List of firsts in Southeast Asia

The following is a list of firsts in Southeast Asia.

Architecture

The following are the first buildings of their type:

• First philatelic museum in Southeast Asia - Singapore Philatelic Museum (, 19 August 1995)

Beauty Pageants

• First international beauty pageant titleholder from Southeast Asia - Gemma Cruz-Araneta (, 14 August 1964)
• First Muslim to win an international beauty pageant from Southeast Asia - Kevin Lilliana ( (, 14 NOvember 2017)
• First Southeast Asia Country to own an international beauty pageant - (, 2001)

Education

• First university in Asia - University of Santo Tomas (, 1611)
• First English medium school in Southeast Asia - Penang Free School (, 1816)
• First Asian and Southeast Asian to be admitted to Harvard University - Fe del Mundo (, 1936)

Energy

• First wind power farm in the region - Bangui Wind Farm (, 20 June 2005)
• First nuclear power plant in the region - Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (,1976)

Exploration

• First Southeast Asian in space - Phạm Tuân (, 6 June 1980)

Entertainment and media

Film

Awards

• First Southeast Asian film to win Palme d'Or at Cannes - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (, 2013)
• First Southeast Asian to win Best Actress at Cannes - Jaclyn Jose (, 2016)
• First Southeast Asian to win Best Director at Cannes - Brillante Mendoza (, 2009)
• First Southeast Asian to win Volpi Cup for Best Actor at Venice Film Festival - John Arcilla (, 2021)

Journalism

• First newspaper published in Southeast Asia - The Prince of Wales Island Gazette (, 1806)
• First commercial television broadcast - Alto Broadcasting System (, 23 October 1953)
• First Southeast Asian to win a Pulitzer Prize - Carlos Rómulo (, 1942)

Theater arts

• First Southeast Asian to win a Tony for Best Actress - Lea Salonga (, 1991)

Music

• First Southeast Asian to win a Grammy - Larry Ramos (, 1963)
• First Southeast Asian act to be nominated at the Billboard Music Awards - SB19 (, 2021)
• First Southeast Asian act to top a Billboard Chart - SB19, Hot Trending Songs Chart (, 2021)

Finance and commerce

• First bank in Southeast Asia - El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel II (now Bank of the Philippine Islands) (, 1 August 1851)
• First beer brewery in Southeast Asia - La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel (, 29 September 1890)

Literature

• First Southeast Asian to win a Pulitzer Prize for Literature - Viet Thanh Nguyen (, 2016)

Medicine

Politics and government

• First President of UN General Assembly from Asia and Southeast Asia - Carlos P. Rómulo (, 1949)
• First elected female President in Asia and Southeast Asia - Maria Corazon Aquino (, 1986)
• First recipient of Nobel Peace Prize from Southeast Asia - Technically: Lê Đức Thọ (, 1973), Officially: Aung San Suu Kyi (, 1991)

Science and technology

• First submarine assembled in Southeast Asia: KRI Alugoro (405) (, 2021)

Sports

Olympic Games

• First Southeast Asian to win a medal at the Olympics - Teófilo Yldefonso, swimming bronze (, 8 August 1928)
• First Southeast Asian Olympic champion - Susi Susanti, badminton gold (, 4 August 1992)
• First Southeast Asian country to participate at the Summer Olympics - , 5 July 1924
• First Southeast Asian country to participate at the Winter Olympics - , 3 February 1972
• First Southeast Asian to win a gold medal at the men's gymnastics of the Olympics - Carlos Yulo (, 3 August 2024)

World Championships

• First male Artistic Gymnastics World Champion from Southeast Asia - Carlos Yulo, floor exercise (, 2019)

Others

• First professional basketball league in Asia and Southeast Asia - Philippine Basketball Association (, 9 April 1975)
• First Southeast Asian country to host the Asian Games - , 1 May 1954
• First Southeast Asian country to host the Youth Olympic Games - , 14 August 2010

Transportation

• First airport in Asia - Don Mueng International Airport (, 1914)
• First Rapid transit system in Southeast Asia - Manila Light Rail Transit (, 1984)

References