PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - West Java Deputy Governor Erwan Setiawan emphasized that rapid technological developments must not cause the younger generation to lose their regional cultural identity. He urged that the Sundanese language, arts, and customs be preserved and become an important part of the lives of West Java's younger generation.

"Technology may advance, but we must continue to preserve and nurture our culture and traditions. We want the younger generation of West Java to be proud of their culture," Erwan said while attending the 2026 National Culture Day celebrations and the Sunda Sabuana Award Ceremony at the Cultural Center Building on Jalan Naripan, Bandung City, Sunday (18/10/2026).

According to Erwan, cultural preservation is not just about preserving relics of the past, but also ensuring that the identity and noble values of the Sundanese people remain alive amidst changing times.

He believes that the younger generation needs to know Sundanese, love traditional arts, and apply the values of someah, silih asah, silih asih, silih asuh, and gotong royong in their daily lives.

However, Erwan expressed concern that more and more children are perceived as lacking familiarity with Sundanese culture. One of his concerns is the diminishing exposure to traditional language and arts in schools.

"Earlier, I was chatting with Teh Oki. We, as Sundanese, are currently concerned about the decline of Sundanese culture, with many of our children now not being familiar with Sundanese culture," he said.

Erwan touched on changes in language learning in elementary schools. He noted that Sundanese, which previously held a prominent place after Indonesian, now faces challenges amid the increasing use of foreign languages.

"Previously, in elementary school, our compulsory language after Indonesian was Sundanese, but now it's been replaced by a foreign language. Which language is Sundanese now? And yet, the school is in West Java," he said.

Apart from language, Erwan also highlighted the decreasing recognition of traditional arts, such as Jaipongan dance and Rampak Sekar, which used to be part of extracurricular activities in schools.

He believes schools play a crucial role in fostering pride in regional culture among the younger generation. Sundanese culture not only offers language and arts, but also teaches manners, etiquette, and respect for others.

"Preserving culture does not mean rejecting progress, but rather ensuring that progress does not cause us to lose our identity," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs General TNI (Ret.) Dudung Abdurachman also emphasized the importance of Sundanese cultural values in shaping the character of society.

Dudung describes the character of Sundanese people through their attitude of not underestimating others, being careful with their words so as not to hurt feelings, avoiding bad prejudices, and being willing to help others.

"I hope that with the basis of Sundanese culture, those who speak well, whose behavior is good, that will be the provision, that's why Sundanese people mah tinu panon tara ngaremehkeun batur, tinu mouth/cangkem tara painfulkeun hate batur. Tinu hate is not prejudiced against batur, tah tinu leungeun pretends to be goods bere ka batur, eta Sundanese people tah," he said

This message emphasizes that the progress of a region is not only measured by its mastery of technology, but also by its ability to maintain the character and noble values inherited from its ancestors.

For West Java, the challenge is to ensure that the younger generation is able to keep up with the times without being uprooted from its own cultural roots.