Tumpeng and Paskibra: Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day in Manila
Last August 17, the Indonesian Embassy in Makati was transformed into a celebration venue for Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day. The atmosphere buzzed with equal parts excitement and patriotism as the Paskibra, the Indonesian Flag Hoisting Troop, took their positions. With astonishing precision, the flag-raising ceremony was conducted by groups of 17, 8, and 45 men and women – human representations of the day of Independence: August (8), 17, 1945.
Symbolism runs deep in Indonesia’s culture and even infrastructure. Their National Monument (Monas) dedicated to their Independence also carries plenty of symbolic dimensions that represent the date – the museum is 80 meters square, the gold “flame” is 17 meters high when measured from the viewing platform, its coating is 45 kilograms of gold leaf, and the base of the monument is 45 meters square. This is just one example of how mindful their nation is when it comes to honoring their historical events.
During the event at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, Ambassador Agus Widjojo, stood tall, as he shared a message that bridged their country’s rich past with its ambitious future. “Indonesia’s independence celebration is carrying the theme, ‘Nusantara Baru, Indonesia Maju (New Archipelago, Advanced Indonesia),'” he said. “It reflects the vision of the future of Indonesia that combines the history and culture of the archipelago yet focuses on progress and development.”
Aside from the celebrations, His Excellency’s message was a vision of a modern Indonesia that refuses to sacrifice their cultural heritage on the altar of advancement.
As the Paskibra hoisted the iconic red and white flag of Indonesia, we couldn’t help but draw parallels to the Philippines’ own struggle for independence. After all, we both share a history of colonial rule which we broke free from thanks to our ancestors' determination to achieve freedom for our nations.
Dutch vs. Spanish Rule
Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule for over three centuries; while the Philippines found itself under the thumb of the Spaniards. The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, began its colonization of Indonesia in the early 17th century, turning the archipelago into a spice trade powerhouse. Meanwhile, the Philippines became a Spanish colony in 1565, with Manila serving as the epicenter of the galleon trade between Asia and the Americas.
Despite different colonizers, both countries experienced similar exploitation of natural resources and local labor. The Dutch implemented the "cultuurstelsel" or cultivation system in Indonesia, forcing farmers to grow cash crops for export. They had to dedicate 20% of their land to growing cash crops, such as coffee, sugar cane, and indigo. In the Philippines, the Spanish introduced the "encomienda" system, which wasn't too different – it granted Spanish colonizers the right to collect tribute from the natives in exchange for their protection and Christian instruction.
Sukarno & Rizal
Every revolution has its heroes, and both Indonesia and the Philippines had larger-than-life figures who became the face of their respective movements. In Indonesia, Sukarno was a charismatic orator who led the movement for independence. While the Philippines has Jose Rizal, the polymath and Renaissance Man who became the country’s national hero because his writings sparked the flame of revolution.
Born in 1901, Sukarno was a force of nature who founded the Indonesian National Party in 1927. He spent years in and out of Dutch prison for his nationalist activities. Jose Rizal, on the other hand, was born in 1861. He was also imprisoned as his novels, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” both exposed the abuse Filipinos experienced under Spanish colonial rule. Rizal was executed by firing squad, while Sukarno eventually became Indonesia’s first president.
Journey to Independence
Days after Japan’s surrender in World War II, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia’s independence with a short and to-the-point proclamation – in fact, the text was less than 50 words long!
“We, the people of Indonesia, hereby declare the independence of Indonesia. Matters which concern the transfer of power and other things will be executed by careful means and in the shortest possible time. Djakarta, 17 August 1945. In the name of the people of Indonesia, [signed] Soekarno—Hatta,” the proclamation said, translated in 1948.
Following this proclamation was a four-year struggle until the Netherlands, after much international pressure, transferred sovereignty at the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference on November 2, 1949.
The Philippines, however, had a much more complicated journey. From 1896 to 1898, the Philippine Revolution was a bloody war that resulted in the death of nearly 30,000 Filipino soldiers, not counting civilian deaths. On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence but it didn’t end there. Neither Spain nor the United States recognized this declaration, and Spain only ceded rule to the United States through the Treaty of Paris. After struggles between America and the Philippines, the United States granted independence on July 4, 1946. For years, this date was the Independence Day of the Philippines, same as America, until 1962 when then President Diosdado Macapagal moved it back to June 12.
Post-Independence Challenges
After achieving independence, both Indonesia and the Philippines found themselves in the crosshairs of Cold War politics. Indonesia, under Sukarno's leadership, took a non-aligned stance, famously hosting the Bandung Conference in 1955 which brought together newly independent Asian and African nations.
The Philippines, with its strong ties to the U.S., took a decidedly pro-Western stance. The country became a key ally in the fight against communism in Southeast Asia, hosting major U.S. military bases until the early 1990s.
These two countries decided to go to opposite ends of the geopolitical spectrum during the height of the Cold War. Indonesia’s Sukarno famously told the United States to “go to hell with your aid!” and withdrew from the United Nations (UN). Meanwhile, the Philippines was nicknamed “America’s Boy in Asia.” However, the Philippines also attended and supported the Bandung Conference – General Carlos Romulo represented the country as a seasoned diplomat and foreign secretary.
Celebrating Independence Day
Now that this important history has been laid out, it’s time to talk about how our two nations celebrate our hard-earned freedom. As The Beat Asia witnessed at the Indonesian Embassy celebration in Manila, their day starts with a flag-raising ceremony. The Paskibra’s performance is a sight to behold, a well-choreographed routine handled with military precision.
Another key aspect of their celebration is the cutting of the “Tumpeng,” a cone-shaped rice dish. Like cutting a birthday or wedding cake, the tumpeng also holds meaning as it symbolizes gratitude. While it’s not a sweet pastry, we were just as thrilled with the idea of being served a mountain of fragrant rice surrounded by Indonesian dishes.
In the Philippines, Independence Day is marked by parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and historical reenactments. The President traditionally leads a flag-raising ceremony at Rizal Park in Manila, paying homage to Jose Rizal's crucial role in the country's path to independence.
As we reflect on the journeys of these two proud nations, we can't help but marvel at the twists and turns of history. During these dates, we remember the fallen who sacrificed everything to achieve independence and our heroes who fought – with words and diplomacy, but also those who weren’t afraid to risk their lives during the wars.
While recalling history and paying tribute to heroes is an important aspect of paying respect to Indonesia’s Independence Day, at the end of the day – as their event in Manila proved – celebrating also means eating tumpeng, hoisting the flag, watching a Gitek Balen performance. It’s about being proud of your culture; it’s about syukuran (thanksgiving). Lastly, it’s about making sure that after today, every person should be proud of their roots and represent their country by excelling in their lives, whether it’s work, studies, talents, and more.
In the words of Ambassador Agus, let's continue to "unite and contribute to the development" of our nations, "wherever you are and whatever profession and role as children of the nation you may have."
Merdeka! Kalayaan! To freedom!
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