Digos City, Philippines, 17 September 2025 – Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB) Universitas Jenderal Soedirman has once again demonstrated its commitment to expanding its international network by organizing an International Community Service (PkM) activity in the Philippines. The activity, which took place on 15–16 September 2025, was held at three different locations in Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines, namely Bato National High School, Matanao National High School, and the Society of English Language Learners (SELL) at the University of Mindanao (UM) Digos City.
Sastra Inggris lecturers of FIB Unsoed, Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati and Mia Fitria Agustina, pose for a photo with students and teachers of Bato National High School, Digos City, Philippines, after the Indonesian folklore introduction session in the International PkM activity. (photo: International PKM team)
This International PkM activity was carried out by two lecturers from the Sastra Inggris Study Programme of FIB UNSOED who served as speakers, namely Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati and Mia Fitria Agustina. Both are lecturers of the Sastra Inggris study programme who possess expertise in literary studies and Children’s Literature. In the session they delivered, Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati and Mia Fitria Agustina emphasized the important role of literacy, literature, and language in building cross-cultural awareness, as well as encouraging participants to be more open to diversity as a collective strength for the global community.
This International PkM carried the theme “Building Bridges of Understanding: Fostering Cultural Awareness through Community Service”, an idea that emphasizes the importance of building bridges of cross-cultural understanding while strengthening academic and social relations between nations. Through this theme, the community service lecturers aimed to strengthen their tangible contribution to fostering multicultural awareness and expanding the reach of community service to the global arena.
Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati, a lecturer of Sastra Inggris FIB Unsoed, presents material on the importance of literacy and folklore as a bridge for cross-cultural understanding (photo: International PKM team)
One of the main topics presented was the introduction of folklore from Indonesia as a medium for mutual understanding of national cultures. Through folk tales rich in moral values and local wisdom, the speakers introduced the richness of Indonesian traditions while demonstrating how folklore can function as a means of reflecting noble values. By bringing Indonesian folklore together with local Philippine culture, this activity opened up a space for cultural dialogue that strengthened mutual awareness of the importance of respecting differences while finding commonalities. This material was also emphasized as an effective way to increase cultural awareness among students and the academic community in the Philippines, so that both nations can learn from each other and enrich their respective cultural understandings.
The warm smiles of Matanao National High School students alongside speakers from FIB Unsoed, showing their enthusiasm in learning about Indonesian culture through folklore. (photo: International PKM team)
The series of International PkM activities included welcoming remarks, material presentations, interactive discussions, and an open forum that provided a space for dialogue between the community service lecturers, students, and school teachers in attendance. The discussion not only addressed academic perspectives but also explored real-world experiences related to the challenges of cross-cultural communication, interspersed with a Q&A game session where participants had the opportunity to win typical Indonesian souvenirs prepared by the lecturers.
The implementation of this International PkM is a realization of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) or Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between Fakultas Ilmu Budaya UNSOED and the University of Mindanao (UM) Digos College in the field of Community Service. This MoA serves as an umbrella of cooperation that enables both institutions to collaborate and develop sustainable community service programs in the future.
Presentation of certificates of appreciation to FIB Unsoed lecturers as a form of appreciation for their contribution to the International Community Service activities at the University of Mindanao, Digos College. (photo: International PKM team)
Through this International PkM activity, FIB UNSOED not only strengthens academic relations with international partners but also plays a role in building bridges of intercultural understanding. The International PkM activity in the Philippines is concrete proof that the university can be directly present in promoting the strengthening of diversity values, opening up spaces for global collaboration, and providing beneficial academic contributions to the wider community.#
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