Students from 15 Catholic-run junior high schools in Surabaya, capital of East Java province, took part in a fashion show on Friday to celebrate the 77th birthday of a priest from the Congregation of the Mission. The show, which was openeded by Father John Tondowidjojo Tondodiningrat, highlighted clothing made of batik (traditional painted patterned cloth). “Batik is the national identity. As citizens, we must help promote this culture,” the priest, also a professor at several private universities in the town as well as Madiun, said. He said: “Such national identity should not be forgotten since it has beautiful cultural values.”