'Entertainment helps uplift our spirits'

'Entertainment helps uplift our spirits'

Leo Wahyudi .S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To mark the commemoration of Jakarta's 476th anniversary this
year, the city administration in cooperation with many other
parties are conducting a series of activities, including the
Jakart@2003 and other art events. The Jakarta Post asked some
city residents to comment on the commemoration.

Husin, 60, works as a scavenger collecting soft drink bottle
tops in Kota, West Jakarta. He is homeless:

I like music and I used to work as a street musician. My
favorite instrument is the guitar.

However, I quit that job soon after my wife and baby passed
away several years ago. It depressed me and changed my life.

What's more, most street musicians now are youngsters who are
more skillful and attractive than an old man like me.

Since then, I just focus on my day-to-day survival as I face a
far tougher life, now that I have nobody at my side.

For me life is so hard that I have no time to think of art or
entertainment. I'm really fed up with life's hardships.

I have to earn enough just for a day. The next day is another
day of survival. I need to collect one kilogram of bottle tops to
get Rp 1,000. So I have to struggle to get around 10 kg a day to
survive.

Perhaps it's true that art is important in life. Fortunately
there is dangdut music. I like it.

I don't know about the art festivities to commemorate the city
anniversary. But I welcome the program. At least, I can watch the
show or celebration while I'm collecting the trash. I am sure
there'll be lots of bottle tops.

Ryan, 27, is a sidewalk vendor who sells pens in Blok M, South
Jakarta. He lives in Petukangan, West Jakarta, with his wife:

I like art. It is a very important part of my life. I'm pretty
sure that without art, my life would be boring and tedious.

I am fond of contemporary visual art and therefore sometimes I
draw as a hobby. I like it better than music.

However, I am skeptical about the arts festival this year. I
know that last year's festival did not leave an impression on the
hearts of most Jakartans amid the hustle and bustle of life in
the city.

Most city residents here are so busy that they lack
appreciation of art, what more the low-income earners who
struggle each day to make a living.

In my opinion, the festivals this year will be just a waste of
money. Worse still, it might favor the local authorities who
receive kickbacks from the sponsors in conjunction with the city
anniversary commemoration.

Agus, 20, is vendor selling lamb curry in Kemandoran, West
Jakarta. Agus is unmarried and lives in the area:

I like listening to music, especially dangdut on television.
It is a great source of entertainment for low-income people like
me.

I deserve to enjoy life after a busy day's work. It's far
better than doing nothing.

As a matter of fact, I haven't received any information about
the upcoming art festival in the city, even though I know that
the city will commemorate its anniversary this month.

But I'm happy to know there will be many festivities. At
least, it will entertain city residents, particularly those in
the low-income bracket.

I don't think it is a waste of money -- it only happens once a
year. Such entertaining festivities are important for most city
residents who desperately need a bit of fun to ward off the
feeling of hopelessness and uplift their spirits.