Prof. Christine Goh: Championing teacher education in ASEAN

Happy 10th Anniversary, AsTEN! This commemorative book shows how much we have achieved and how much more we can do when we travel and forge ahead together.

Now more than ever, we can be a strong influence for good through education. In 2021 ASEAN officially recognized us as an associated entity. This recognition filled us with immense pride and excitement, boosting our confidence in the future directions of the network. It offered a vista into the horizons that we can reach together through stronger collaborations among ourselves and with potential partners outside AsTEN and ASEAN.

Personally, I count my involvement in AsTEN as one of the cherished highlights of my time as the NIE Director. It has been my great privilege and honor to work alongside so many dedicated and capable colleagues from ASTEN member countries who are passionate about education.

ASTEN is a microcosm of the spirit of the ASEAN community, reflecting harmony, respect and strength in diversity. Each teacher education entity in AsTEN is unique. We have our own successes and challenges. Yet we have been drawn together by a shared vision of a better ASEAN through inclusive education and quality teaching.

On the occasion of AsTEN's 10th Anniversary, I have three birthday wishes for our beloved network:

• Being an ASEAN-accredited entity is a huge honor and responsibility. I wish ASTEN fruitfulness. May we leverage our role well and tap into the ecosystem wisely to be an influence and a voice for the good of the region through education.
• I wish AsTEN a strong legacy of impact as we continue to bolster education through the development of quality teachers who can transform the learning and lives of countless students. May AsTEN's impact be renowned and others want to learn from us.
• Last but not least, I wish AsTEN steadfastness and solidarity. May successive generations of institutional leaders and members continue to take pride in AsTEN and put our hearts and minds into growing its work, as well as cherishing our identity as an AsTEN community.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the Philippine Normal University for graciously taking on this important responsibility of hosting the event. It is most appropriate that the celebration takes place in PNU because in many ways PNU is the birthplace of AsTEN. It began with the vision of one woman, Dr. Ester Ogena, who worked tirelessly in bringing together education entities from each of the ASEAN countries. PNU not only sowed the seed of AsTEN and watered it, but it also continued to tend the garden of ASTEN by being the Permanent Secretariat.

PNU has offered many areas of administrative and intellectual support that made it possible to sustain the work of the network and our journal. As a past Chairperson of ASTEN I have had firsthand experience of the dedication and professionalism of the PNU team, past and present. It fills me with nothing less than immense gratitude and admiration for each of them.

Indeed, as ASTEN we have a lot to be proud of and we know the best is yet to be!