Two high school students from Papua participated in Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebrations as members of the 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 for the opportunity. Franciscus mentioned the rigorous selection process and physical training challenges he faced, while Stincek shared her commitment to delivering the best performance. Both students felt honored to represent their province and meet the President in person.
The students emphasized the importance of teamwork and camaraderie during their training with Paskibraka. Despite feeling nervous about performing on August 17, both Franciscus and Stincek were filled with excitement and joy for the opportunity. They expressed gratitude to President Prabowo for selecting them and vowed to make the country proud with their flag-raising duties. Overall, the students from Papua showcased their dedication and determination to excel in their roles as Paskibraka members on Indonesia’s Independence Day.
