium in Singapore

By Ian Paul Villanueva

Second-year MMSU Sociology student Carl Zhan Jazpher Gines joined 300 other student leaders from across the region in the Asian Undergraduate Symposium (AUS) 2026 at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on July 6-18.
 

Organized by the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and NUS, the two-week international symposium included delegates from the ASEAN countries, as well as India, China, South Korea, and Japan. The activities included workshops, team-building activities, and expert panel discussions aimed at engaging the delegates in intercultural collaboration, leadership development, and civic engagement.

Over the course of the symposium, Gines co-developed the project proposal, “COCOBAM: Coconut Coir and Bamboo-based Solution for River Waste Interception and Flooding Mitigation in the Philippines,” alongside team members from the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.

COCOBAM reached the Top 30 among 300 submissions. While falling short of a Top 15 placement that would have earned it funding, Gines said, his team remains committed to implementing the project.

“Collaborating with my team on group projects resonated with me the most. Leading a group requires effective communication and cooperation to reach a shared goal. This process challenged my leadership capacities and helped me update and improve my previous knowledge and approaches,” Gines remarked.
 

Gines, who also serves as the Vice Chairperson for External Affairs of the Philippine League of Sociology Students - MMSU, noted that the symposium deepened his understanding of sustainable innovation, cultural heritage, and inclusive resilience. He also said the multinational engagement allowed him to appreciate diverse perspectives while promoting Filipino heritage.

Having immersed himself in Singapore’s community sustainability efforts during the program, he shared, "Learning about [these strategies] showed me that the youth can drive impactful change, and that collaborating with communities leads to meaningful results."