Lagangilang, Abra – A week-long, cross-border expedition led by Taiwanese scholar Dr. Eing Ming Wu and his mentees concluded its strategic tour of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with a crucial visit to the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST). The "Bridging Mountains and Islands: Austronesian Linkages and Human Capital Exploration in the Cordilleras" initiative, which ran from October 13–20, 2025, traversed all six provinces of CAR, blending academic exploration, cultural immersion, and strategic partnership-building between Northern Luzon and Southern Taiwan.
The core mission of the expedition was two-fold: to trace the deep cultural, linguistic, and historical connections—or Austronesian linkages—between the two regions, and to explore human capital development and nation-building strategies in dialogue with local leaders. This blend of objectives underscores a commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, by focusing on strengthening capacity in higher education, empowering future leaders through knowledge transfer, and fostering a comparative understanding of indigenous knowledge systems and heritage.
The capstone of the academic visit was the dialogue held at the ASIST on October 20, 2025. Dr. Wu and his delegation met with key administrators, including ASIST President, Dr. Gregorio T. Turqueza Jr., along with the Director of Research and Development, Dr. Pablo B. Bose Jr., Director of Extension and Training Services, Dr. Zarina Marianette B. Orejudos, and the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Elizier B. Lazo. The discussions centered on strengthening academic partnerships, exploring opportunities for collaboration in joint research, faculty and student exchange, and aligning the programs of the ASIST with regional and international growth demands.
This endeavor strongly supports the Philippine Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) seven-point reform roadmap, the ACHIEVE Framework. The entire trip serves as a concrete example of CHED's pillar for Expanded and Impact-Driven Internationalization Strategies by building direct linkages between Northern Philippines and Southern Taiwan for long-term cooperation across Austronesian communities. Furthermore, the expedition directly addresses the Centralized One-Nation Human Capital Development priority by identifying regional challenges and opportunities for building capacity in higher education and community leadership. The focus on fostering comparative understanding of indigenous knowledge and heritage also aligns with the Harmonized SDG-based Research and Innovation Agenda. By prioritizing strategic partnerships and academic visits to State Universities and Colleges, the initiative lays a foundation for future cooperation that will ultimately empower students and drive regional progress
