Attractive new TV show

Fortunately, although in stark contrast to conventional TV- shows or dramas, a newly nascent TV program has emerged on Indosiar station, dubbed Tembang peduli kasih Song of compassionate love), featuring Bob Tutupoly as chief entertainer, with a batch of other noted artist, who receive no compensation or reward for their performance and songs contributed to the show.

The matchless uniqueness of this show consists in the nature and purpose of carrying out a philanthropic fund-raising drive to help the needy/handicapped/poor children who are deprived of the means to pay for the treatment of all kinds of diseases. Taking part in the event are entertainers, businessmen, artists, physicians, hospitals and the public at large.

During the course of the show from 10 p.m. till midnight on Sundays, contributions from TV viewers, who phone in from locations across the archipelago, keep pouring in, so that at the bottom of the screen the amount of donations received is monitored continuously -- ranging from Rp 100,000 to Rp 5 million -- along with the names of the donators and their place of origin. The wealthy businessmen attending the show in person usually donate Rp 20 million to Rp 25 million each.

A prominent lady of the entrepreneurial group who celebrated her 80th birthday and has established fame with her struggle in the independence war donated Rp 20 million.

In short, on each night that the show is presented, this get-together of good-Samaritans makes its mark. And last, but not least, every success yielded by the fund-raising drive may well be attributed to the attractive contribution of songs provided by noted artists and accompanied by the marvelous band, with its gracious performers also going without reward.

S. SUHAEDI Jakarta