Two high school students from Papua recently had the privilege of participating in Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebrations as members of the prestigious Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka (Paskibraka) at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta alongside President Prabowo Subianto. Franciscus Sakfiris Pahabolisage from Papua Pegunungan Province and Stincek Laramiapa from Papua Tengah Province expressed their pride and excitement at being selected for this honor.
Franciscus, a student at SMA Negeri 1 Wamena, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the flag-raising ceremony, something he had only seen on TV or his phone before. He acknowledged the rigorous selection process from the district to the national level, highlighting the physical challenges he faced during training.
Stincek, representing Papua Tengah Province, shared her commitment to delivering her best performance on the big day. She expressed her initial doubts about reaching the national level but now feels thrilled to be part of the Paskibraka team and to have built strong relationships with fellow participants from all 38 provinces.
Both students emphasized the importance of teamwork, unity, and camaraderie during their training. Stincek admitted to feeling nervous about performing in front of the President on August 17, but her excitement and pride outweighed her nerves.
The two students expressed their gratitude to President Prabowo for the opportunity and their determination to make their country proud on Independence Day. Their journey from Papua to Jakarta symbolizes the diversity and unity of Indonesia as a nation.