Kompas and Kompasiana

The daily printed Kompas has not only ventured into Kompas Cyber Media, but also into citizen journalism through its Kompasiana.com.

I remember that the founder and owner of Kompas Group, Jakob Oetama, had his skepticism toward news written by citizens. He told me that in the a short conversation before the press conference of the Indonesian-Japan Expo 2008. So I was really interested in knowing his opinion now...about one and a half year after that moment. Especially now, when Kompasiana had already opened its door to public contributors. Kompasiana doesn't need editorial permission to get published. It is really on your own...just a click away! Personally I think that editorial is still very important. Wikimu didn't have a very strict editorial process like the one I've found in OhmyNews International(OMNI). I learned a lot about journalism from OMNI but I also learned a lot about the new media from the comments that came from Wikimu's readers.

I shared my wonderful day with Kompasianers in a writing "Kompas Menulis Bersama Pembaca (Catatanku dari Kompasiana Modis)". Kompas is now starting to ask readers to write. From some articles that I've read in both Kompasiana and the printed Kompas, I can say that Kompas is now writing with its readers, hopefully that will help them evolving as printed media through the changing need of the community.

Another writing from Linda Djalil, a Kompasianer who was once a professional journalist, made me write about how I've met Jakob Oetama in the Indonesian-Japan Expo 2008. Linda wrote a letter for Pak Jakob, the founder and owner Kompas. In the letter she also revealed how she was once gave a wrong name (jokingly) to a Kompas' journalist, and it was printed out without being checked. I like to ask for the press release when I came to an event. It used to be preserved only for journalists. It was not easy as a citizen to get a press release, while it is important for us to do our check and recheck too. If it is the goodie bag that matter, actually that is not important for me. It is those piece of papers which I valued (and hopefully it has something in it, as sometimes the content is not really very informative, but I do need it especially for names). I always think that giving a chance for a blogger to get a press release would help eliminate those fake journalists (known here as wartawan bodrex), but there is always the possibility of people looking at a blogger as a "fake journalist". It really depends on the personality of the blogger, so I can't insist on my opinion. We'll see through the expanding horizon of citizen journalism.

Mas Isjet, one of the administrators in Kompasiana asked me to write about OMNI. I do need time to prepare that kind of writing, but may be I'll be happy to share a bit of my experience being a citizen reporter for both Wikimu and OMNI.

These days, time is more valuable than anything else. Being a citizen reporter made me think of myself as a real citizen. I demanded myself to exist not only in online world but also in the real world (I did have my share of being a citizen in the neighbourhood, but these days I just really try to be better). My real world is around my house, so I won't be catching up with those celebrity bloggers. Yet, that is why I love being a citizen reporter, because I can also present my views in my own words, using my own free time. I can write after mid-night or very early in the morning, things that would never be possible to have in the real world. How can I go out to chat with my neighbour (a fellow housewife) at midnight? That's impossible in the real world, but I can do it in the internet. So writing for citizen journalism websites help me to go out without really going out of the walls of my home.

Kompasiana is the first citizen journalism outlet from the mainstream media. I heard that Politikana is also belongs to Tempo. I thought it was only founded by people who are closed to Tempo, and in the progress it was supported by Tempo. I do need to do more interviews to find it out. Yet, with Kompas and its public Kompasiana, I'm hoping to see another approach toward citizen journalism.

The three brothers (Korean Film)

Since coming back from Seoul, I've been interested in things that are related to Korea. One of that special interest is the Korean films. I saw some of Korean's television dramas were so real...The everyday problems that we are also encounter, globally...

I was the loyal follower of the Japanese film "Oshin" before, now I'm interested in following the story of "The three brothers". It's a bit funny that the title which should be translated into Indonesian language as "Tiga bersaudara" gets another translation "Keluarga Aneh" (Weird family). This is a TV serial from KBS, and it seemed that it has quite some sponsors from Indonesia; Korean restaurant, Korean wallpaper gallery, and I've also seen Garuda Indonesia (hopefully I'm not remembering another film as I'm not really sure seeing it today). I could also see some Korean advertisements, Korean singers during the film break.

I like the three brothers as it is so close to a family story, and seems so real yet so frightening...The character that made me interested in this film is actually Wu-mi, the housewife who had to face her mother-in-law's high demand everyday. Then, she still have to deal with an uncaring husband, who was persistent of not doing any infidelity while giving his special attention to his assistant in his business. It's unbelievable that there is a mother-in-law like the one who lives with Wu-Mi. And it's more amazing that a person like Wu-Mi can stand such a hard and boring life. Yet, that film made me thankful for the family I have today...

Other characters are also very interesting, but the story of Wu-Mi made me wondering of her future life. She is so Asian type, so humble and defenseless. Actually I would love to see her open her own restaurant and be a successful restaurant owner, instead of putting the rest of her life in that sorrowful condition. With her hard work and her cooking skill she can also run her own business. She deserve more than that.

Seeing Wu-Mi in her sleeping condition, when she drank overdose sleeping pills, didn't make her husband realize his wrongdoing. Wu-Mi has a strong capacity to handle all her miseries, she is tough in her husband's eyes. The "strictly business" relation between him and his assistant is already an infidelity in a woman's(wife's) feeling, but he was never realizing how he came into that trap. A weak and crying woman blinded him from the painful life that his wife had to live while living with him and his big family. But, that's life...we can see a lot of stories like that in our surroundings. I'm still curious about the future of Wu-Mi...no wonder this film got successful rating in Korea.

The picture above was taken from All Koreans Online Community

Links to my writings in Citizen Journalism Websites

These writings are in Bahasa Indonesia. As I became more into blogging in English here, I did not upload my writings in Bahasa Indonesia here (like I used to be).

Yet, I would like to have it in one file, so it would be easier to remember or to find it later.

Penting Mana, Fotografer Pandai Atau Kamera Pintar? I like to have beautiful pictures in my writings, but I am not diligent enough to study photography. I have a lot of photographers in my family, so it wasn't seem so important. But being in citizen journalism made me wonder back to photography and asked myself, "Which one is more important, the photographer or a good camera?"

Berkunjung Ke Museum POLRI, Membuat Anak-anak Enggan Beranjak Pulang
This one is about a rather new museum, Museum POLRI, the Indonesian Police Museum. I was not really enthusiastic on this museum, but my kids seemed to enjoy it...

OSK 2010, Pengalaman Pertama Si Kembar This year my twins tried the Kuark Science Olympiad, an interesting new experience for them, and it was the last Kuark Olympiad for my eldest son.

Hari Sabtu Kenangan: Kompasiana Nangkring dan Kapal yang Bisa Beranak Short story of my first offline meeting with Kompasiana, the citizen journalism website from the daily Kompas.

Renungan Diri Di Hari Nyepi I made a self reflection during the Balinese Saka New Year which was celebrated with Nyepi, a Silent Day. This perhaps inspired the World Silent Day, but the one that I remembered when I wrote this piece was the Earth Hour.

I'm not really active in my cyber life at the moment. Going back to teaching elementary and Junior High School took a lot of my energy. Balancing my offline and online life is also my most important resolution this year. Let it be God who decide my path, I'll walk with Him...

International Women's Day: a Self Reflection

Bloggers Unite has an event of writing about the International Women's Day (IWD) for March 8, 2010. In the introduction for the post, it is written that the objective of the writing is to acknowledge the IWD as a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Indonesia only has one day for women, Hari Ibu. The translation into English will make it a "Mother's day", but it was actually started as a Women's Day.

If we read it in English Wikipedia, it is shown clearly that Hari Ibu started from a celebration of Indonesian Women's Congress.

Mother's day (Indonesian: Hari Ibu) is celebrated nationally on December 22. It is the day of the first Indonesian Women Congress (Indonesian: Konggres Perempuan Indonesia) from December 22 to 25, 1928. The meeting happens in a building now known as Mandalabhakti Wanitatama in Adisucipto Street, Yogyakarta. It was attended by 30 female organizations from 12 cities in Java and Sumatra. In Indonesia, female organizations have existed since 1912, inspired by Indonesian heroines of the 19th century, e.g. Kartini, Martha Christina Tiahahu, Cut Nyak Meutia, Maria Walanda Maramis, Dewi Sartika, Nyai Ahmad Dahlan, Rasuna Said, etc.

The idea to make the day official was started during the third Indonesian Women Congress in 1938. It was signed by president Soekarno under the Presidential Decree (Indonesian: Dekrit Presiden) no. 316 year 1959. The day was originally aimed to celebrate the spirit of Indonesian women to improve the condition of the nation. Today, Mother's Day is celebrated by expressing love and gratitude to mothers. People present gifts to mothers, such as flowers, hold surprise parties and competitions such as cooking competition or kebaya wearing competition. People also allow mothers to have their day off from doing domestic chores.[citation needed]

From the Indonesian wikipedia, we can read that Hari Ibu used to be a day to voice out voices of Indonesian women, i.e. voicing their concern about high prices (read the Indonesian wikipedia). Indonesia had its first woman minister in 1950 with the appointment of Ibu Maria Ulfah as a Minister of Social Welfare (Menteri Sosial). Now, we have more than one woman minister in the cabinet. Yet, life for women is not easier than before. Women as the target of domestic violence are still here. I've known a story of a woman who worked overseas as a migrant worker, sending her money home, while her husband is using that money to live with his other wife here...That's life!

Actually, reading my grandmother's biographical notes made me realize that she was braver and more advance in taking her choices of life than me. May be it was due to her freedom from a family life? She lived her life alone, never had a family responsibility, the one that married women would usually struggling in.

I used to dream of taking my master degree, but failed to gain any scholarships. Yet, may be I was not persistent enough on that dream. I changed my mind as I get married and have children. Kartini gave up her scholarship, and later on she got married. Delivering her baby made her lost her life. Having my own children to me was like starting to loose my old life and started a whole new world. Citizen journalism made me came back to a part of my old life. It is something that makes me alive, and I'm trying hard to keep the balance of my "present" life.

I wonder if there is a relation between the changing meaning of Indonesian Women's day. "Hari Ibu" is not representing women's day anymore, but is reduced into a mother's day. I use the word 'reduce' as we are only celebrating the role of a mother in a woman. Yet, women have so many different aspects. Are we reducing our own talents? I know there are a lot of Indonesian women who have their achievement in social, political, or economic achievements. Ibu Sri Mulyani, Indonesian Finance Minister, is an interesting person. Despite of the Century case, her ability to go up into her position now is really amazing. I've seen a television interview where her family also present. She admitted that she need to balance the demand of her work with her time for her family. Even at the moment of one important meeting (the Century case), she was actually in a mourning condition as she knew that her mom was sick and then passed away, without the ability to be there at her last moment.

That's the risk of a working woman. To be able to balance the duty of work and the family matters. It is harder on women, especially here in Asia, where patriarchal way of life made women seen as second class citizen. We can argue that it is way the woman put herself is important. But, it is true that being a woman made the struggle become harder.

In the construction site, it was more difficult for woman (than for her fellow male co-worker) to order the male worker under her supervision to do something. Male workers tended to underestimate women.

Yet, more and more successful women appeared. If we used to hear that behind every great man there is a great woman, then perhaps it is time to consider that we also need a great man (or a great family) behind a great multitasking woman. So the man in family should also support their wife, their daughter, or their granddaughter to reach to the sky...

Once in a bus, I asked a young girl who are heading to work in a kiosk in Mangga Dua, why she had chosen to work after her senior high school and not to continue her study. She answered me, "It will be the same, don't you think? After the study I'll end up waiting for that kiosk too. So, why wasting my time?" It's not really true, there will be a different aspect if she chose to continue her study (of course financial support is needed). Yet, if I see housewives around me (including myself :)), we were going through difficult time of study only to take our post at home. Some gained her success through selling her ability to cook, some other through selling insurance or houses. This cooking expertise or marketing ability could be gained even without enduring the study. I've met a man who was my first tutor as a junior architect. He forgot me, but astonished that I became a housewife, he said: "What a waste of your long struggle of study and work..." I thought it was the colours of my life, and I feel blessed that I had those wonderful experiences...yet, somewhere inside I am still asking myself to try my best to make those experiences worth for others. The struggle to balance myself between my family life, my idealism, and my contribution to others is still going on.

The International Mother Language Day

Look at the picture here! Can you spot the mistake? Yes, it is "check" in English, or "cek" in Bahasa Indonesia. Yet, we've got "chek" instead...

The need to be able to communicate in English as the international language made our national schools compete to be national plus schools. "Plus" means that they provide English language and sometimes Mandarin (Chinese language). The problem is that our children is not mastering the national language, Bahasa Indonesia, yet. It's no wonder if sometimes youngsters are getting confused about their own language.

The billboard is surely a spelling mistake. I've found the same picture with the word "check" written on it. So, even without a spelling mistake the billboard was meant to be wrong (if we read it in Bahasa Indonesia).

While our national language is struggling to survive in its own land, the dialects of the Indonesian ethnic groups face more challenges. My generation would probably more adapt to the ethnic dialects than the younger generation, especially those who are in my kids' age. These children knew English and Mandarin better than their traditional mother languages.

I speak Makasarese language orally, but I can't understand it's lontara scriptures. I try to find some blogs which use the traditional dialects. This Hariring kuring is a Sundanese blog, it's a pity that it seems to stop at the end of 2008. We do have Wikipedia Jawa, a special pages of wikipedia in Javanese language.

While expecting that googling the word Mangkasara will give me a blog in Makasarese language, I found that Mangkasara.com is written in Bahasa Indonesia. Another friend's blog is Simpang Limo Bengkulu, but the content is mostly in bahasa Indonesia, or somtimes a "gado-gado" of bahasa Indonesia, Bengkulu dialect, and I also trace Javanese dialect.

Indonesia has more than 500 traditional languages/dialects. And we are not going to keep it if the youngsters aren't able to use it. Gladly the social media like face book is now providing a space for us to use the dialects. As long as we know that we are using it to keep our own heritage, not to build another gap of languages, then we are using it for the better solution. We should use nationalism while pertaining those dialects as a part of our root and heritage.


Yes, we are facing the reality that the world's languages are in danger of disappearing. UNESCO put forward the dialogue of civilization as the basic of the International Year for rapprochement of cultures (2010).

There are experts who gather in Paris today and tomorrow (February 22 and 23), to attend the International Symposium: Translation and Cultural Mediation, to discuss topics including bridging global and local languages and Translation, Mutual Understanding and Stereotypes. It would really be wonderful if some expert over there are keeping their blogs and share the discussion topic with us.


I write this post as my contribution to the Bloggers Unite. I believe that together we are going to be stronger. I've known the importance of sharing languages. Through English and French languages I've found a lot of interesting readings. From those readings I developed a part of my knowledge of life. Blended with my real daily life they build my own power to face my life.

Yet, while trying to develop a better communication, we also need to guard our own languages. I write this blog in English as I would like to bridge the gap. As a bridge blog I tried to tell readers the information that came from Indonesian's newspapers and from Indonesian public. I have my other blogs in bahasa Indonesia. They are my more intimate blogs; my meditation blog, and my blog about being a mother. Actually I would like to write another blog in Makasarese (in phonetic writing, not the authentic lontara scriptures) but I need to balance my schedule first. It is difficult to live in the real world and in the cyber world in a balance time schedule.

The BOBs from the Deutsche Welle is now including blogs in Bahasa Indonesia. So in their map of blogs, Indonesia is now one of the eleven languages that could go for a competition to achieve category awards of the best blog.

The internet translation tools still need a lot of development before we could really speak (or write) in our own languages and be understood by others (who are not speaking our language). But, on the other side, the need to know the meaning will make us interested in learning other languages. Jadi, ingin belajar bahasa Indonesia?

Plagiarism Again...

It's been quite a while I didn't write about plagiarism. Plagiarism is now a hot issue in Kompasiana. The opinion about plagiarism came out after the issue of plagiarism by a professor from a reputable private university that came out in the printed Jakarta Post. Is it unintentional? Is it an editorial oversight or a lack of concern? Another citizen wrote in Kompasiana about the serious danger of keeping it as a culture.

My writing on plagiarism for wikimu.com had received some reactions, yet I like the reaction from Kurniawan Djunaedhi. He was not aware that his writing came out in another printed media under the name of another person until he read my post in wikimu. Although at first his reaction is "no comment", but now he posted three postings under the label plagiat in his blog. So, he finally found out that Abi, who used his writing, is doing plagiarism. I think it is important that we educate youngsters. Let plagiarism happened and acted as if nothing happened, or depending on one's self conscience won't help us gain a better younger generation.

Actually there was another case of plagiarism that I found out from printed Kompas. An artist that I've known wrote about how an article on art was probably being written with his thesis as one of bibliography without mentioning it. He knew that the writer had read his writing. The answer from the writer of the article said that they were using the same sources of information, and he didn't need to quote that artist's paper as he used the same source of bibliography (he made it sounded that the research of his fellow Indonesian is not important as he found it out himself through studying the same bibliography). I only read the article published in that printed newspaper and I haven't read the paper from that artist, so I sent a letter to the artist asking for his comment after reading the answering note from that writer. I did link my concern about plagiarism that I wrote for wikimu. He never answered that e-mail. I thought he was just letting the case go and put it to the writer's self conscious (who, at that time, is a lecturer of a well known art academy) and to the scrutiny of the public.

Now that this case happened in an English newspaper, and the paper used by the writer is a copy from the paper of an Australian writer... then everybody are screaming about plagiarism. May be the article I've mentioned in the previous paragraph was not copying the paper of the artist whom I've known as a photographer, but writing it after reading the paper without mentioning that paper is not an ethical approach (in my perspective). Actually I did not write about it as the artist didn't reply my e-mail, but it kept bothering me...

Now that the issue of plagiarism is blown up in the newspapers, I think we should really try to educate youngsters on the ethic of writing and quoting. It's not because I'm an expert on it, but because I think it is important for the nation's future. I'll keep myself learning...

The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock and The Golden Globe Awards

It is good to hear that Sandra Bullock got her Golden Globe Award through her performance in The Blind Side. I was actually impressed by the way she acted out the character of Leigh Anne Tuohy. Her acting made me wonder about that mommy character in the real life. It's really amazing to read that the film was based on a real story. This film made me even more curious to read the book, Blind Side: Evolution of a Game (by Michael Lewis).

After I saw the film, I had some notes in my mind. First, I wondered how Leigh Anne was able to do all her beautiful job at the same length of time as mine. I did not see any helper in the film, but she managed to keep the house clean, her children and husband happy, and she was also working as an interior designer who also had social activities. The most memorable moment of the film is when she came back and said to the leader of the gang "whoever threatens my boy is threatening me..." Oh, she had the nerve to come back and say it out aloud. That's a bit unimaginable for me, but it was really inspiring. She has shown how to show a character, how not to show any sign of weaknesses.

Then, I also like the moment she were hesitated about their way of influencing Big Mike to go into the family's old school. That a universal motherly thought as we've always been wondering to give the best for our kids, but in the process we would perhaps try our best to persuade them into the one we thought is the best (through our own perspective, not theirs).

And I was also touched that she didn't bother the IQ test, but instead try her best to help Big Mike to get his scholarship. I was impressed that she used his ability to protect to gain him his confidence in the game.

Actually I like the film. Not only Sandra Bullock's part of action, although she is the strongest character in that film. I like seeing the film because it has something about education. It is so nice to see how teachers and parents (and family too) worked together with the boy to achieve his best. I wonder if we can have it here in Indonesia.

My other impression is that the Tuohy family had an established life, they can afford to take care of another additional member of the family. Yet, I knew by intuition that even if the situation was not as presented in the movie, the family would still try their best to help others.

I watched the film with my children, I hope they can take their own lesson from that film. I know that it does need time to process it in their mind. In the meantime, there is one remark from my eldest son (which is not really really showing that he grabbed the other lessons), "Why don't we have a public washing machine like that? Isn't it a big idea to provide a self-laundry like that here?" I said that we are too lazy to do it ourselves, we'd like to have it done. My husband answered him that we are not having the culture of preserving public property. Yet, we are sure that the time will come when we are depending more on machine like that.

Yes, we are moving bit by bit to the western standard of life. If generations before us didn't really bother strangers to come as a guest to the house, perhaps now we (Indonesians) are more selective. This film is also reminding us how to use our heart in judging a situation. Two thumbs up for the film, the actors and actress, and the Golden Globe Awards' jury.

Scrambled Thoughts on Citizen Journalism

I've got a lot of things in my mind, but I don't really have the time to write it out. So, perhaps it is the same reason of those professionals who are not writing out their voices. It's not because they don't really care or they don't want to communicate with others, but because they are already busy with their own daily life.

A fellow blogger, Lily Yulianti Farid, who founded the citizen journalism website "Panyingkul.com" said in Pesta Blogger 2009 that those involved in citizen journalism need to be techno savvy. I would rather say that we do need to be internet literate. After that, we should also be willing to share news to the world. Yet, it is so true that new media needs deeper knowledge than being internet literate. I found in "Teaching Online Journalism" lots of new knowledge about sharing in the internet. It is really clear that journalists have to go further on the exploration of making the most out of the new media.

Lily wrote in her blog that in spite of using the term "citizen journalism", it would be better fitted in as "friendship journalism". Gina Chen said in her blog post "Journalism's relationship with social media has matured" that she's definitely agree that social media has made news and political involvement more accessible to everyone, particularly to young people. I'm thinking that way too. Winarni's book “Makassar dari Jendela Pete-pete - catatan seorang pengguna jalan” is written while she was on her way to graduate from the architectural study in the University. Citizen journalism, when used wisely, can help young students to discover their passions. They can explore more as they have more free time than the older generation who have more obligations (of course older generation can still be amazed of their "newly found" passion or perhaps "fogotten" passion).

News were surrounding me, and only those that I put into writing came into my blog (which also made them written memories, others are only photos and notes in my computer). It's not that other events weren't important, but one doesn't have time to cover all those interesting stories. That's why I love citizen journalism websites, in term of sharing news; unimportant news for the mainstream media, or a slightly different point of view from the mainstream media. Even if I didn't write it as soon as it happened, I can still write about it later on through different way of presenting it. It would even be better if other contributors had something to write to fill in the emptiness.

If I don't write about Haiti, it is not because a lack of concern. It's only the matter of lack of time to write. Having facebook and twitter would perhaps a good solution for certain people to share their two cents.

Professional journalists who blog would find that blogs are helping them to reach out for their readers. They are no more dependent on mainstream media as their outlet, and they can still publish their stories (which took their time and perhaps also their financial support in composing the stories, which are too precious to keep under the desk) when their article were being rejected by the mainstream media. Blog readers can also be their supporters to voice out the truth.

I think I still have more wrinkled thoughts on citizen journalism in my mind. Citizen journalism is still evolving, I just hope that it will grow up for the better of the world's communication.

The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through (Jackson Pollock). Citizen journalism has also a life of its own. I try to be a part of its colourful life...

"Abad Bapak Saya" and the spirit of netizens

Last Thursday, 14th January 2010, I was blessed with a chance to attend a workshop with Geert Mak. He is a Dutch writer who wrote the book "De eeuw van mijn vader" which was translated into "Abad Bapak Saya" (The Century of My Father). The Indonesian book launched last Thursday in Erasmus Huis. The chance to meet the author is not the only blessing, we were also presented with a copy of the book...for free! What a blessing! (An example of a good day said a friend, Krismariana. There, I've met friends who are also contributors to wikimu.com and another friend that I previously met in Pesta Blogger 2008, and also made new acquaintances). The Dutch edition was first published in 1999, and after ten years it is now accessible in bahasa Indonesia.

Geert Mak said that he was never in his wildest dream imagine that his book will be presented in bahasa Indonesia for Indonesian readers. Yet, as his story covered a part of his parents' life in Indonesia made that book an interesting book for Indonesian readers. His way of presenting it together with the world's history is another interesting aspect that would make it a nice source of knowledge on history.

I was really fascinated with the enormous "treasures" of old letters and pictures that he used in his book. I wonder how long it was for him to collect and rechecked all those facts. Actually I came to the workshop because I was still thinking about my grandmother's biography. At the moment I'm actually stop doing anything on that case as families seemed to have an objection on me continuing it. Various reasons are behind that objection. My mother objected it as she feels that I'm going to spend more time on that book and neglect my children. My aunties perhaps think about the private content (which of course is possible to be edited). I'm also afraid that there is a frightened feeling of being exposed as a part of Chinese Indonesians. My family were so widely distributed that we are no longer belong to a certain part of Indonesia, but Indonesia itself. For me, I'm Makassarese even if people would not accept it as I'm also Chinese Indonesian. Through personal process and the help from the era of Reformasi I am now able to accept my own background. Writing this book is kind of reminding ourselves about our root...so I think it is so sad that I've got to "forget" that book.

Based on my own lack of knowledge about writing a personal memoir that employed a lot of historical facts, I asked two questions:

1. Did you create this book basically from your own memory and enriched it with other inputs, or were you starting from your journalistic research and enriched it with personal memories?

2. It seems that you've got great support from your family in writing out this book. I wonder if there were members of the family who objected the idea of writing it down. How would you deal with it?

Actually half part of my questions was answered when Mak answered previous questions, so the answer that I write here is not exactly the answer that he gave me. I posed my questions so that I could get more technical guidance. Here, I combined his answer with his previous answers that would go inline with my questions.

Mak clearly stated that he started the book as a journalistic experiment, an experiment of writing a readable book of Dutch history at the era of his father. In the process it would also serve to create understanding between generations. Younger generation could read what was happening at that moment which prompted the older generation to act out their history. History always moves. Every generation has their own questions on history. He tried to write it out to give more clarity to his readers. The story teller in his book is the writer (Mak himself), but the experience that he described belong to the point of view of his parents. His own memory came a bit later in the book as he entered his age of understanding what was happening. He mixed memories and history but he stressed the fact that he rechecked all the data from the letter, and he only wrote dialogue if he was really sure that the dialogue happened (verified). He was very lucky as his grandfather (a school teacher) kept all the letters that were helping him in his research.

For the second question he answered me that he was not ready to write it out until fifteen years after his father passed away. He also sorted his facts, and then put only those related to the history (or his book). Yes, I think being a part of the family will help him sensible enough to sort which details are for public, which weren't. Glad that he published the story!

One important lesson I've learned that day is the description of a journalist. He said that a journalist never write about himself. I think it is the essential part that differentiate blogging and citizen reporting. Blogging seems easier as it conveys only messages from the blogger (the writer), it can touches various aspects of life...mostly aspects that are closer to the writer's life. Yet, it's not really that easy as you've also think about your personal boundaries. Mak was able to write the book after his parents passed away. Reporting is more complicated as we've got to check and recheck information, we've got to visit and do some interviews if needed. Then from the huge data that you've had in your hands, you've got to slim it down and present a readable and understandable piece of writing. Yet, your personal life is safe untouched...

Mak also mentioned about the vanishing of letters as telephone and short messages took up its place in exchanging news. Then, I think that is the hole where bloggers can fitted in. Our news will be the treasure for the generation in the next century.

Blogging is not journalism said Gina Chen in her blog "Save the Media", and actually during these three years of blogging I've kept asking myself about the term "citizen journalism". I came to blogging through citizen journalism websites, but that is not why I would like to see citizen journalism websites continue to exist as a counterpart of professional journalism.

Why "citizen journalism" is also important in the process of blogging? Or why we do need it for the journalism itself? In my case it is basically due to the spirit of journalism. Journalism tried to see things objectively. If we are trying to blog within the corridor of journalism, then we're going to see "things" objectively. For me, it also helps me to be more curious on what is happening around me. It helps me to see the reaction of readers, or how a certain matter can be viewed through different point of views. When writing for a newspaper or a newsletter, you are aware of your readers' type. Usually writers made their own research to find out the background of their readers. The internet has widely spread readers, so it will need double work to explain things to readers (who don't really know, or may be never even imagine a bit about your country, or your culture).

One great example came from the workshop with Geert Mak. One editor asked Mak how to handle different facts in a book. The example is Indonesian Independence day, she was editing a book which stated the Indonesian Independence day is December 27, 1949 (the formal soverignty was transferred to the United States of Indonesia; term taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica) while for Indonesians the Independence Day is August 17, 1945. Mak answered that professionally she could call the writer asking about it, or add footnote (as she already did).

Another participant asked Mak if he was also avoiding to state the exact date of the Indonesian independence as he did not wrote down the date 17. Mak answered that question by underlining that he was not aware about not writing the complete date, and he added that he wrote it for the Dutch readers...where the symbolical meaning of the date is not significant. He would like his book readers to judge his stand for Indonesia by reading the whole book.

It is a coincidence (or perhaps not?) that the Jakarta Post's opinion column published that same morning presented an article "RI's Indeoendence Day: A forgotten piece of history". It is a scholar's perspective over a seminar about Indonesian independence movement which was held at the Central Museum of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Perhaps it was why that questions came into the workshop.

In the section of the Museum Volunteer Tour Guide of the Indonesian Heritage Society, we've once faced that kind of problem. A Dutch lady mistakenly cited the wrong date of Indonesian Independence. I forgot how we found it out, either one of her visitors complained and she reported in, or the visitor reported it formally. It was decided that to be professional every volunteer tour guides should honored the date used by the Indonesian government. No prejudice, we worked it out peacefully...

The question in Mak's workshop made me wondering about history lesson. It was explained by the moderator (I forgot his name) that now history is not an obligatory subject. So, only those who took the subject would be better informed about the history of the Dutch-Indie period.

Actually I would like to hear more about it, as we (Indonesian) are going to face the same problem about how to put East Timor in our history books. Younger generations will have different way of seeing things as perhaps my father's generation or even from my generation. That is how I see blogs and the product of citizen journalism websites are functioning, as a bridge to cross, a place to clarify prejudices, and also a way to differentiate between objective views and subjective views.

The spirit of netizens is sharing and communicating. As a reporter I do hope that we're going to bridge misunderstanding between generations and between nations. As a blogger I'm letting out my piece of thinking and put it together in the universal cyber storage to be "the treasure" for the next century. I'm still not sure about the term "citizen journalism" as I'm always preferring the word "citizen reporter" than "citizen journalist", but I do hope that writing netizens are going to make the world better!

Happy New Year...Welcome 2010!

I haven't done my yearly reflection yet. Since I joined citizen journalism websites I used to write a reflection note at the end of the year. Yet, this year is another case.

I did write about "Hari Natal" for the Indonesian Heritage Society's Newsletter. I also received a short e-mail comment for that writing so I intended to upload it here on Christmas day, but I forgot. I've got a lot of things packed in my mind.

The children and I were busy preparing our choir's performance for the fourth Advent Week. My eldest would also play his guitar in the two songs specially prepared by the children (their first time joining the adult in the church's choir).

December 26, I went to see my obgyn, and got the news that I should go through an examination to see if I had endometrial hyperplasia. December 28, I went through the procedure and took a day to rest in the hospital.

December 30, I went with my parents and my boys to the nearby mountain (not really far, it is only in Cisarua, about an hour drive from my parents' house). Actually I would prefer to stay at home, but the twins asked me to come along with their "please...please...please mom!" that could not be rejected. This year my husband can't join us as he was still engaged with his work in the city.

I would like to write about Gus Dur the minute I heard that he passed away, but the electricity was off through the evening, and was still on and off at night (I managed to post my comments tough!). The internet connection is not always available, and my three boys are my competitors to enter the cyber world.

While my parents and my children were enjoying the fireworks that beautify the night scene at the mountain, I was fast asleep...
Now, they are all gone to bed, and here I am...writing my blog (finishing several unfinished posts and some other new posts...yet, there are still some in the draft box). We also lost Frans Seda, a politician and also an important Catholic figure (December 31), but it seems that I should try to go back to bed now...

My resolution for 2010? Keep writing, be a better mother and a better person...

Thank you God for the new year 2010, please lead us into a better year, help our nation to stand up and grow again, help the world to reach a better communication...
I hope we are all going to stand up for the sake of our mother Earth, and to share Your love with all Your creations.

Farewell to Gus Dur, a Father of the Nation

Yesterday (December 30, 2009) Indonesians lost another charismatic figure, KH. Abdurrahman Wahid, also famously known as Gus Dur. He was our fourth President before being impeached and ended his period of presidency (read full story in English Wikipedia or in Indonesian Wikipedia)

Gus Dur was a very smart man who was probably an example of a man whose thinking cap is using a black box approaches. He was using basically his intuitive mind to settle his goals. It was the reason of his being a controversial leader. People did not really know his reasons.

1999 I voted for Megawati, but our voices for Ibu Mega could not bring her to the chair of appointed president. It was not a direct vote, so we are still depending on the parties' coalition in MPR (People's representatives). Those representatives had chosen Gus Dur as our fourth president. I've got foreign friends who questioned his capability as a president. I thought Indonesians were probably did not ready to have a woman president. I tried to explained to my friends why Gus Dur would also be a good president. One of my friends asked (due to his eye sight problem): "But, how could he do his presidential duty? Even an ambassador has a pile of reading tasks!" I just answered that he could do it with all the staffs around him. I also added that I'd been in a seminar where he was one of the speakers. I saw him fast asleep in a period of conversation. Yet, to my astonishment his comment on that specific conversation was not showing any remark that he was asleep. While watching TV One covering the preparation of his funeral, I heard someone remembering the same aspect of Gus Dur. He never really slept, yet he stole his sleep without loosing his alertness.

With more outlets of Indonesian citizen journalism today, I can gather more opinions. The one from an expert like Faisal Basri (uploaded in English in Kompasiana) or from a mere citizen (this one is in Bahasa Indonesia can be found in wikimu.com).

Ex minister, Kusmayanto Kadiman, raised his voice as a citizen in Kompasiana in his writing "Bon Voyage Gus, We Love You Full!" (using the Indonesians most lovable phrase from the late mbah Surip). I agree that rumours should not become a big issue. The fact that he was buried as a Moslem, with a funeral attended by Moslems and non Moslems (both with sincere feeling of loosing him) shows that he is accepted as a great leader that goes beyond religious issues. Yes..., despite his being inconsistent and unpredictable he was doing a lot of pioneering steps towards pluralism and democracy (while at the same moment he might be seen as undemocratic for his black box way of approaches and for being stubborn). One example of mixed feelings towards his unreadable action (at the moment) can be read (in bahasa Indonesia) through this writing "Gus Dur dan Aceh".

Another important comment that I gathered through the television today is the importance of rehabilitating Gus Dur's name (for the reason of impeachment) which is more urgent than giving him a status as a national hero. I'm not sure how to do it without a judicial action, but seeing the content of both English and Indonesian wikipedia I think it is important to think it over before gathering 5.000.000 facebookers to support him as a national hero. Without rehabilitating his name, it would be normal if another question like this is popped out.

Thank you Gus Dur, you've been doing a lot during your short presidential period, and you've been planting more seeds of pluralism and humanity during your life time. You were not only serving us, Indonesian peoples, now you've also finished your good job serving the Creator.

Sharing Obama's Dream

I've always love to read memoirs and biographies, but Obama's memoir is not just an ordinary memoir. It was written before he won the presidential election (read this blog too). The greatest token from Pesta Blogger 2009 is a translated book of "Dreams from my Father" from the booth of the USA's Embassy. Pesta Blogger 2009 was giving me some treasures as I've got variety of books (from the USA Embassy) and a book "Makassar dari jendela pete-pete" about my hometown Makassar (given by Panyingkul's founder, Lily Yulianty Farid). I've also got more friends and more knowledge...

I am reading Obama's book during this Christmas holidays, and was enchanted by how he could put his heart's battle into a memoir. Now, I also know more about his brother which was mentioned in an article that I've pasted here as a post showing how rich is Obama's background (at that time without really knowing their real relationship and background). Reading memoirs that was written before he was elected as a president gave me an impression of honesty.

It is also showing me another aspect of the USA that I would probably not able to see through the Hollywood movies. It is enhancing my previous note on racism. So, it is a universal problem, and nobody could claim that their part is more miserable than others. That little Obama grew up with more identity problem than me. Googling through the internet made me encounter this other post (in Bahasa Indonesia) commenting about the same article from Jakarta Post's weekenders.

His biography also give me a chance to see the struggle of identity that came in generations before him. Barrack Obama (Barry)was very lucky as he gained good supports from his close relatives. I think his Indonesian father should also be credited in that process. That's how he can share the essence of his biological father's dream (also his grandfather's dream). He was blessed with the distance that his other siblings didn't really get. That's how Mark (his younger half brother) can only remembered a different version of nightmare (read more here).

Obama's struggle is reminding me of the Papuan struggle to obtain their identities. Seeing the film "Denias" is really different from "Laskar Pelangi". Both Denias and Lintang has the same problem, an access to the education. Yet, the problem faced by Denias is more than financial matter. . Denias needed to face his own Papuan brothers. That is the kind of discrimination that I can also feel in Obama's memoir.

Last week I brought some foreign friends to see the old film "Indonesia Indah 1" in the IMAX theatre, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. I was embarrassed that some Indonesian; while seeing the Papuans dancing their dance (using only their kotekas) shouted out loud "pornography" in front of their children. It is actually an insult of others' traditional clothes. For the Papuan, the history of koteka is also the history of Adam and Eve (Emogiki Pane and Emobeku Pane), koteka and moge are their "clothes" after realizing their nudity in front of God. It is also a tribal symbol and one's pride. A dialog through citizen journalism website made me aware of this reality. Yet, I didn't have the courage to ask those shouting people to respect others' culture. It was in public, but I do hope that school can give an example of respecting others' culture. If they are kept being pushed to deny their real identity, then no wonder if they do not feel that they belong to Indonesian brotherhood. We can see how Obama's grandfather changed himself. It is something that come from inside one's heart, just like when Adam and Eve realized that they were naked, that they need clothes...men changed their way of living.

Obama's dream and hope are universal, it is not about any race...but it is about real freedom, equal right as human beings. If the Papuans want their freedom, I think it is not actually a political demand. It is more their own struggle with their emotional feelings of being the righteous owner of their own land. I am always sad when some part of Indonesian archipelago asking for their "freedom". Are they sure that they can survive by themselves? We need to be together as a country to stand the universal world. It is also a universal struggle, a struggle of humanity...to be able to sit as real brothers and sisters.

Obama has succeeded in stepping farther through his identity struggling period. Now is his time to show the world that he can help us gaining more positive approaches toward a peaceful world. It is not easier than his own identity struggle, and it is surely need lots of prayers and actions to support this universal goal.

Blogs as education and communication tools

I keep encouraging people to blog. For Indonesians, blogging would ask them to write, to put things in their head into writing. Putting our opinions in writing means that we need to think it out, searching for the right words, and in the end enhancing our capability in pouring out our ideas, our feelings, and our needs. Once people realized that they can write, they will keep writing and it will help open the communication gate.

For professionals, blogging is sharing. It opens the universal world into a flat media. Communications between continents are made easier. It will also be more profitable for one's professional's life as long as he/she can use it wisely.

I'd like to write a short note about some blogs here:

Blog Bahtera is a blog from professional translators and those who care about Bahasa Indonesia (so it consists writings in Bahasa Indonesia). It was started as a mailing list, and since June 2009 the coordinator also created its own community blog. Communication is better off through the mailing list. If you do need urgent help in translating a word or a sentence, you'd prefer to be engaged in a quick conversation in the mailing list. Yet, I'm not really blessed with those precious time to keep updating myself with all letters from the mailing lists I subscribe. So, I really appreciate the existence of this blog. I'm now able to come by as a fellow blogger just like a neighbour can come and visit other friends in the neighbourhood. The great aspect of the internet is that we don't need to bother our visiting time. It can even be at midnight if that's the only time available or convenience with our daily time schedule.

This blog is a nice melting pot of experiences, a crossroad of multinationals who care about Bahasa Indonesia. It is also serving as an "encyclopedia" of wisdom transferred from seniors to juniors (it's not necessarily in term of age, but more into professional experiences).

I would also like to mention a blog made by my eldest son's science teacher, IPA Menyenangkan (Science is fun). She tries to put her lessons in a blog, knowing that some of her students are not good in taking notes in her classroom but they have great talents in internet surfing (ehm...I know one of them very well!). She told me that she is asking her students to keep an eye on her blog, give her input either in beautify her blog (for those internet techie) or in adding the content (surely for those who find taking scientific notes and writing it out as an interesting homework). Being a full time teacher and a homemaker with kids she has limited time to blog, but it is great if she can make her students interested in helping her with her blog. She can be the editor of the content, and those kids should try to write on their own, not only copying and pasting information from other blogs.

Yet, the best news I've got is from my friend, Jacob Gautel, who is now sharing his artistic journey in his website. First I've met Jacob through his "Maria Theodora" project supported by CCF (French Cultural Center), an art project that is inline with his quest for his Indonesian root. His quest for completing his family tree evoked some odd feeling for my own "denial" of my Chinese ancestral root. I was also joined his workshop in Singapore. I think we've just met several times before the monetary crises came, the May riot happened (I remembered that he; the one who didn't really keen in answering e-mails, had telephoned me asking for my family situation. A simple call that was like an oasis in the middle of the chaos). Afterward I saw parts of his works through the magic of Mr. Google, or through his participation in other art exhibitions without his presence here. Now having his own presentation of complete works in his web is like exploring another part of his artistic journey.

I hope that we can really use blogs as education and communication tools. It can be a way to educate people about democracy or enriching our knowledge, supporting our creativity (not killing it by doing plagiarism) and starting a communication aiding to a better and peaceful world.

Wikipedia Indonesia

As a citizen reporter I am depending mostly on wikipedia to link names or events that I used in my writing. If I write in English I'll prefer the English version of Wikipedia, but sometimes Indonesian names or events are not written in English. On the other hand, I'd like to link my writing in Bahasa Indonesia to Wikipedia Indonesia, as it will help my Indonesian readers to read it in their preferred language. Yet, I haven't been brave enough to upload any post or trying to edit or add data from the existing wikipedia. I used to play in the sand box, but never have the courage to do my part of writing.

Today I am trying to share my part of writing for Wikipedia Indonesia. My motivation to help started when an Indonesian guitarist, Jubing Kristianto, was about to be deleted from Wikipedia Indonesia due to the incompleteness of data. I have seen his performances, and I like his way of introducing the traditional songs and Indonesian children songs in his guitar repertoire. I also like his interactive way of communicating with his fans (read my piece in wikimu "Naik Delman Fantasy dari Face Book ke Mal"), and his collaborative works with other Indonesian artists. So, I would love to see his name stayed in the online encyclopedia.

I think we do need to promote our local talents. Psychologically (and thinking over my time schedule) I was not really ready to write something in wikipedia, the last layer mentioned by Steve Outing as the most interactive part of citizen journalism. Yet, here I am...trying to add something! Welcome to wikipedia!

Please Join Your Voices to Save the Earth

I'm not really up-dated with climate change and UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, but I am following some articles through printed Kompas and online medias. Greenpeace International is also helping me in keeping updated informations through its e-mails. Sometimes Greenpeace's action were too militant for my style of action, but petition to save the earth; to call the world leaders to take real actions; to really care about educating citizens how to save the earth is important. That's why I joined my voice in their petition.

Petition to the 110 Presidents and Prime Ministers negotiating in Copenhagen:

We call on each one of you to make the concessions necessary to meet your historic responsibility in this crisis. Rich countries must offer fair funding, and all countries must set ambitious targets on emissions. Do not leave Copenhagen without a fair, ambitious and binding deal that keeps the world safe from catastrophic global warming of 2 degrees.

If you'd like to take your part of voicing your concern, you can visit http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/copenhagen-2#signup
or http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change/take_action/do-not-fail

The picture of the demonstration has an interesting banner "Planet not Profit". I am also giving my voice for that..."Planet not profit". Yet, "Human being not profit" will be my ultimate concern. I would love if Indonesian leaders also think about that when planning or making any mutual decision on REDD.

Greenpeace International weblog is here, picture above is taken from its e-mail for the petition.

Citizen journalism is a way to communicate

I always believe that we do need better communication, that is why I joined my voice with bloggers around the world in this cyber world.

East Timor is always an interesting subject for me, that's the reason I wrote Perlukah Film "Balibo Five" Dilarang di Indonesia? for Kompasiana, the corner for citizen journalism in Kompas.com.

I am limiting my browsing time, so I did not read other posts in the same tag of Balibo Five. I was reading an opinion column in the printed Kompas, and feel the need to write my opinion for citizen journalism site. I was including the link of my old writing for OhMyNews International (OMNI), and the link of another Indonesian citizen reporter for OMNI. We do need citizen journalism as a communication tool. That's why I like variety of comments. We shared and get feedback.

Today I browse and found this post in Kompasiana as an interesting piece with lots of information. I did not read it when I uploaded my writing two days after the author uploaded that post. 34 years...a very long pain for those related to the victims. I haven't got a chance to see the film, so I can't say my reaction to the film. I've got my prejudice, I've got my short opinion of the short official trailer, but I should be able to see the film and hear the discussion before I can make any judgement. So, I think we do need to see the film and make our decision about the content. If needed, we can make our own version of film on the situation at that time. Yet, the most important thing is to open a communication. It would even be better if those involve in it share their voices. Life is not long enough...34 years gone by...God is not blind, why don't we make way to forgive and be forgiven? It would not be forgotten, but we can make it a good lesson for the future.

The Power of Netizens' Voices

In an article "Trapped Inside a Broken Judicial System After Hitting Send" by Norimitsu Onishi, Prita Mulyasari was quoted saying: "People always lose to the powerful in this country. I'm a mother, a regular person like everybody else, so a lot of people identified with me and felt sympathy."

That's so true...that's why people accepted to give her our supports when she lost her case in the civil defamation law suit. People started collecting coins to show the hospital that we are standing together with her. She is the representative of ourselves, people who do not have power towards the powerful and resourceful person or institution. She is also the symbol of our needs to have better service as customers, especially for the health service. Coins are also the symbolization of how how cheap is the value of our judicial law. Another blogger said it out nicely:

collecting coins for Prita has surpassed the actual case, and has grown into a making a statement towards the corrupt judicial system this country has. coin us, we’ll coin you back. I do support this movement. I support it because I think that we have the right to speak out (responsibly mind you), we have the right to know what we are charged with (if arrested) and we have the right to a fair trial. And I don’t think Prita got any of that.

The government should see this case as a positive input to develop our national and international health services. Then, we might hope that people will trust our hospitals. Health services like hospitals can only give charity or discounted services if they have money to support the financial budget. It could only be attained by having the high class society as their patients to help supporting the cost for the low income patients. We do need to gain consumers' trust in our local hospitals. Seeing the advertisements we can clearly see that Indonesian patients are targeted consumers of hospitals abroad. This case is giving a negative impact, but actually it would be easier to be forgotten if we are not facing the arrogance hospitality of a hospital.

The coins collected has surpassed the needed amount to pay off Prita's fine. Updated status can be seen through Face Book or mailing list. The hospital is dropping the civil suit against Prita, but we don't know yet about the two doctors who were also charged in their law suits. I think it would be wiser to drop the case (both sides, the hospital and Prita). We can use the case as a good example of how vulnerable the position of consumers and bloggers in voicing their voices through the internet if the implementation of the Bill of Act on Electronic Information and Transaction (UU ITE) is not implemented wisely. An old post from Dunia Anggara showed the author's concern towards freedom of speech and expression. Some commentators disagree with him, but Prita's case show how vulnerable the position of a citizen when voicing his/her opinion online. Prita's right as a patient to get the information about her health condition seemed to be forgotten. As someone who felt that her complaint was entering deaf ears, her reaction of mailing her fellow friends (and friends mailing their friends) should not be seen as defaming one's name or institution. They should clarify it, not issuing a civil law suit.

Prita's case showed us the power of netizen's voices. It is also showing us that small contribution can also build a huge amount, a powerful action. If we can do a bit in our own shoes, then together we can change the world.

If Prita doesn't need to pay the fine, then people are suggesting her to use the money for other victims of unbalance power in front of the judicial law (if we should not say the corrupted judicial law). It seems that the cyber world is waking up, building another stand that show the power of netizens' voices.

Talking about cyber voices, there is one nice post came from blogger Yoris Sebastian about Budi Soehardi who received CNN Heroes 2009 award. It reminded me of how nationality is not depending on where one's live or work. Being abroad, working for a foreign brand of airline, didn't stop Budi from thinking about people from his country. One comment underlined that the orphanage is not in East Timor but in Kupang. It doesn't really matter where the orphanage was build, the point is he (and his family) do care about those children. They are the victim of the East Timor war. Life is being very difficult for them and education is the most important way to help building better life for those children. Sharing inspirational story like that (and also about the newspaper boy who became an architect) is really a good way to inspire people to act. So, the power of netizens' voices will only be powerful if the readers are inspired to act...The cyber world is also making the world smaller, you do not need to be Indonesian to support Prita. Borders are fading out, just like how quick the world responded and helped us during the tsunami and earthquakes. Ready to do something for others?

Some links on Prita's case can be read here:
http://thejakartaglobe.com/national/donors-close-to-paying-off-pritas-fine/346090
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/12/2769940.htm
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/omni-says-its-ready-to-drop-civil-suit-against-prita-but-there-is-a-catch/346833

My new blog and a new finding

I'm starting a new blog about being a mother (it is in Bahasa Indonesia). It will be talking about children and mostly about my own sons, and I'm calling it "Buah Hati". Translation by words meaning the fruit of the heart, but it is actually the apple of a mother's eyes, the fruit of the womb...

I've got an interesting fact that a song I've been so keen of since my teenage period is actually a song from a Philippine's singer, Freddie Aguilar. I read the comments from this YouTube post, and they made me wonder the origin of this song.

I've known the song in English version since I was in Junior Highschool (so around thirty years...) and only in English. I'd like to put it into my blog, then I came to know the origin of the song. It is from Tagalog, you can hear the Tagalog version here. And the title is "Anak"...the same word we are using for children in Bahasa Indonesia.

From his wikipedia page, I found out that he wrote this song as a way to show his regret for a decision to left his school and family at the age of 18.

Life
Freddie studied Electrical Engineering at De Guzman Institute of Technology but did not finish the course. Instead he pursued music became a street musician and then a folk club and bar musician.[4] In 1973, he married Josephine Quiepo.

Freddie Aguilar left family and school unfinished at the age of 18. Realizing and regretting his mistakes five years later, Freddie composed "Anak", a remorseful song expressing apology to his parents.

Sometimes communication stuck, and we do need to have a better communcation between older generation to the younger one. I'm glad to find out the original song (and would really like to know the Tagalog translation)...and thankful to him that he shared his experience through this beautiful song.

Life is a Choice

Yes, life is a choice to make! You can be a blogger, you can be a citizen reporter, you can be a volunteer, or you can be an ordinary housewife... We can also take it all as our activities, yet there should always priority at a time.

Time is the most valuable aspect of out life. Being a blogger made me realized why some professionals prefers not to be a blogger. They are also busy arranging their life, between social and professional life. Yet, those 24 hours a day can be valuable enough if we can set our best priority at the needed time.

October 24, 2009 had three kind of choices for me: Pesta Blogger, Trisakti's architects big reunion, and an event for my kids in Aini Eye Hospital (actually that same day they were also having another event in their school). As I was already invited to Pesta Blogger 2009 through an invitation for Forum Pembaca Kompas, I didn't want to throw it away (if I pay for it may be I'll skip this year's party). So, I took Pesta Blogger and gave some of my time fled from the party to be with my kids (thank you to grandpa who were kind enough to bring and taking care for his grandchildren...I love you dad!:))

I wrote "Bersahabat Dengan Mata Sejak Dini" from my short visit to Aini. I thought Pesta Blogger would be covered by more than a thousand bloggers, so it could be postponed. Even for that Eye Care Festival article I uploaded it after 2 weeks.

It would really be easier to be a blogger. I can just upload some pictures and some comments (tough uploading pictures is like wasting a lot of time). That's the different of just blogging and being a citizen reporter. Being a citizen reporter requires me to think, to prepare, and do some research (if needed) before uploading a posting. And that needs time...

But, looking through what I've been writing as a netizen, I think it would be nice to store all those interesting pictures and events in my memory, and uploading it when I have time and at the right (linked) moment.

Short comments for today's Kompas (printed edition)

I'm still one of the faithful readers of printed medias, including Kompas. Yet, I really need the online version to keep those interesting articles to reread when I need it. That way, I didn't have to make my own clippings from the printed edition.

I always like the opinion columns because it is not only news, but it gives us another perspective. Actually I also like to write opinions. Yet, there are some news that would not get a column in the printed newspaper and it would be better presented as news.

Face Book is becoming another tool for citizen journalism. As a social media, it connects more people, easier to make a link with pictures, articles, etc. Sometimes I also upload short comments for printed media there. Several days ago I commented on two articles from Kompas' opinion about the more than 1,000,000 FBers joined to back up KPK. I like the opinions ("Pengadilan Opini Publik" dan "Nurani Publik Terusik"), because they are also showing another aspect of seeing the problem. We should see the problem from all different directions. The police, the judge, and the government should see it as people's choice to put off the corruption. It's the KPK that we are defending. We do hope changes from this institution, even if they are taking the role of policemen and other law institutions. I think we do hope that KPK is only a temporary bridge to help cutting the root of corrupted mentality. And I think we, as citizens, should also be careful not to blindly back up anybody or any institution. Yet, we are really depending on those people who are accepted as leaders and thinkers, including medias. I bet that half than those who joined the cause in Face Book did not really know what is going on, they were just joining the voice of the media and the leaders. So, it is important not to see things only as black and white...

Another article from Limas Sutanto today, "Makna Sejuta Dukungan", is also an interesting one. Those who are having the trust from Indonesian people should remind themselves that the citizen is not fighting against the police, or the government...the citizen only need to have a better country, a country free of unfairness and corruptions. And that should also be a common goal from all the governmental institutions (and also the people's representatives).

There is another opinion that attracted my eyes, "Timor Leste dan Indonesia". It was written by A. Windarto. It is true that historians should take their places (a netral stance) in order that we can go through another step of our history. For most Indonesians who are only aware of what had happened through the national media (at that time) could not really understand the "accusation" of being the one who took over and colonialized Timor Timur. It does need political wisdom to open the wound, look into what were really happening, accepting our mistakes and appologize for any wrongdoings, yet at the same time showing that we also did good deeds too (I do hope the money that went there used for building it as a part of the nation, not only for wars. Yet, I've never been there...the only source I've got is the national media. It should also clarified if those who would like to integrate with Indonesia did existed).

The future generation will need the verification of the history, and it would be better to do it while those who are involved in it are still alive. Political mistakes happens, and we need to manage how to settle it without disgracing the country. We are now coming into a more global world, we need to communicate better than before...we need to be honest about history just as we would like people to recognize that our independence as a nation is the 17th August 1945 not the 27th December 1949).