A Heartwarming Counter as President Prabowo Subianto Sings National Songs with Cilacap Students

President Prabowo Subianto inspects the renovation of educational facilities at Cilacap High School 1, Cilacap regency, Central Java province, Wednesday (04/29). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

The courtyard of Cilacap High School 1, Cilacap regency, Central Java province, took on a different atmosphere when President Prabowo Subianto inspected the renovation of educational facilities on Wednesday (4/29).

Amid the official agenda on enhancing the quality of education, a warm moment unfolded that will linger in the students’ memory.

At the end of his remarks, President Prabowo Subianto invited the students to give him a simple yet meaningful “gift” by singing national songs together.

“May I ask for a gift from you? I would like you to sing national songs for me,” he said, drawing an enthusiastic response from the students.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya then led hundreds of students in singing “Indonesia Pusaka” (Indonesia, the Heritage) in unison, followed by “Rayuan Pulau Kelapa” (Allure of Kelapa Island) and “Tanah Airku” (My Homeland).

Their loud, enthusiastic voices echoed through the courtyard, creating an atmosphere filled with emotion and pride, before the President invited everyone present to honor their teachers by singing “Hymne Guru” (Teacher’s Hymn).

“There is no great nation without great teachers. So, to honor our teachers, let us sing “Hymne Guru”. You know it, right?” the President said.

Among the students, eleventh-grader student Galea Femme Ramadhantya Prastanto was among those who had unforgettable experience, as she was spontaneously invited to come forward and sing alongside the President.

“Honestly, I was shaking and shocked when I was called to the front. I tried my best to sing even though my feelings were a mix of joy and nervousness. I was able to stand beside Mr. Prabowo Subianto and yeah, that was great,” she said.

She also said it was an honor and a source of pride for her school to be visited by the Head of State, and that she and her friends welcomed him with great enthusiasm.

“We, the students, were also very excited to welcome the President. I happened to be standing in the front row when I was called up to sing the Indonesia Pusaka song,” she said.

Another student, M. Abdan Syakuro, who also had the chance to sing beside the President, shared a similar sentiment.

“I was really surprised. Anyone in my position would feel the same, because we were singing next to the number one person in Indonesia. I was certainly very happy and proud to sing beside Mr. Prabowo,” he said.

More than just a working visit, this moment of togetherness became a warm encounter between the nation’s leader and the young generation. The songs they sang not only stirred nostalgia but also rekindled a sense of patriotism in the students’ hearts.

Amid the Government’s broader efforts to improve educational infrastructure, this moment showed that nation-building is not only about physical development, but also about touching hearts, nurturing a spirit of nationalism, honoring teachers, and inspiring Indonesia’s future. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (JAS/EP)