Marissa Haque: Actress, producer, lawyer By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA(JP): Don't mess around with Marissa. At 33, Marissa Haque Fawzi is more than a famous model and film actress, she is a lawyer and the president of the Rana Artha Mulia production house. Marissa, a graduate of the School of Law at the University of Trisakti in Jakarta, isn't content with her law degree and is now planning to study communications at the graduate school of the University of Indonesia.

'Sinetron' and the television industry By Marselli Sumarno JAKARTA (JP): Sinetron, the Indonesian acronym for sinema electronik which includes television dramas and mini-series, debuted in Indonesia in 1980. The term is often misused to encompass non-cinematic TV programs like situation comedies. This explains why Indonesian film directors like the late Arifin C. Noer do not agree with the title sinetron for TV movies or serial. They prefer lakon televisi (television drama).

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fit with Berty Tilarso 7:40 TV Series: Space Keteers 8:05 Pariwisata Program 8:35 Children Stories 9:00 People and Events 9:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 9:45 Indonesian Music: Album Kita 10:45 Youth Program: Temu Remaja 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 12:45 p.m.

Big-game hunters pay to conserve wildlife By Megan Lewis BIRCHENOUGH, Zimbabwe (Reuter): Safari hunters are paying fat fees for the privilege of killing African big game under a unique plan to ensure the species' long-term survival. High-paying hunters on privately owned ranches known as conservancies are tracking down lions, elephants and other game for fees ranging from US$5,000 to $40,000.

Agung Rai Museum: A wealth of Balinese culture By Benito Lopulalan UBUD, Bali (JP): Some people follow their dreams. Others discover, or invent dreams in order to have a fulfilling life. Bali's artists are fortunate to have someone with a strong determination to make their dreams come true. Agung Rai has been dreaming of his own museum of arts for a long time. "It has to be Balinese in nature and international in gesture," he said in a Bali-based travel magazine in 1992.

Hurrah for the salesmen JAKARTA (JP): Parties are usually laid back, where liquor and gossip flow freely. Somehow, this party was stuck. Luckily, Samur, the spark, joined us at this point. "Oh, It is about salesmen, is it?" Samur was an old saw, the "Don't ask, he will tell" type. He did not wait for an answer. "Well," he continued, "I came across a very interesting salesman. He was dynamic; rather surprisingly smart without alienating." "Get to the point, Samur," said a grouch.

Telephone bill payment From Kompas Due to our busy schedule, we only managed to pay our telephone bill on Nov. 20. Unfortunately, there were some problems with the computer system at the Cikini branch of Bank Ekspor Impor that day. We were asked to write down our telephone number on a piece of paper, which was then stamped by the bank in order to avoid being fined by the telephone company. To our disappointment, on the following day the bank only gave us the blue receipt.

Fahlan retains WBF title BANGKOK (AFP): World Boxing Federation (WBF) Thai flyweight champion Fahlan Sakkhririn retained his title here yesterday, defeating No. 9 Mexican contender Jose "Ray" Ramirez on a unanimous points decision. The 29-year-old Fahlan connected in the first and second rounds of the 12-round bout, landing left hooks to the face to send Ramirez, 24, down for eight counts in both rounds.

A showing of Australian fashion By Veronica Soediro JAKARTA (JP): It was a perfect setting. Beautiful paintings by Donald Friend, an Australian artist spellbound by Balinese culture, were displayed around the residence of the Australian ambassador on Jl. Teuku Umar in Central Jakarta. The relaxed, friendly ambiance united with beautiful people in beautiful clothes made time fly by too swiftly. The Australian Fashion Extravaganza successfully won the audiences' favor.

Aga Khan Award for airport presented By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): This past week, the attention of observers of architecture of the Islamic world has been centered on Indonesia. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was presented in the Kraton of Surakarta, in Solo, Central Java last night. As the guests to the ceremonies arrived in Jakarta, they literally descended upon one of the twelve recipients of the largest architectural prize in the world, with awards totaling up to US$500,000.

Restore teachers' dignity, Soeharto tells the nation SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): President Soeharto urged the nation yesterday to restore the respect and dignity that teachers once commanded in society. Speaking during a commemoration of National Teachers Day, Soeharto said most young people now shun the profession because of the low pay associated with teaching jobs.

'Sinetron' popular despite cynical view By Rita A. Widiadana Some love it, others call it garbage. The fact is, Indonesian sinetrons have been able to capture large TV audiences, both here and in several neighboring countries. The following story examines the booming sinetron industry: its history, its problems and its future. More stories on Page 7. JAKARTA (JP): They are tacky, low-standard products. They are vulgar. They have no artistic or social value. They are garbage.

John Senden claims his second title despite poor shots JAKARTA (JP): Overnight leader John Senden of Australia ended his three-day performance at the US$250,000 Tugu Pratama PGA Asian Tour with shaky golf yesterday, but this did not stop him from claiming his second career title. Senden tallied four birdies and four bogeys in yesterday's final round for a lackluster par 72 and a total 279, but remained two strokes ahead of Felix Casas of the Philippines who also carded a par 72 yesterday.

Ratings crucial to stations' incomes JAKARTA (JP): Yuli Ismartono, the public relations manager of private television station SCTV, said that ratings are very important in television. Ratings, she said, influence a TV station's income from commercials. A top-rated program draws heaps of commercials. The rate for a 30-second commercial during a top-rated program ranges between Rp 8 million (US$4,000) and Rp 10 million ($5,000).

'Sinetron' can be high-quality works By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): A sinetron television drama can be as artistic as a wide-screen film if it is properly made by talented film makers, insisted noted playwright and film director Nano Riantiarno. According to Nano, sinetron is an alternative media for film makers to express their artistic skills which have been blocked by the pitiful condition of the national film industry.

Guess What? Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat could not hide his fascination during the opening of the Karya Prajurit painting exhibition last Saturday. He inspected each painting meticulously. "The paintings really show that they are created by soldiers. The lines are steady and clear. Some painters make people look like apes," he commented, which prompted laughter from the other guests at the opening. The minister said he admired the soldiers' work.

Teater Koma stages 'Semar Gugat' JAKARTA (JP): Not to be deterred by the previous bannings of its works, Teater Koma is currently staging its 78th production titled Semar Gugat at the Graha Bhakti Budaya in the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Arts Center. Semar Gugat (Semar Remonstrates) is adapted from various myths about the character Semar, a reincarnated god and servant at the royal palace, from the Javanese version of the Mahabharata.

Women have mixed opinions of television dramas By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): When you tune in to a sinetron, do you like what you see? Not State Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi, who publicly declared her disdain for the mini-series' portrayals of women. "They degrade the role of women," Mien was quoted as saying by Antara, elaborating that women are portrayed as "dead commodities" who are the source of societal problems. Do other women agree?

Competition help local designers gain name By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): A satellite dish, a rattan mat and a plastic web: household appliances or the latest fashions? Both, according to the finalists of the Concours International de Jeunes Createurs de Mode, to be held in Paris in December. Sponsored annually by the Femina Group, the qualifying competition held at the Hilton hotel last Thursday produced ten contestants for the Paris finals.

Australia, Indonesia, modernity and breastfeeding By Alison and Rob Goodfellow NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia (JP): In the past, many people innocently believed that among the blessings of modern science was a recipe for infant formula so close to mother's milk that the two were almost indistinguishable. Many mothers now know differently.

Guess What? Call it a marvel, but between Nov. 17 and Nov. 20 three Indonesian generals opened three painting exhibitions. Maj. Gen. (ret.) Syaukat Banjaransari was first when he opened the Kilas Memori Dalam Swara Warna (Retrospective in Colors) painting exhibition by Dadang MA and Jono Sugiartono. The next day Defense Minister Edi Sudrajat inaugurated Karya Prajurit (The Works of Soldiers) and on Nov. 20 Lt. Gen.

Biodiversity convention recognizes aboriginals By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): It was a perfect tourism photo opportunity. On the first day of the recently-concluded international convention on biodiversity, a group of scantily-clad Mentawai dancers performed for a captive audience in the air-conditioned halls of the Jakarta Convention Center.

Indonesian League kicks off today JAKARTA (JP): Mitra Surabaya and Persipura Jayapura will lock horns at the Gelora 10 November stadium in Surabaya, East Java today to mark the kick-off of the Indonesian soccer league championship new season. Other three matches in Malang, Manado and Medan complete the opening fixtures of the league which is now reduced to 31 clubs.