ASEAN NIGHT Unity in Diversity ~ Mandala's Blog

Unity in diversity

Magandang buhay po!

Hi readers, I guess I’m started speaking tagalog fluently.

- makano po?

- bayad po!

- Walang anuman.

- Maraming salamat po!

Curious? Feel free to google translate it.

(ASEAN Night invitation card)

Today I want to share you my experienced during ASEAN NIGHT that I have attended. What is Asean night? It was annually event which this year was 51^st Founding Anniversary of ASEAN community. This event was concern talk about culture, education, and environment especially on Southeast of Asia. There were some participants from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines. And also some participants from China and Africa attended the event. Joined SEAMEO program was not only to get benefits in teaching practicum, but also I can learn new culture and meet new people around the world.

Photo

(Thai students dancing)

The other Sea-teacher participants and I were invited to attend the event; the invitation card was given the days before August, 20 2018 by Ma’am Leleine. And we were so excited and started to prepare our own show. Rangga, Nita and I planned to do dance and music collaboration since Rangga could not dance Balinese dance. We were practiced for several nights after we arrived from school. Rangga planned to sing “Meong-meong” Balinese traditional song, while Nita and I planned to dance Balinese dance named Parvati Mudra.

(Chinese students dancing)

School time was ended and time to go back to our hostel. We were quickly preparing ourselves, because we should be there at least at 06.00 pm. Nita helped me to put some make up on my face, I helped Rangga get dressed on. The other Sea-teachers participants also were prepared themselves and we went to University RET Cafeteria together. We rode three cycle to get there. And finally we made it even though with little bit sweaty.

(We were Introducing by the MC)

The event was started and the MC was announcing the schedule, the event opened by the president of CLSU itself Dr. Tereso A. Abella and followed by international affair staff, and Ma’am Hiyasmin as the keynote speaker who introduced Philippines culture to us. After the speech was done conducted, we were served to have dinner together. While enjoying our meal, the MC announced some performances that will be done by the ASEAN students. The performances were started with Thai students they were dance a contemporary dance, then continued by Chinese students and they were dance traditional china dance, next was a Vietnamese student sang a Vietnamese traditional song. And last was from Indonesia students. From Indonesia was opened by Zaenun from STKIP Bogor who read a Sunda traditional poem, then continued with Restu and Riza they were dance Borneo traditional dance, followed by Farwa, Rara, and Iqra’s group sang Indonesian traditional songs. And from Gansha University of Education students have last chance to do performances. After announce by the MC Rangga started sang Meong-meong song which the song was children song described about colonized era in Bali. And after Rangga finished singing, he welcomed Nita and I to dance but after he narrated us first. We danced Balinese dance named parvati Mudra which means A goddess named Parvati was went down to earth to save the people from pest, bugs, and plant/animal infection by sent Prince Rare Anggon to control the problem.

(One of SEA-Teacher (Zaenun) Performing)

(I was dancing Parvati Mudra)

The event was continued by listening a speech of a participant from Africa, he came from Rwanda. He did not perform anything but he introduced us about his country in Africa. During Mr. Musa conducting his speech Dr. Gaboy brought us Philippines street food named Balut, a cooked chicken egg with its embryo inside. I ate it and tasted weird, well it was delicious like a steamed of heart or chicken’s lung, and it was so soft. For The event was not just about performances, food, or dance. But more than that how can we learn the diversity and accept others. Respecting others people by spread love and known each other. I was so grateful to know and meet new people, because connection is precious than a price of gold.