VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Fashion is an integral part of diplomacy, especially economic and cultural diplomacy. This was stated by Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Cecep Herawan after opening Jakarta Fashion Week/JFW 2018 on Saturday (20/10). He was proud to be able to witness the Jakarta Innovative Fashion Week which was designed from Batik and the archipelagic clothes by Indonesian creative designers collaborating with foreign designers. The event is being held for a week starting from October 20 until 26, 2018. With the theme “Collaboration”, the event displays more than 200 local and international designers. There are various creative collaborations of Indonesian designers and foreign designers, including collaboration Novita Yunus from Indonesia with Aboriginal Art Centre from Australian embassy, and Makoto Washizu from Japan Fashion Week Organization and Japanese embassy with 3 Indonesian designers in Forward Fashion.

Indonesia participates in Salon International de l’Alimentation exhibition, Paris which is held in Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris, Prance on October 21-25, 2018. The exhibition is one of the biggest exhibitions of food and beverage products in the world with the expectation of number of visitors around 155,000 people and involves 7,020 participants from 109 countries. Indonesian attaché of trade in Paris, Megawati explained on the exhibition that the products which are displayed are like tea, various kinds of fruit crispy, paprika innovation, coconut derivative products, various kinds of oil variations and many others.

Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy led a meeting of culture of ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea. The meeting is held from October 21-26, 2018 in Yogyakarta. On the similar occasion, Yogyakarta is also determined as ASEAN cultural city. The choosing of Yogyakarta cannot be separated from history and potential which belongs to the city. Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Hilmar Farid said that Yogyakarta throughout history has the highest density level of intellectual and culture in Indonesia. Even in one year, Yogyakarta can hold more than 100 cultural festivals held in Yogyakarta. Therefore, it is logic if Yogyakarta is selected as ASEAN cultural city.

In today’s edition, we will present keroncong songs performed by Indonesian female singer, Safitri. Aryati which was created by Ismail Marzuki was an old song and has been sung by several Indonesian singers. The song was previously sung in pop genre then dedicated back by Safitri with modern Keroncong genre. The singer with the full name Noor Agni Safitri was firstly sung the keroncong songs accompanied by music instruments such as okulele, flute and violin. Safitri actually was not interested in keroncong music, but thanks to the encouragement of her parents, Safitri finally learned keroncong music and began to like it. Even more, she said singing keroncong is an irreplaceable pride in the course of her life. “Melati di Tapal Batas” is the heroic-themed song which was created by Ismail Marzuki, in the era of Indonesia's independence struggle. This song is one of Indonesia's national compulsory songs that tells about the enthusiasm of young men and women who are struggling to defend the country and nation.

PT Wijaya Karya –WIKA gave green light to the government of North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan to continue the construction of Lawe-Lawe Dam, which was stopped since 2017.Head of the North Penajam Paser Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Office, Puguh Sumitro, when met at Penajam, Friday (10/20) said that his side would explore PT Wika and would encourage it to continue the construction of Lawe-Lawe Dam. Verbally, the North Penajam Paser Regency Public Works and Spatial Planning Office plans to visit the PT Wika Office in Jakarta. Meanwhile, the submission of funding assistance to complete the construction of Lawe-Lawe Dam to the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing has not been responded.The construction of Lawe-Lawe Dam in the Penajam Sub-district worth Rp143 billion was stopped since May 2017, with a working condition of around 85 percent. Until now, the construction of the Bendung Lawe-Lawe project has not been continued and has not been able to function, because the North Penajam Paser Regency Government budget has decreased. Lawe-Lawe Dam is meant to build in supporting an increase in the supply of raw water and clean water for the Regional Water Company of Danum Taka, North Penajam Paser Regency, so that it must continue until it’s functional.

The archipelago actually has a fascinating cultural diversity that is only "polished" to support the progress of the tourism sector, especially in cultural and historical tourism.The preservation of the cultures of various sultanates and indigenous peoples is not limited to tourist destinations, but the strategic thing is as an adhesive of the nation. Chairperson of the Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (Matra) KPH SP Rheindra J Wiroyudho Alam Syah in Tanjung Selor on Sunday said that indigenous people must fight through indigenous and cultural resilience amid various social, economic and political problems.He said that because of the Bulungan Customary Institution held "Birau" (the customary ritual of the Bulungan Sultanate) 2018, the presence of Matra in North Kalimantan in was to commemorate the 228th Anniversary of Tanjung Selor City and the 58th Bulungan Regency. He said that the Sultanate of Bulungan is the only sultanate in the northern region of Borneo which was once part of Malaysia and the South Philippines. Birau Cultural Celebration is an effort to preserve local culture as well as to increase tourist visits to North Kalimantan.

Head of the Muhammadiyah in Central Kalimantan Region, M Yamin Mukhtar sent aid for necessities and clothing to be used for disaster victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi Province. He said in Palangka Raya on last Saturday that the assistance was successfully collected by the Central Kalimantan Zakat Infaq Institute and the Shadaqah Muhammadiyah –Lazismu along with the ranks and the autonomous organizations of Muhammadiyah across Central Kalimantan.Lazismu Director of Central Kalimantan, Priyono added that besides staples and clothes, the Central Kalimantan Lazismualso succeeded in collecting money worth Rp123 million. Priyono also explained that the distribution of money donations to the victims has been sent to the central Lazismu’s banking account so that the distribution process is done with one access. As for the assistance of goods sent through cargo services, it is sent to the Lazismu post in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan Province.Head of the Central Muhammadiyah Youth Regional Leader, Daryana said that that in addition to the assistance that had been distributed, his side is also still raising aid for the disaster victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Palu and its surroundings. According to him, his side is ready to facilitate community assistance for the victims in Central Sulawesi.

Today, October 22, 2018, the Indonesian nation commemorates National Santri Day. Since the National Santri Day was launched by President Joko Widodo in 2015, the government and the people have specifically organized various activities to commemorate the National Santri Day. The theme for this year's commemoration is "Being with Santri, Indonesian Peaceful” The commemorative peak was held in Bandung, West Java on Sunday night. Of course, there is a strong reason why specifically stipulated October 22nd as National Santri Day. This cannot be separated from the struggle to maintain Indonesian independence which was proclaimed on August 17, 1945. History has noted that in achieving and maintaining Indonesian independence, the ulamas, kiai, and santri have a major role. The stipulation on October 22 is based on the Jihad Resolution presented by the founder of Nahdlatul Ulama, Kiai Haji Hasyim Asy'ari in Surabaya, East Java on October 22, 1945. Hasyim Asy'ari called on his students to join in the struggle to prevent Dutch troops from returning to Indonesia through ' Netherlands Indies Civil Administration '-NICA. Quoting President Joko Widodo's statement at the Santri Nusantara Grand Event in the context of 2018 National Santri Day in Solo Vastenburg Fortress, Central Java on Saturday night, the establishment of National Santri Day is a state respect and appreciation to the kiai, the ulema, the santri and all components of the nation who follow their good role models. Being a santri means attending an Islamic education at Islamic boarding schools or Pesantren. Staying in the place until the education is complete has become the choice of some Indonesian people. The knowledge transfer is also more developed. Arabic and English become compulsory lessons in many Pesantrens today. In addition to the teachings of Islam, the students are taught to develop life skills and get vocational education. The goal is that students can become professional entrepreneurs in various fields. Santri and Pesantren continue to develop their major role not only in teaching Islam, but also as a socio-cultural institution in the formation of an ideal society. Islamic boarding schools have great potential to create new entrepreneurs and grow small and medium-sized industrial sectors. With the enactment of the National Santri Day, this will further motivate the santri to strengthen their existence. As their predecessors did, they fought and maintained Indonesian independence. National Santri Day is expected to further strengthen the position of the santri in their major role of guarding the country, and the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. Being with Santri, Indonesian is peaceful. Happy National Santri Day!