ASEAN MAGAZINE

MALAYSIA page 1 s“eWe eanaroethneortbtehaeuotyn.lyWohneens.wWe hoepnenwo eugroeoyuets,, we’ll we’ll appreciate the existence – of ourselves, and of the lands after lands.” - Pauline Maristela BRIEF BACKGROUND AND HISTORY: Malaysia is a member of the Commonwealth. This country represents the political marriage of territories which were formerly under British rule. In September 16, 1963, Malaysia was established and comprised the territories of Malaya which is now known as Peninsular Malaysia, the island of Singapore, and the colonies of Sarawak and Sabah in northern Borneo. In August 1965 Singapore seceded from the federation and became an independent republic. M alaysia is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was crowned the country’s 16th king in January 2019. The national currency is the ringgit, which is a dated term for \"jagged\" in the Malay language and refers to the serrated edges of silver Spanish dollars widely used in the 16th and 17th centuries. Four UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites are found in Malaysia: Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, the historic cities of Melaka and George Town, and the archaeological heritage site of the Lenggong Valley.

page 2 Vast majority of the population of Malaysia lives in Peninsular Malaysia. The people of Malaysia are unevenly distributed between Peninsular and East Malaysia. The population shows great ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity. Within this diversity, a significant distinction is made for administrative purposes between indigenous peoples (including Malays), collectively called bumiputra, and immigrant populations (primarily Chinese and South Asians), called non-bumiputra. Malaysian literature is the collection of literary works produced in the Malay peninsula until 1963 and in Malaysia thereafter. Malaysian literature is typically written in any of the country's four main languages: Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil. It portrays various aspects of Malaysian life and comprises an important part of the culture of Malaysia. One of Malaysia's top writers is Shahnon Ahmad. He has held the position of Malaysia's liteAraRry laureate since 1982. Here’s the list of the must-reads! SFOhKiLivnTtLTuecThbSmehNSheyeeWtpleoGaiSRuinWerirhriafcW’aBotSsehSmeioedlnirMfrlaaaiioenekoroRnsntTkaCWhaA-hisehinhheirSridr,om,neeee,TrR,BsaYiTaBaderonasneeksarioTehntfMhwiAcKeaaedwunnCaTiEchlwkanaaougWlyorlds, What may be the world's richest unrecovered treasure trove from a sunken ship rests somewhere on the sea floor in Malaysia's Strait of Malacca. The Portuguese ship Flora de la mar (Flowers of the Sea) was returning home loaded with what was then the largest treasure collected by the Portuguese navy when it sank in December 1511. Today, Modern-day pirates are known to patrol the Malaysian strait.

page 3 PHILIPPINES PThe capital of the hilippines is Manila. However, the city's population of 1,660,714 is far more than the region can maintain. This results in a population density of 55,000 people per square mile, making it the world's greatest population density. The Barong Tagalog is a ceremonial, long-sleeved embroidered shirt worn by men in the Philippines. The feminine equivalent, meanwhile, is known as the baro't saya. Both clothes are made of pia or pineapple fibers and are often worn during formal parties and key events in the country. The Philippines' national bird is already endangered. The Philippine eagle, often known as the Monkey-Eating Eagle, was named the country's national bird in 1995. In the Philippines, the majority of FEW FAMOUS people are Christians. It's hardly LITERARY unexpected that 90 percent of the population is Roman Catholic due WORKS & WRITERS to the Spanish rule. Dr. José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas Mga Ibong Mandaragit by Amado V. Hernandez Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista ABNKKBSNPLAko?! by Bob Ong

SINGAPORE page 4 Like most of the tourists praising how extraordinary Singapore is, Singaporeans themselves declare how proud they are of their beloved country. The Merlion, a mythical creature with Lion’s head and a fish’s tail, is the symbol and official mascot of Singapore. It was inspired by the city’s Sanskrit name, Singapura, which means ‘lion city’. Singapore is a Singapore is one small multilingual island itself but still country. The four official languages covers a bunch of other islands and islets. The are English, main land is surrounded Chinese, Malay, and by offshore islands as many as 64. Some were Tamil. created by land reclamation and the Singapore is one of land of Singapore has only three surviving actually increased its size by 23% (50 square City-States in the world. It doesn’t miles) since 1965. have a capital since it’s a city-state. The other two are San Marino and the Vatican City. Singapore Is Referred To The ‘Garden City’ vision was As The Garden City. introduced by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to transform Singapore into a city with abundant lush greenery and clean environment. Singapore is dedicated to “greening” efforts and is recognizable for its tree-lined streets, increasing number of rooftop gardens and green buildings overflowing with tropical plants.

page 5 “It is possible to have a national literature that we don’t necessarily associate with the ‘nation'.” – Alfian Sa’at According to Alfian Sa’at, a poet and playwright in Singapore, the most interesting thing about Singapore is that for such a small country and a small population, the city- state also has the most number of official languages in ASEAN. This already makes Sing Lit as something diverse by default. While Singaporean literary Suggested literary works works may be considered as that you can explore... belonging to the literature of their specific languages, the The Merlion by Alfian Bin Sa’at literature of Singapore is viewed If We Dream Too Long by Goh as a distinct body of literature portraying various aspects of PLSToiihtnhteglSeaAepIdnorvgroeen(n1ibte9uys7r:2CeS)sahtoohfretMriSnotooetrLyieimsbyof Singapore society and forms a significant part of the culture of Singapore. Literary works have been translated into all four official languages. Jessie Wee by Tan Kok Son of Singapore Seng Sapphire by Han May Star (1985) of Emerald Hill by Stella Emily Kon

THAILAND ไทย page 6 B angkok is the capital and largest city in Thailand. Also it has the longest name of a city in the world. The full ceremonial name of Bangkok is: “Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahidol Pop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchawiwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.” Thai people often use the name Krung Thep (City of The estimated 90- Angels) when referring to Bangkok. Because Bangkok has 95% of the the longest name of a city in the world, Krung Thep acts as its abbreviation. Krung means City and Thep means Angel. population of Thailand are Buddhists therefore the Thailand’s main religion is Buddhism. Ratchaphruek or Cassia Fistula This is Thailand's national tree and flower. It is also known as the ‘royal tree’ that produces beautiful cascading yellow flowers from March to May.

page 7 My Beloved Thai Once the culture is preserved The people are already rich Once the nature is reserved Green are mountains, blue is beach Religion can’t save a soul But I believe faith is Neither the temples and halls Only the heart is His But the beauty of your place Catches the eyes and heart Seeing your richness in a gaze Wakes the dreams to start I’ve listed your wonderful name For I will come to you and fly I wanted to feel your flame You’re the dream, my beloved Thai Written by: Hazel Merza

UNCLE HO page 8 Vietnam Vietnam is known as a tropical country and is greatly impacted by the monsoon, characterized by many sunny days, rainfall and high humidity. However, snow isn’t imposible with the right time and place. Sa Pa is a mountainous place that drops temperature down below 0 between December and February. Not cave but CAVE! The biggest cave in the world is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province of Vietnam. Approximately 5.5 miles long, 650ft wide, and 500ft tall offers spectacular and enormous opportunities for cave explorers and a sight for visitors. Ho Chi Minh, the first president of According to the Vietnam, also known as Uncle Ho, UK-based Happy died in 1969, and his embalmed body is now displayed in a mausoleum in Planet Index, Ha Noi capital. Visitors are not allowed Vietnam is ranked to pause to take a picture and are 5th happiest nation in the world and expected to move along while second – in the Asia watching. The mausoleum is usually closed from September to December Pacific region in because the body is brought to Russia 2016. They are described as an for annual maintenance. optimistic and happy nation.

Victoria Llosala Althea Angela Malla PROJECT HEADS & LAYOUT ARTISTS RESEARCHERS & CONTENT WRITERS Angel Rhey Llanto Cindy Makalintal Rosemarie Marfil Pauline Maristela Hazel Merza

REFERENCES https://facts.net/philippines-facts/ https://fanclubthailand.co.uk/45-interesting-and-fun-facts-about-thailand/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-10-best-books-in- philippine-literature/ https://theworldpursuit.com/facts-about-singapore/ https://www.guidemesingapore.com/business-guides/immigration/get-to- know-singapore/a-brief-history-of-singapore https://www.britannica.com/place/Singapore/The-people https://www-lifestyleasia- com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/culture/the- arts/what-is-sing-lit-singaporean-authors-define/amp/? amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D# aoh=16518583638807&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp _tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lifestyleasia. com%2Fsg%2Fculture%2Fthe-arts%2Fwhat-is-sing-lit-singaporean- authors-define%2F https://theculturetrip.com/asia/singapore/articles/10-essential-poems- from-singapore/ https://nuspress.nus.edu.sg/products/if-we-dream-too-long-new-edition https://positiveleepeilin.com/top-3-childrens-books-about- singapore/#:~:text=The%20Adventures%20of%20Mooty%20is,insects%20 who%20also%20live%20there. 15 Interesting, Unusual and Fun Facts About Vietnam. (n.d.). 12go. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://12go.asia/en/vietnam/interesting-facts Brief history of Vietnam. (n.d.). ONSULATE OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM IN NEW YORK, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.vietnamconsulate- ny.org/about/2/brief-history-of-vietnam.html Vietnamese literature. (n.d.). Britannica. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/art/Vietnamese-literature