Undeterred by Scorching Weather, Bangka Belitung State Polytechnic Staff Complete 81st Anniversary Marching Parade in Bangka Regency
Staff members from the Bangka Belitung State Polytechnic (Polman Negeri Babel) are seen at the starting line of the marching parade, displaying enthusiasm and a spirit of nationalism as they celebrate the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's independence in Bangka Regency.
Staff members of the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic demonstrated a spirit of nationalism by participating in a marching parade held by the Bangka Regency Government in Sungailiat on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's independence.
Around 16 female staff members from Polman Babel enthusiastically participated in the entire parade procession, braving the scorching heat.
Polman Babel Director I Made Andik Setiawan, Ph.D., remarked on the extraordinary spirit shown by the staff who took part in the marching parade, noting that their participation was not driven solely by the goal of winning, but rather by a spirit of nationalism and love for the country.
He added that the women had shown great dedication in attending practice sessions; despite the demands of their primary job responsibilities, they still made time to train and prepare for the parade.
“It is a source of pride to see these women demonstrating such strong nationalism and the courage to test their mental and physical resilience—while also prioritizing their health—through this marching parade,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Tri, a staff member at Polman Babel, described the experience as physically demanding. The route—stretching from the Taman Sari area to the finish line near Jalan Pemuda, close to SMK Negeri 1 Sungailiat—was quite exhausting due to the long distance and scorching weather. “However, we couldn't let fatigue get the better of us; we had to stay fit and healthy,” she said.
Despite the exhaustion, Tri expressed her happiness at participating in the celebration of the Republic of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day, noting the contribution of Polman Babel staff in enlivening the independence festivities alongside the community of Bangka Regency.
"It is certainly gratifying and a great pleasure to participate in celebrating the 81st Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. Moreover, we received support from our leadership, enabling us to join in enlivening the marching parade organized by the Bangka Regency Government," he stated.
He added that the entire team demonstrated great cohesion, successfully completing the route to the finish line despite facing hot weather and a rather grueling journey.
“Praise be to God, we remained strong from start to finish,” he said.
In this regard, the participation of Polman Babel staff in the Independence Day marching parade fostered a spirit of togetherness, nationalism, and love for the nation, while also strengthening camaraderie among the employees,” he explained.
