Two high school students from Papua had the honor of participating in Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebration as part of the Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka (Paskibraka), the elite national flag-raising troop, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta alongside President Prabowo Subianto. Franciscus Sakfiris Pahabolisage, representing Papua Pegunungan Province, and a student at SMA Negeri 1 Wamena, along with Stincek Laramiapa, representing Papua Tengah Province from SMA Negeri 1 Nabire, were filled with pride and excitement on this special occasion.
Franciscus expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating that he was thrilled to witness the event in person after only seeing it on TV or phone screens. He thanked President Prabowo for selecting them and expressed his excitement at meeting the President in person. He recounted the challenging selection process, particularly the physical training, which was a new experience for him.
On the other hand, Stincek shared her commitment to performing at her best before the President and the nation. She mentioned her initial doubts about making it to the national level but emphasized her excitement at being part of the Paskibraka team. Stincek highlighted the importance of teamwork, unity, and camaraderie among the members from all 38 provinces during training.
While feeling nervous about the upcoming performance on August 17, Stincek acknowledged the overwhelming joy and excitement that overshadowed her nerves. Despite the nerves of meeting the President in person, she expressed pride in earning the moment through their hard work and efforts. It was a memorable experience that they will always cherish.
Two Paskibraka Members from Papua Ready to Make Country Proud!
