1) The document summarizes a seminar on ASEAN integration held in September 2014 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The seminar featured speakers from various backgrounds discussing the definition, scope, and objectives of ASEAN integration. 2) While ASEAN integration will create opportunities for businesses and the economy, it also means greater competition as the Philippines will have to compete with workers from other ASEAN countries. There are concerns that the Philippines is not fully prepared for integration. 3) To prepare, the document recommends focusing on education to increase awareness of ASEAN integration throughout the country. It also suggests overhauling human resource development and

1. POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
GRADUATE SCHOOL
MASTER IN PSYCHOLOGY
ASEAN INTEGRATION 2015
In fulfillment of the requirements in Theories of Personality
Professor:
Dr. Loreto Jao
Prepared by: Joshua J. Batalla
1stSem SY 2014-2015

2. Overview
The European Union, United State of America, and most of the biggest and influential states have
decided on one thing, to join their nations, to create a deeper integration in all aspects of their
community and businesses. We have seen its benefits in the western countries, now the South East
Asian Countries decided to follow suit. The Association of South East Asian Nation started the
movement towards unification. By the year 2015 the initial phase of the long term integration
agreement will be polished, ready to stage the convergence of Asian people into one large community.
The question is, are we ready for this major change?
This was the theme of the seminar by the students of Ms. Loreto Jao for their Industrial/Organizational
Psychology class. They have selected this very timely topic to give us more awareness about this
national change. Then only thing that we could arm ourselves in this battle of talents and innovation is
the power of knowledge.
Event Program
A. Venue: Last September 20, 2014 the seminar took place at Manila Room at the PUP Graduate
School. The location can accommodate about 300 participants. Participant by that time I think
numbered 150 +. This venue has staged hundreds of events by the society.
B. Program: Upon arriving at the location you will be greeted with the generous smiles of the
facilitators everything was well organized to the last detail. The masters of the ceremony is very
witty and have kept the place alive with their enthusiasm. Though there were some lapses in
terms of timing and scheduling of the speakers this is something beyond their control. But all in
all the program was well thought out and well executed.
C. Speakers: The choice of the event speakers is also good as they have invited people with
various academic and professional background thus provided a more wholistic viewpoint in the
central topic of the program.
Major Point of the Speakers
All three of the speakers discussed the Definition, Scope, and objectives of the ASEAN Integration. They
have shared their experiences that has somewhat is adversely due to the assimilation of this new policy.
One is involved in lawmaking mainly in APTA, while the other is focused in Human Resource Training and
Development while the last is focus on the plausibility of the introduction of ASEAN Integration and the
readiness of the Filipino workforce.
Impact in the Philippines
The ASEAN Integration would have a direct impact on our lives. It’s a mix of happiness and unease the
way people perceived the upcoming big change. It will become a free trade, free trade of goods and
services. The business sector see the change as a big opportunity you could move your company to
different Asian countries targeting different and diverse markets. A lot of opportunities will be
presented here in the Philippines as companies will come to bolster the economy. Education, HR

3. Technology, training and Development would be the trend as we learn to adapt, overhaul and create
new cultures to cater for the incoming varying nationalities. But with Good, comes also the other story
competition will be the name of the game when the integration becomes implemented as we will be
competing with other companies or other nationality. People must continually develop themselves to
stay on top of their career. The security of tenure will be performance based, as there would be a lot of
available applicants if the role couldn’t be met by Filipinos. People believe that it happens too soon. The
real question is. are we prepared?
Preparation by the Philippines
The Philippines has been aware of the integration since years ago. A lot of changes happen in the
country among which is the adaptation of the K-12 education program. It has received both positive and
negative reviews but as the way most of the stories go, the not readiness of the Philippines to adapt the
educational system was underlined. as students were not given enough facility and teachers were not
given sufficient training. The Human resource sector would have to create a total overhaul to focus on
its R&D programs, Training Needs Analysis in the organization and would have to revise much of its
Company Vision and Mission to complement the changes.
Recommendation
Though all the evidence points out that the Philippines is not ready for the ASEAN Integration. In any
major change there is no person or country that is fully ready for the change. In time people would find,
if not create the turnaround for any problem. This is where Filipino people are good at; with our
“Diskarte” and trust in God we can out live any trials. I believe that we should focus on the sector of
education and the concept of ASEAN Integration be fully disseminated in the whole country so that
people will not be “in the dark” when it happens.
Overall Experience in the Seminar:
In general, it was a very enlightening experience. It was only then that I became aware of the Integration
that would happen next year. It was a very timely topic. It gave us fresh insights and helped us align our
personal goals to the changes in the external environment. In a mo re personal note I want to be involve
in Human Resource Development and Training (after many years it was the only time I realized the real
objective of my Undergrad Degree haha). I started the seminar with a light and happy spirit and came
out wearing the same but with renewed vigor to pursue my career path.