Danlantamal IX Brigadier General (Brig. Gen) Said Latuconsina Opens Festival of Panggayong in Negeri Tengah-Tengah, Central Maluku Regency
reported by: Liu Setiawan
Maluku, April 14, 2024/Indonesia Media – Commander of Ambon Naval Base (Danlantamal) IX Brigadier General (Brig. Gen) Said Latuconsina preserves original culture and tradition of Maluku by opening a festival of Panggayong Perahu Belang in Hukehare beach, Negeri Tengah-Tengah, Salahutu district, Central Maluku regency.
An event of Sai Pahari (Panggayong Manggurebe) or rowing game itself is the original culture of Maluku which has existed a long time ago. Especially the culture of Negeri Tengah-Tengah which has been a vacuum in society for more than 30 years. And fortunately, the game has just been revived for the last two years. The game of Panggoyong Perahu Belang took place for two days and attended by sixteen teams among the whole clan and village in Negeri Tengah-Tengah.
Brig. Gen Said Latuconsina and the head of branch coordinator (Korcab) IX Jalasenastri fleet base (DJA) III and other officials was received warmly by the villagers of Negeri Tengah-Tengah when entering the village. The dance of hadrat of youth community.
On this occasion, Danlantamal IX was accompanied by the head of Korcab IX, DJA III, Mrs. Widiya Said Latuconsina opened the festival symbolically. Brig. Gen Said Latuconsina also got on the boat to make a flag-off towards the participants from the starting line.
Danlantamal IX delivered a speech, stating that the festival is a culture and tradition which has to be preserved historically. And the festival should be organized professionally so that it would give value to the people such as marine tourism promotion, prospective local economy. Yet it will promote the culture of Negeri Tengah-Tengah by organizing the festival annually. Indonesian National Military-Naval Force (TNI AL), through Lantamal IX is ready to support the event which gives a meaning of marine
The festival of Panggayong Perahu Beland seemed to be cheerful after villagers’ enthusiasm, coming to see and give full support to the team participating in the festival. The big crowd of villagers, showing happiness if the team’s boat which was supported by them, was leading. The crowd also gave yells to the participants who struggled and made an attempt to win the game.
The event was attended also by Laksma TNI Efendi Maruapei S.H., M.H. who currently is serving in TNI AL,as the Head of High-ranking military prosecutor (Kaodmilti) 1 Medan, who is a native of Negeri Tengah-Tengah. The festival Sai Pahari was organized in a series of events “Tengah-Tengah Ask People back home.” Danlantamal IX hoped that the festival would keep improving and would be participated by more from other villages. (LS/IM)