Franciscus Sakfiris Pahabolisage and Stincek Laramiapa, two high school students from Papua, expressed their pride and excitement at being selected to join Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebrations as members of the elite national flag-raising troop, Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka (Paskibraka). They had the honor of participating in the ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta alongside President Prabowo Subianto.
Franciscus, representing Papua Pegunungan Province, and Stincek, representing Papua Tengah Province, expressed their gratitude and happiness for the opportunity to be part of such a significant event. They both went through a rigorous selection process, starting at the district level and progressing to the national level. Franciscus mentioned the challenges he faced during the physical training, as it was something new to him and required a lot of adjustment.
Stincek, on the other hand, shared her commitment to delivering the best performance possible on the big day. She expressed her pride in representing her province and the nation, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and unity among the Paskibraka members from all 38 provinces.
Despite feeling nervous about meeting the President in person and performing on August 17, both Franciscus and Stincek were filled with excitement and joy at the thought of being part of such a prestigious event. They are grateful for the opportunity and determined to make their country proud.
The Paskibraka experience has not only been a source of pride for these two students but has also taught them valuable lessons in teamwork, unity, and camaraderie. They look forward to raising the national flag with honor and dignity, representing their provinces and the nation with the utmost respect and dedication.
