Indonesian Embassy in Manila Holds Free Pencak Silat Classes

RRI.CO.ID, Manila – The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manila has organized free pencak silat classes as part of efforts to promote Indonesian culture while strengthening soft power diplomacy in the Philippines. According to an official statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, April 2, 2026, a total of 35 participants joined the inaugural class held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Nusantara Room, Indonesian Embassy in Manila.

The activity is a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Philsilat Sports Association. The pencak silat classes are scheduled to be held regularly every Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.

The classes are led by two professional Indonesian trainers, Andi Zulkarnaen and Ellvia Zahara, who currently coach the Philippine national pencak silat team.

During the opening, Acting Head of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, Victorina Dewayani, said that pencak silat is not only a martial art but also a medium for instilling values.

“Pencak silat as a traditional Indonesian sport does not only teach self-defense techniques, but also instills discipline, sportsmanship, and introduces the richness of Indonesian culture,” Victorina Dewayani said.

She added that the establishment of the class is part of the embassy’s flagship program to promote pencak silat in the Philippines as an asset of Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy on the global stage. Participants, who are mostly members of the Indonesian diaspora, showed great enthusiasm during the opening session, which began with basic pencak silat training.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Philsilat Sports Association expressed appreciation for the initiative and noted the high level of interest among Filipinos in learning pencak silat.

“The level of interest among Filipinos in learning pencak silat is very high. However, there are still limited training centers available for the general public,” he said.

He also expressed hope that the classes organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Manila could be expanded to include more participants from the Filipino community.