14 juni 2011 01:33

Tugu Village Festival, Jakarta’s Culture with Portuguese Nuances

Jakarta, Indonesia - As a metropolitan city, Jakarta has various cultures and traditions. One of them is the Tugu Village Festival, a part of Jakarta’s culture with Portuguese nuances which held annually in Tugu Church yard in Koja, North Jakarta. This year is the third year the festival held as well as the 500th anniversary of Portuguese arrival in Indonesia.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said it is his honour to inaugurate the event. According to him, this festival is a part of the richness diversities and traditions owned by Jakarta. “I hope this festival can preserve part of Jakarta’s cultures which have Portuguese nuances. This event shows the history of Portuguese cultural influences coming into Indonesia. Obviously, this activity should be empowered to become knowledgeable and also to be the pride of the Indonesian nation,” he stated after inaugurating the festival, Sunday (6/12).

Fauzi added the commemoration of 500-year Portuguese arrival in Indonesia is a good thing. "I feel proud with the presence of Portuguese community in Tugu because now they are part of the Indonesian nation who does not forget the culture of their predecessors. As a Betawinese, I’m inviting every body to continue to preserve this culture,” he told.

In order to promote the Tugu Village existence, North Jakarta Administration City Government set this village as one of the 12 coastal tourism destinations in North Jakarta. By doing so, it is expected can boost the economy of its residents.

Chief of Tugu Big Family Association (IKBT) Andre Missil expressed his gratitude for Jakarta Governor’s attention to his citizens, including the Tugu community. He hopes that in the future, the festival can continue to increase the friendship between Indonesia and Portugal.

Portugal Ambassador for Indonesia Carlos Forta who attended this festival also stated his gratitude to Fauzi Bowo who continues to care about the presence of the Portuguese community in Tugu Village.

On this occasion, Fauzi had the opportunity to play music instrument of Jinbe as a sign the opening of the 2011 Tugu Village Festival. Various activities performed in this festival, such as Portuguese traditional dance of romeros de tugu and cultural arts. There are also exhibitions of ontel bike, photographs, foreign currencies, antiques, culinaries, and so on.

Source: http://www.beritajakarta.com

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