SEAMEO Internship Exchange Program participants visit DOT VI

Department of Tourism Region VI welcomed 33 participants of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Internship Exchange Program from neighboring countries as they paid courtesy visits on January 15 and 16, 2019.

The SEAMEO Internship Exchange Program aims to provide opportunity for students in Southeast Asia to have pre-service experience in schools outside their country for a month.

On January 15, 2019, three pre-service teachers from Indonesia paid a courtesy visit to DOT Region VI Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas. They are Sari Wahyuni and Rahmaniah of University of Widyagama Mahakam Samarinda, both to teach elementary pupils and Hendi Nur Pratama of Lampung University to teach high school students.

According to Sunny Gabinete, Director of Development Linkages of Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) in Estancia, Iloilo, since NIPSC is one of the recipients of the program, they are hosting the three Indonesian pre-service teachers and in return, they will be also sending three students to Indonesia.

Hendi Nur Pratama said that he is delighted to be in Iloilo and to be able to experience teaching here. He said that students in Indonesia are very much alike to students in the Philippines because they are both fond of using gadgets for their studies.

Then, on January 16, 2019, thirty participants of SEAMEO Internship Exchange Program hosted by Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) also visited Director Catalbas. Eight students were from Thailand while the rest came from Indonesia.

The students are taking up courses in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Management, Automotive Technology, Informatics and Education. They will be assigned to different companies that correspond to their courses.

According to Nemia Mabaquiao, Director for National and International Affairs of ISAT-U, students that are taking up Education Course will be assigned to different campuses of ISAT-U. Twelve students will be assigned to Miagao Campus, two in Dumangas and sixteen at the main campus in Lapaz, Iloilo City.

"SEAMEO Student Exchange Project is a good medium for cultural exchange. I am more inclined to believe that we are really one race because of the similarity of language, looks, ways and cultural traits, despite our differences in religion ", Director Catalbas said.

Since most of the students are Muslims, Director Catalbas assured them that they will be taken care of, especially with regard to the foods they eat, the Halal Foods.

"The potential of the Muslim market is huge, that's the reason I encourage restaurants in Western Visayas to undergo trainings on the Halal food. Also, I have already written to accommodation establishments to establish their prayer room for Muslims because they pray five times a day. We want our accommodation establishments in Region VI to be prayer-friendly for the Muslims", Director Catalbas further said.

SEAMEO Internship Exchange Program participants will not only have a pre-service experience in Iloilo but they will also explore the beauty of Western Visayas. The three Indonesian pre-service teachers in NIPSC will have a tour in the Southern part of Iloilo and will also experience the Dinagyang Festival and the Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Candles (Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria) in Jaro, Iloilo City. Meanwhile, the participants being hosted by ISAT-U will be visiting Guimaras, Bucari in Leon, Iloilo and go on Iloilo city tour.