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 (🇸🇬 Singapore, 19 August 1995)

Education



 * First university in Asia - University of Santo Tomas (🇵🇭 Philippines, 1611)
 * First English medium school in Southeast Asia - Penang Free School (🇲🇾 Malaysia, 1816)
 * First Asian and Southeast Asian to be admitted to Harvard University - Fe del Mundo (🇵🇭 Philippines, 1936)

Energy

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

Exploration

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

Awards

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

Journalism

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

Theater arts

 * First Southeast Asian to win a Tony for Best Actress - Lea Salonga (🇵🇭 Philippines, 1991)

Music

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

Finance and commerce

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

Literature

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

Politics and government

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

Science and technology

 * First submarine assembled in Southeast Asia: KRI Alugoro (405) (🇮🇩 Indonesia, 2021)

Olympic Games

 * First Southeast Asian to win a medal at the Olympics - Teófilo Yldefonso, swimming bronze (🇵🇭 Philippines, 8 August 1928)
 * First Southeast Asian Olympic champion - Susi Susanti, badminton gold (🇮🇩 Indonesia, 4 August 1992)
 * First Southeast Asian country to participate at the Summer Olympics - The Philippines, 5 July 1924
 * First Southeast Asian country to participate at the Winter Olympics - The Philippines, 3 February 1972

World Championships

 * First male Artistic Gymnastics World Champion from Southeast Asia - Carlos Yulo, floor exercise (🇵🇭 Philippines, 2019)

Others

 * First professional basketball league in Asia and Southeast Asia - Philippine Basketball Association (🇵🇭 Philippines, 9 April 1975)
 * First Southeast Asian country to host the Asian Games - The Philippines, 1 May 1954
 * First Southeast Asian country to host the Youth Olympic Games - 🇸🇬 Singapore, 14 August 2010

Transportation

 * First airport in Asia - Don Mueng International Airport (🇹🇭 Thailand, 1914)
 * First Rapid transit system in Southeast Asia - Manila Light Rail Transit (🇵🇭 Philippines, 1984)