Bersama in the Bay unites Southeast Asian communities in San Leandro

About 200 people gathered in San Leandro on May 17 for Bersama in the Bay, a cultural celebration of Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean heritage. The event mixed food, performances and hands-on activities to strengthen community ties in the Bay Area.

Why it matters: - Bersama in the Bay brought together Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean communities in the Bay Area around shared heritage and cultural exchange. - The event created a public space for families, professionals and community leaders to connect through food, music, art and tradition. - Organizers said the gathering supports people-to-people ties and broader Southeast Asian cultural understanding in the region.

What happened: - Bersama in the Bay was held May 17, 2026, at Titan Auditorium in Marina Community Center in San Leandro. - About 200 guests attended the evening celebration. - The program featured traditional food, live performances, hands-on activities, music, games, networking and a fashion show. - The event was hosted by SingaporeConnect, the Malaysian Professional & Business Association and the Indonesian Professionals Association San Francisco.

The details: - Attendees painted a shared batik with iRidescent Batik Studio to mark the event. - Indonesia Lighthouse led guests in playing the angklung, a bamboo musical instrument. - Kampong Collective hosted “Kampong in a Basket,” which invited guests to share nostalgic stories and play childhood games. - Many guests wore kebaya, batik and other traditional clothing. - A Baba Nyonya-inspired photo backdrop and batik table décor shaped the visual theme. - The menu included ketupat sayur, beef rendang, Nyonya kuih lapis and iced chendol. - The food selection was meant to reflect the shared and distinct culinary traditions of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. - Lucky draw prizes were handed out during the evening and were sponsored by community partners. - Distinguished guests included Yohpy Ichsan Wardana, Craig Lim, Mohd. Hamim Hamdan Mustafa, Juan González III, Mark Chandler and Daryl Png. - The event was hosted by Mark Sin, Manoharan Narayanan and Felita Setiadi, who represented David Widjaja.

Between the lines: - The event leaned on participatory culture, not just passive entertainment, to help guests engage with heritage in a memorable way. - The mix of diplomatic, civic and community leaders suggests the gathering was also a soft-power and diaspora-networking moment. - The strong emphasis on shared foods, songs and crafts points to a deliberate message: the three communities are distinct, but closely connected. - Manoharan Narayanan said the Bersama event was an opportunity for communities to come together and enjoy common heritage, “sprinkled with diversity.” - Mark Sin said the event showed what communities can accomplish when they come together with shared purpose, trust and heart. - Emcee Semara Hassan said, “We are not only neighbors, but we are all family.”

What’s next: - Bersama in the Bay plans to continue celebrating Southeast Asian heritage through future collaborative events. - High-resolution photos and B-roll footage are available upon request. - The event was supported by the Singapore Global Network, a division of the Singapore Economic Development Board. - SGN said it connects professionals, friends and communities around the world with Singapore at its heart. - More information is available through Singapore Global Network. - Social channels listed in the release include SingaporeConnect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook group.

The bottom line: - Bersama in the Bay used food, performance and hands-on traditions to turn cultural pride into community connection in San Leandro.