Central Luzon State University (CLSU), through the International Affairs Office (IAO), successfully concluded its first Cultural Exchange Program titled “Marching the Javanese Vibrant Program” in partnership with Universitas Semarang (USM) in Central Java, Indonesia, with four Bachelor of Arts in Literature of the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) students serving as the pioneering batch of CLSU delegates.

Over a span of three weeks, the students immersed themselves in a wide array of academic and cultural activities, including BIPA (Indonesian Language for Foreigners) classes, sit-ins at Sendratasik classes, educational tours to local museums and historical sites, cultural fieldwork, and engagement in vibrant traditions such as Tanam Padi, Bajak Sawah, Lerep sessions, cultural outings, and even broadcasting at USM TV.

“If there was one thing I commend about the program, it is the fact that it remained true to its aim—to make its participants see the ‘vibrance’ of Javanese culture,” shared Jose Emmanuel Mico, one of the participating students. Through this firsthand immersion, the students engaged deeply in intercultural learning, reflecting on their identity, culture, and academic pursuits in global contexts.

In partnership with the Semarang Arts Council, students also participated in “Liter‘art’ure: North-South Arts Between Us”, a three-day cultural festival in Kota Lama where they performed original Filipino poems written in diasporic and cross-cultural themes. “From that point on, I left a piece of me in Kota Lama, one that salutes and stands with the community that reignited my hopes for my art and the bigger social impacts it represents,” Mico added.

The delegates also initiated community service projects—teaching Filipino history, language, and national symbols to senior high school students and daycare learners, and participating in environmental initiatives like making eco-bricks from plastic waste. Ferdinne Julia Cucio described it as “engaging in social activities with locals of varied demographics” while also “practicing Bahasa Indonesia” learned through BIPA classes, making every interaction a moment of intercultural connection.

The connection the CLSU students built with the Indonesian student volunteers and the staff of the USM International Office left a meaningful impression on the CLSU students. “The hospitality of the Indonesians we met was beyond any I have experienced before,” said Nathaniel Piedad. The students were warmly received by Ms. Anandha S.S., M.Pd., Coordinator for International Programs and Global Partnership of USM’s International Office. They were also formally welcomed by USM Rector Dr. Supari, S.T., M.T., IO Director Mr. Faisal Yusuf, and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Budi Wahjuningsih, M.P., who expressed excitement and optimism about strengthening academic and cultural collaboration with CLSU.

As part of their reintegration activity and commitment to contributing to the university, the CLSU delegates will conduct a seminar and sharing session with IAO Coordinators and the broader CLSU community. This initiative seeks to inspire fellow students, encourage participation in future international mobility programs, and support CLSU’s long-term internationalization efforts by fostering institutional memory and sustainable engagement.

This initiative was made possible through a bilateral agreement initiated in 2024 by Dr. Emil F. Ubaldo, Chief of the Mobility and Intercultural Exchange Unit of CLSU-IAO. The agreement stemmed from ties formed during CLSU’s participation in the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) Discovery Camp hosted by ITS Surabaya and Universitas Semarang.

The program was organized and facilitated by the Outbound Mobility Committee, composed of Dr. Parsons N. Hail (Director, International Affairs Office), Dr. Emil F. Ubaldo, Dr. Mercedita M. Reyes (Head, Department of English, CASS), and Ms. Patricia Anne Martinez (IAO Coordinator, CASS).