By Dr Gorawut NUMNAK

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) finally has its official anthem. On 20 November 2008, the ASEAN Anthem Adjudicators' panel selected the ASEAN Anthem, titled "The ASEAN Way", from 10 shortlisted songs. The Anthem was officially launched on 28 November 2008 at Akasra Theatre, Thailand.

The lyric of "The ASEAN Way":

Raise our flag high, sky high
Embrace the pride in our heart
ASEAN we are bonded as one
Looking outwards to the world
For peace, our goal from the very start
And prosperity to last
We dare to dream we care to share
Together for ASEAN
We dare to dream we care to share
for it's the way of ASEAN

The Anthem will mean greatly to the people of ASEAN. After 40 years of its formation, this is another step toward realisation of a free, unified Southeast Asian region.

ASEAN has indeed gone a long way from what it was 40 years ago, despite any sarcastic criticism of its tardy progress. ASEAN was outgrowth of the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) and officially formed in 1967 in Bangkok by the five original member countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Today, ASEAN consists of 10 member countries (almost all countries of the Southeast Asian region) - in alphabetical order, Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam), Cambodia (Kampuchea), Indonesia, Lao PDR (Laos), Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its alliance expands from primarily security purpose to economic and socio-cultural cooperation. In 1997, the members formulated the so-called ASEAN Vision 2020 in order to piece together the region's future. Recently, the ASEAN leaders ratified the first ASEAN Charter, providing the region with a regional constitution and ‘legal entity'.

With the vast diversity between its member countries to a greater or lesser degree in many aspects, many have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the unification of ASEAN. However, if history is any indicator, such realisation will not be beyond reach. Step by step, ASEAN will become one. Even with such diversity, the ASEAN people say "...We dare to dream, we care to share."

Several may have talked grandly of ASEAN as the new EU. Of course! ASEAN will never become EU; it has different histories, different members, and different institutions. ASEAN will grow "The ASEAN Way".

Click on the picture below, to listen to the ASEAN Anthem - "The ASEAN Way".

More VDOs:

Related content:

• Commentary: A Thought on the 14th ASEAN Summit