On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Sabrina Joy S. Tan, a postgraduate student at Universitas Gadjah Mada and an intern at CESASS UGM from the Philippines, led a sharing session to introduce her country to fellow interns. Sabrina began her presentation with an intriguing fact that might surprise those unfamiliar with the Philippines: the country consists of 82 provinces, more than Indonesia. Additionally, she highlighted a unique feature of the Philippine flag: during times of war, the red stripe is displayed on top, whereas during peace, the blue stripe is on top.
Sabrina then discussed several similarities between Indonesia and the Philippines. Both nations experienced Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. Furthermore, they were colonized by European powers: Indonesia by the Dutch since the 16th century and the Philippines by the Spanish also since the 16th century. She also pointed out that both countries boast similar natural landscapes and cultural arts. For example, Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, resembles Mount Mayon in Albay, Philippines. While Indonesia has Raja Ampat, the Philippines has a similar paradise called El Nido. Remarkably, the Philippines also has a musical tradition similar to the Javanese gamelan. Additionally, both languages share common words with identical meanings, such as “gunting” (scissors), “kambing” (goat), “sakit” (sick), “mata” (eye), and “mahal” (expensive).
Following her presentation, a Q&A session and a mini quiz were held for the participants. Those who answered correctly received traditional Filipino snacks as prizes. The event concluded with a group photo session.