There's something about Peggy<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Clearly this is not girl that just wants to have fun. Her role
\nrequires something beyond acting, literally a natural act that
\nonly works well when in touch with one's inner self.<\/p>\n
It is Peggy Melati Sukma, who hosts a television reality show
\ncalled Rejeki Nomplok (Sudden Fortune) on TV7.<\/p>\n
Peggy, who is a political and social science graduate from the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, deals with poverty. And that is a big
\nissue here, a country where more than 135 million population of a
\ntotal 230 million people live on less than US$2 a day.<\/p>\n
This program, although not something novel in terms of theme,
\nbears a degree of honesty and sincerity as it gives no condition
\nnor challenges in order to \"win\" the prize of Rp 5 million for
\nthe needy on each episode.<\/p>\n
Similar charity-style reality television programs on other
\nstations put the potential recipient to a challenge in a bid to
\nget an amount of money.<\/p>\n
\"I understand that the production house, of course, aims to
\ngain benefits and the station also wants to get commercials, but
\nI stress that the people out there must be our primary concern.
\nSo to me, this is a pure charity program.\"<\/p>\n
\"Therefore we don't give them challenges for the sake of
\nmaking the show attractive,\" said Peggy, who is also part of the
\ncreative team.<\/p>\n
Charity and other kinds of social work are no stranger to
\nPeggy's daily life. With a bunch of local celebs or sometimes by
\nherself, she could be found -- with hands full of donations --
\nwhen Jakarta was inundated with flooding or when fire engulfed
\nhomes in a slum neighborhood.<\/p>\n
She was even there in Aceh after the tsunami.<\/p>\n
Additionally, with top quiz presenter Allya Rohali, Peggy
\nestablished a foundation that reaches out to school dropouts.<\/p>\n
But for Rejeki Nomplok she takes to the streets and surprises
\nthe people who will get the fortune. An advanced team has
\nresearched the people -- without their knowledge, of course --
\nand then decides who is getting the money for each episode.<\/p>\n
It is not her decision who gets the money, but Peggy plays
\nnearly the most vital role, giving the soul to the program.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, once the producers wanted me to cry on screen, but
\nI said no. I want this show to be natural. Even if I cry on
\nscreen, I always apologize for being unable to control my
\nemotions. Sometimes things do not go as expected. A mother who
\ngot the money jumped up and down euphorically and shouted 'thank
\nyou' in a cheerful manner. I want to let people express the way
\nthey are,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Somehow, this show also teaches her life values that she feels
\nprivileged to learn from the people whom she meets on the
\nstreets.<\/p>\n
\"I'm ashamed if I complain whenever I stumble over a problem,
\neven over trivial matters, while we know out there many, many
\npeople are facing harder lives than us,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"I always tell the people that they must not stop hoping
\nbecause hope is more powerful than a dream. So people must
\nbelieve in the power of hope.\"<\/p>\n
So, it is better not to ask her what she thinks about people
\nlabeling her show exploitation of the poor or the
\ncommercialization of poverty.<\/p>\n
\"Yeah, I have heard people talking about that. But I also
\nheard a lot how this show inspires people,\" she said.<\/p>\n
In cyberspace, a blogger wrote how he was glued to the
\ntelevision every Friday night, watching Rejeki Nomplok because
\nthis show told more about the human side of the people getting
\nthe fortune.<\/p>\n
Although he was skeptical about \"the capitalistic motives
\nbehind the making of the program, he did support the idea to
\nbring more of the reality of the poor people on screen.\"<\/p>\n
\"Today I learned a lesson from Pak Tompel Saefullah a
\nSelendang Mayang (a kind of dessert made of rice flour and palm
\nsugar) vendor since 1969. He has four daughters and two sons that
\nhe feeds everyday,\" the blogger wrote.<\/p>\n
\"He works night and day, sometimes he has to flee from
\nsecurity officers and public order officials who 'clean up' the
\nstreets from street vendors. He also has to deal with thugs,
\nextorting money from him.\"<\/p>\n
\"Yet, after all the sweat and tears, he only earns Rp 10,000 a
\nday,\" he wrote.<\/p>\n
True to what Peggy desires, she wants to impress people with
\nher spirit. \"To be able to share (with needy people) is a
\nblessing. So, why not start giving?\"<\/p>\n
Rejeki Nomplok is aired on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on TV7
\nat 7:30 p.m.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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