New 'Abang' and 'None' chosen

New 'Abang' and 'None' chosen

JAKARTA (JP): Erlangga Hananda Seto, a student of an aviation
academy, and Valerina Novita Daniel, a student at the University
of Indonesia, were named Abang and None (Mr. and Miss) Jakarta on
Friday night.

In a party held in the Sapta Pesona room of the Ministry of
Tourism, Art and Culture, the two were selected from among 1,110
contestants from five mayoralties here.

Erlangga, 25, was Abang Central Jakarta, while Valerina, 21,
None East Jakarta.

They were both awarded prizes including tickets to Perth,
Australia, cash of Rp 3 million (US$384) and packages from
sponsors.

The two were selected by a panel of judges including top model
Ratih Sanggarwati and former TV presenter Rusdi Saleh.

The criteria established by the judges included communication
ability, foreign language competence and knowledge of city
tourism.

"They are the best from their respective mayoralties. We have
chosen them to become our tourism envoys," the City Tourism
Office head, Witjaksono Muwardi, said.

This year's event, however, was organized in the absence of
Governor Sutiyoso, who was in Brunei Darussalam watching the
Indonesian team compete in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Erlangga and Valerina replaced the 1998 Abang and None
Jakarta, Leonard Abdul A.D. and Dessy Syarif.

The event has always attracted a large number of Jakarta
youths, as chances to become popular were opened wide for
winners. Many previous contest winners have moved on to become
top models or movie stars. (jun)