'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.