Bantul, January 31, 2026 – A warm visit took place at Batik Grilyo, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Seven PNU Philippines students, accompanied by two lecturers from the Philippines, collaborated with students and lecturers from the Civic Education (PKn) Department of Yogyakarta State University (UNY). The group was warmly welcomed by the management of Batik Grilyo. The Filipino students were introduced to the history of batik as a cultural heritage of Indonesia that has been recognized by UNESCO. They had the opportunity to see firsthand the process of making hand-drawn batik and stamped batik, from canting to dyeing, and also had the opportunity to practice batik making themselves. The Philippine delegation was highly enthusiastic about the activity, particularly the batik-making practice. This initiative aims to introduce batik as an Indonesian cultural identity to foreign students and strengthen ties between UNY and Philippine universities through culturally-based activities.
In addition to enriching cultural knowledge, this visit also served as a means to raise global awareness about the importance of preserving local traditions. By involving young people from both countries, this activity emphasized that cultural preservation is not only the responsibility of local communities, but also part of an international movement towards a more inclusive and sustainable world. This visit is expected to be the beginning of broader cooperation between UNY and partner universities in the Philippines, particularly in the fields of citizenship education and cultural preservation. In addition, this activity is expected to foster ongoing collaboration in the fields of education and culture, while strengthening cultural diplomacy as a bridge of friendship between nations.