Family matters come first for singer Franky Sahilatua By Endi Aras JAKARTA (JP): Franky Sahilatua faced a hard life in his early childhood. The Surabaya port provided enough lessons in this area to the Ambonese boy, who has rarely visited the land of his ancestors. In the Madura neighborhood of Surabaya, the ballad singer began a new life. He chose to live with music. His two brothers were members of a ship crew in Surabaya, which was understandable because their father worked on ships.

The concept of harm reduction and effects In conjunction with World AIDS Day which falls on Dec.1, AIDS activist Chris W. Green has written the following two articles. JAKARTA (JP): We live in a dangerous world. Almost anything we do results in harm to our bodies, to other humans (living or not yet born) and to our communities. Often there is no way to eliminate these harmful effects, at least without changing totally the way we live and interact with our planet.

Journey into sustainable companies By Hermawan Kartajaya, Leading Service Officer MarkPlus Strategy Consulting Aggressive companies are those that hold strong global competitiveness. But, due to aggressive debt financing or imprudent financial management, they faced financial problems at the onset of the Asian financial crisis.

Art lover Agung Rai passes on his artistic passion to kids Text and photos by Mulkan Salmona UBUD, Bali (JP): For many art lovers, Ubud is their first destination when visiting Bali. Once renowned as the center of the Balinese Renaissance of the arts in the late l920s and l930s, the small and tranquil village of Ubud in Gianyar regency has been transformed as a classy and unique art center, where many local and international artists, writers and scholars live.

Guess What? Nine-year-old singer Sherina has set her sights on being president when she grows up. She recently told journalists she wanted Megawati Soekarnoputri to become president. When asked if Megawati had become president, who should succeed her when her term ended, Sherina replied: "Me." Popular through her song Andai Aku Besar Nanti (When I Grow Up), Sherina is involved in various activities which could help her achieve her goal.

A portrait of a transformation Bridging to the Network Company Transformasi Pos Indonesia Menuju Perusahaan Kelas Dunia (Transformation of Pos Indonesia in Becoming a World Class Company) Written by Hermawan Kartajaya and Yuswohady Taufik Published by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1999 xii and 364 pages It is fascinating to observe the transformation of Pos Indonesia in executing its business model and realizing its vision over the past five years.

E. Java, Irian Jaya shine in national athletics meet JAKARTA (JP): East Java and Irian Jaya vied for supremacy in the medal standings on the second day of the National Track and Field Championships, which is also serving as a qualifying round for the 15th National Games (PON). East Java, which will host PON next year, tops the standings with five golds, four silvers and three bronzes, while Irian Jaya is close on its heels with five golds, three silvers and five bronzes.

The future of AIDS tied up with drug use JAKARTA (JP): I'm angry! For those who know me, that's not unusual, but this time I'm really angry! Why? I've just come from sitting with four young people who have recently found out that they are HIV positive. That means that the virus which causes AIDS is now multiplying in their blood stream, and some time in the future, maybe in ten years time, they'll fall sick. There's no cure for them, just hope. So why am I angry?

E. Asian leaders confident ahead of summit MANILA (AP): Southeast Asian leaders, seeking to ensure economic recovery will gain momentum, arrived Saturday to endorse stronger ties with their northeastern neighbors and efforts to push their agenda with global organizations while making plans for the future. In a further upbeat note, Philippine President Joseph Estrada said China had agreed to halt any further construction in disputed areas of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Eep sees new Indonesia needs hard work By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): The word "reform" was once very popular among people, being used to mark the fall of former president Soeharto after ruling the country for over 30 years. But now Indonesia baru, or new Indonesia, has become the new catchphrase. This new trend has not been missed by political observer Eep Saefulloh Fatah.

Ramayana ballet beautiful but fails to draw crowds By Ahmad Solikhan YOGYAKARTA (JP): In a dark room with white marble floors one suddenly heard the sounds of gamelan. It was a sign that the staging of the Ramayana ballet is about to begin. Earlier, five minutes of slide films on Hindu cultural history were shown on a wide screen on the reliefs that decorate the walls of the Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta.

Mahathir strikes in campaign PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday took his campaign into the home district of his greatest political foe, Anwar Ibrahim, at the tail end of electioneering, which the opposition has denounced as the dirtiest ever. In a speech to voters two days before Monday's crucial general election, Mahathir described Anwar as a former friend and protege.

Sumbanese princess marries American in traditional pomp By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): What does a princess in this day and age do when she decides to marry? She goes and gets married, of course, except that the wedding is less lavish and more modest. When Maria Angeli Dalisay Malo Djakababa, 30, the first granddaughter of the late Raja Yoseph Malo Danggadora of Rara, West Sumba, decided to marry, she did not realize that this would also be the moment when her past would catch up with her.

The people's wishes for a new Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Politicians talk a lot on the subject, but we are yet to hear a clear definition of what the new Indonesia means. In an effort to make a clean break with the past, Indonesians are calling the era a "new" something, just like the coining in 1966 of the term "New Order". The Jakarta Post talks to people from all walks of life to hear their input on what a new Indonesia should be all about.

A guide to corporate values and integrity Power through People and Principles, not Puppets and Prejudices By Vipen Kapur Published by McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 1999 305 pages US$18.50 or Rp 160,000 JAKARTA (JP): Take a bit from Art Buchwald and mix it with some inspiring childhood stories about good repeatedly triumphing over evil. Add to this a permanent student of management and shake it all up with a lot of love for people. And voila!

Brand New Day: The world according to Sting By Devi M. Asmarani JAKARTA (JP): He was born with a cool enough name, Gordon Matthew Sumner, but he prefers to go by the monosyllabic Sting. He was the bassist, lead singer and principal songwriter for one of the world's most famous bands, The Police, but disbanded it at the peak of its success in the 1980s.

Timor mourns slain priests DILI, East Timor (Reuters): Thousands gathered at Dili's cathedral on Saturday to pay their last respects to three slain priests whose bodies were found in a mass grave near the Timor border. As more than 2,000 grieved amid scenes of wailing and tears, members of an Indonesian inquiry team said they were following up unconfirmed reports of other mass graves in the Indonesian half of the island.

Elimination of mass blindness: Is it a basic human right? By Rita A. Widiadana SINGAPORE (JP): Arthur Lim Siew Ming is the clinical professor and head of the department of Ophthalmology at the National University of Singapore and the head of the Singapore National Eye Center.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Health and Fresh 8:00 Children's Program 9:30 Cooking Program 10:00 Music 11:00 TV Drama 12:15 p.m. Comedy 1:00 TV Series 2:30 Children's Song 3:00 Sports 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Travel 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Music 10:30 TV Drama 11:35 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Rural areas, the challenging market Whoever said that rural markets are small and unattractive? About 70 percent of Indonesians live in rural areas. It is true that their spending power is not much for each individual, but together, these individuals bear a large sum of money, even an abundance. Last year, the Polling Center conducted a survey which showed that 41 percent of the rural community spends Rp 1,000 to Rp 5,000 per day.

More openness, Kiki vows DENPASAR (JP): Newly installed Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri said here on Saturday that he would develop a more open climate between soldiers and the general public in an effort to forge better cooperation and unity. "What I would first of all like to do is develop a dialog to enhance, or restore if you will, integration (between the military and civilians," said Kiki, 52, after officially taking over his command.

Coach upbeat Indonesia karatekas will win gold JAKARTA (JP): Japanese coach Masao Kagawa expressed optimism that the Indonesian team would be able to bring home gold medals in the Asian Union Karate Organization (AUKO) championships in Singapore next week. Kagawa said while witnessing Indonesian karatekas practice at the Cemara Hijau complex in Medan, North Sumatra on Friday that Indonesia had a good chance to win two gold medals either in kata or kumite in the event from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3.

Trend 2000 show combines diverse styles and influences Text and photos by Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): The creations of Surabaya-based fashion designer Kiatna Kwanda, presented here last week, might remind one of John Locke's tabula rasa theory. Like Locke's theory of purity which was compared to white paper, Kiata offered the same philosophy in starting the third millennium with his entirely white stainless collections.

A new Indonesia, is it just a dream People are placing high hopes on the new government to lead them to a new Indonesia. What is a new Indonesia? Are we really heading toward a new Indonesia, or is it just a dream? The Jakarta Post considers the issue. JAKARTA (JP): Sometime in the future, there will be a fabulous and prosperous country where the people live peacefully and happily. A democratic country which upholds the supremacy of law and fully respects human rights.

Japan to continue support of RI recovery: Obuchi JAKARTA (JP): Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi asserted on Saturday his country's commitment to continue supporting Indonesia's economic recovery while stressing that political stability here was crucial to the region as a whole. "The stability of Indonesia is a very important element of stability of Asia as the whole," Obuchi said after meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid at Merdeka Palace on Saturday.

Guess What? Actress Christine Hakim has a secret to tell about her role in the Japanese film Nemuru Otoko (The Sleeping Man), which was featured in the Jakarta International Film Festival. The night after director Kohei Oguri gave her the script, she could not sleep because she was unable to make head or tail of its meaning.

XL's prepares cell phone changes By Taufik Up to November 1999, Indonesia has still not fully recovered from the economic crisis. Nonetheless, many are seeing a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. With sociopolitical advancements, this has encouraged optimism on Indonesia's economic future. This is why many commitments for mid-term to long-term investments are being made, either by local or foreign investors.

An intriguing Chinese temple off the beaten track By Michael Upton TANJUNG KAIT, West Java (JP): Having lived for several years in Jakarta, it came as something of a surprise to learn of an historic Chinese temple quite close to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Close as the crow flies, that is -- from Jakarta itself, it's best approached via the toll road and Tangerang. From there, take the road to Mauk. I use "road" metaphorically, as most of it is rubble.

Awards presented to fashion industry's best JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian fashion industry has become an inseparable element of contemporary culture. With fashion's dynamic growth in the last two decades, Indonesia has every reason to hold an annual event to show the appreciation of the fashion world -- just like the various national awards in music and other art performances. First, there was the Redmod Award, from the end of the 1980s to the early 1990s.

Three RI lifters get berths for Olympic Games JAKARTA (Agencies): Indonesia earned three tickets to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney by winning one gold and four silver medals to finishing eighth at the World Weightlifting Championships in Athens.

RI's Sigit, Halim bow out to Olympics silver medalists JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian shuttlers had to go home empty handed as the country's sole hope in men's doubles, Sigit Budiarto and Halim Heryanto, had to bow out in Saturday's finals at the US$30,000 Hong Kong Open. The Indonesian new partnerships failed to overcome 1996 Olympics silver medalists Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia losing 12-15, 12-15.