PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com—Celine Olivia Apriani Theo, a student from SMKN 5 Pontianak, represented West Kalimantan as the flag tray bearer during Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Officials held the event on Monday, August 17.

Celine carried the tray containing the red and white flag as a member of Team Indonesia Berdaulat. She participated during the ceremony marking the seconds of the proclamation.

The assignment placed the vocational school student in one of the most prominent roles. The National Flag Hoisting Team (Paskibraka) performed this role.

Organizers informed Celine of her final assignment on the morning of the ceremony, according to information provided by her school. The decision followed months of training, evaluation and character development rather than a last-minute selection.

Before leaving for national training, Celine had publicly expressed her ambition to take the role.

“I actually wanted to be the tray bearer, but I would remain grateful for whatever duty I received. Reaching the national level was already a significant source of pride for me,” she said in an interview published on June 30.

Celine began the selection process in March 2026 and advanced through the Pontianak city, West Kalimantan provincial and national stages.

Candidates underwent administrative screening, national insight and general intelligence examinations, personality assessments and psychological tests.

The Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) selected 76 young people—one male and one female from each of Indonesia’s 38 provinces—for the 2026 national Paskibraka.

They emerged from an initial pool of 119,441 applicants. 228 candidates reached the central verification stage, according to the official selection figures reported from BPIP’s announcement.

BPIP listed Celine and Mirza Rafi Navazani as West Kalimantan’s representatives. Agency head Yudian Wahyudi said officials conducted the selection “transparently, objectively and professionally” while maintaining fairness and accountability.

Celine previously described the journey as challenging but rewarding.

“I am certainly proud and moved and never expected to reach this point. The journey was difficult, but I am truly grateful,” Celine said.

Before joining Paskibraka, Celine actively pursued music, singing and other performing arts.

Information provided by her school also credits her with second place in a singing category at a 2024 National Student Arts Festival and Competition (FLS2N). She attained this achievement while studying at SMP Negeri 2 Sungai Raya.

The available material did not specify the competition stage at which she received the award.

The Education Ministry describes FLS2N as a national talent-development program designed to provide Indonesian students with opportunities in arts and culture. The ministry has organized the competition since 2008.

SMKN 5 Pontianak praised Celine for bringing recognition to the school, its Paskibraka unit, Vechter Five, and West Kalimantan.

From months of difficult selection to holding the national flag tray at Merdeka Palace, her journey has been a big achievement for her school and province.