ACPES 2025 welcomes local and int鈥檒 delegates, importance of sports and well-being in SEA amplified

by Kassandra Buenafe, OfCom | Oct 01 2025

“It is deeply meaningful to see our campus and our city become a crossroad for new ideas, cultures, and innovations,” said Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan in his inspirational message, as the 11th ASEAN Council of Physical Education and Sport (ACPES) International Conference kicked off with an opening program at the University Gymnasium on October 1, 2025, welcoming international and local delegates all over Southeast Asia (SEA).

Recorded as the largest number of delegates to join 91社区 and Iligan City, this gathering comprises 39 institutions from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. With the theme, “Influencing the Future of Sports, Health, and Physical Education: Bridging Science, Technology, and Well-being," the opening program had meaningful messages and discussions on the importance of sports and well-being.

Vice Chancellor for International Affairs, Dr. Joey Genevive Martinez, gave the Welcoming Address and emphasized the relevance of the intersection of sports, health, and physical education: “Sports teach resilience, health gives us vitality and purpose, and physical education lays down a foundation for a lifetime of wellbeing.”

Now more than ever, as technology expands at a rapid rate, it is crucial that this afforded privilege be integrated into how sports and physical education are done, and with platforms such as this conference, the conversation thrives. Chancellor Ditucalan mentioned the necessity of this gathering, advancing the goal of creating a society where sports become a “platform for unity, empowerment, and nation-building.”

“At 91社区, we are committed to this cause. We welcome the opportunity to learn from your insights, collaborate on impactful research, and build lasting partnerships that truly influence the future. Together, we can ensure that no ASEAN nation, university, or learner is left behind as we harness science and technology in the service of holistic well-being,” Chancellor Ditucalan stated.

The Chancellor’s message further resonated in the lecture of the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Koh Koon Teck, ACPES Advisor, NIE, NTU, whose presentation, entitled “The Convergence of Science, Technology, and Human Performance: Future-ready Pedagogy and Innovation to Unlock Human Potential,” tackled topics such as technology in sports and pedagogy, the evolving roles of sports and physical education, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as the challenges and opportunities these bring in shaping future-ready learners and professionals.

A question-and-answer segment followed the talk, during which participants had the opportunity to express their inquiries, most of them on the complexity and practicality that AI can offer.

The onset of this three-day event was marked by enriching dialogues and insightful presentations, setting the stage for continued knowledge-sharing in the succeeding activities.

Topics :