Kick Andy Magazine (6th issue): Transgender/Queer

The Latest issue from Kick Andy is on my hand, first of all I want to say I'm sorry for my absence for two months. I have some issues that I have to deal with. But, forget that lets take a peek to the this inspiring magazine...Shall we??

The topic which I found interesting here is about transgender in Indonesia. What will cross your mind if someone says Queer/ Transgender. Well, If you're in Indonesia, you might think about a third-class citizen, prostitute and some other bad image about them which even a straight man will shiver.

I have ever heard (in 2004-2005) when an acquaintance of my friend have a bad (I might say "worst") experience with Queer. He was an "Ojek" (a driver of motorcycle taxi), a queer use his service to take her to a mall. She said she will pay 25000 Rupiahs (2,5 US $ at that time). The driver agreed, so for several hours he take his passenger to the some spots. However, bad things happen after the driver take the queer to his home. the queer said he/she didn't bring enough money, so he/she invite the driver to his/her home. There were several friends of the queer. The driver sexually abused there and for his service as a driver, he got paid 5000 Rupiahs (0,5 US Dollar). If you wondering why the driver didn't fight?? well, he can't. His wife was pregnant at that time. In Indonesia, there's sort of myth or belief that when a woman pregnant, both husband and wife must not doing something reckless (such as killing or torture animals) which may harm the babies when he born (for example, my teacher in a high has a daughter who unable to walk until two years old. some people said that it happened because when his wife pregnant, my teacher tie a chicken's leg too tight). So the driver think if he harm them, his child will get the consequences.

Merlyn Sopjan

Judging by the last passage, probably, you might think that Queer are definitely problem in society. But, What if some queer/transgender try doing in positive way, Merlyn Sopjan and Megie Megawati are several transgender who fight for the Transgender/ Queer existence. Not only that, Megie helping an NGO to assist queers who eager to stop as a prostitute, and provide them with counseling. Merlya Sopjan are well Known as "Putri Waria" 2006 (beauty pageant for Queer/Transgender). He/She also run on major election in Malang, East Java several years ago.

Megie and Merlyn told their stories here. they struggle since they were child, friends mocking them, neighbors mocking them, however they have big-heart parents, both parents accept Megie and Merlyn as they are. Since Indonesia (majority) didn't accept the existence of queer, a lot of them were tortured. So, Megie provide others queer with skill and counseling. Sometimes, Megy join with another NGO (non-Government Organization) to help unlucky queer. Meanwhile, Merlyn also fight for the rights of queer and transgender. She published two books yaitu, and several years ago, Merlyn becomes a candidate of Major in Malang.

We may (now) judge them in a negative ways, but don't forget they're just like everybody else. They just like you and me.

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Surabaya Creative Expo, BlueBerry, and Lisa

Surabay Creative Expo was held from 26th to 30st October 2011. I was maintain on one booth there. I thought it just a common expo, It is but I was surprised. The Participants not only from East Java but also from Bali. For example, Blueberry, a guitar manufacturer from Bali. Other things that surprised me is Lisa ( read about Lisa here), she has a booth there.

Surabaya Creative Expo 2011 was opened by the Mayor of Surabaya, Ir Tri Rismaharini, MTT. A lot of things there, there were workshop, seminar, live music, a lot of booth etc. As I told you before, some of them are from Bali. But, The one that attract me is Blueberry, it's not a brand of local cell phone. It's a brand of a guitar with beautiful engraving on it's surface.

Blueberry Booth on Surabaya Creative Expo 2011

I Wayan Tuges is the Crafter of these beautiful guitar. He start to craft guitar with ornament on it since 2007. Since then, He already crafted more than 1000 guitars. A piece of this guitar can be sold about US $ 3000. It is expensive since the material was imported and , Off Course, the value of the sculpting art on the guitar. One of his masterpiece is a US $ 15000 guitar. since it's head is coated with gold.

Mr D and US $ 15000 guitar

Mos of I Wayan's Customer are foreigner. "Compared to Locals, Foreigner appreciated my works" Said Iwaya Tuges. Anyway this is the link to Blueberry websites, you can find a lot of awesome guitar here

Lisa in her booth

Lisa, along with her friend, Christin have a booth there. Her booth sold accessories such as necklace, bracelet, headband etc. Most of them are made by herself. She learn to made these accessories from books and her friends. For someone who have a big trauma, she looks confident there. She also become a guest on a workshop entitlef "Marketing for Creative Industry" She talks about her rising as a a perpretators of Creative Industry. A big salute for Lisa!!! Go, Lisa!!!

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Se7en Heroes: Andi Rabiah (part III)

Andi Rabiah or "Floating Nurse" as a model of a telecommunication advertisement

Always Longed by Community


Satisfaction that can never be replaced is when Andi rabiah know her patients who were treated back to health. Her services as a nun who is ready 24 hours make it always missed by the families of patients. her attendance always missed by locals in every island. "If I served on land or in the city, maybe my service and knowledge for the community are not so necessary because there are a lot of medical workers. Therefore, I want to remain on duty on the island" Said Andi Rabiah, who has been widow since 1990.


Andi Rabiah was born in June 29 1957 in Siger, Districk Pangkajene Kepulauan (Pangkep). After graduate for Junior High school she continued her school in Penjenang Kesehatan (PK) a medical school which same level as senior high school. accepted in 1975 and graduated in 1976. after graduate from PK, on April 1977, She became a civil servant in government clinic Liukang Tangaya, Saputan Island, subdistrict Liukang Tangaya, District Pangkep. Andi knows the medical world of her grandmother. Graduate from junior high school, she was determined to follow her grandmother's footsteps became the first medical personnel at her village.


Her husband is the head of the clinic on the island sapuka. when her husband died, people worried Andy Rabiah would leave the island. Locals begged to Andi Rabiah so she would not to move. "Floating nurse" is familiar with locals on remote islands. For the sake of their duties, Andi Rabiah must entrust their children from childhood to her relatives in Pangkep. "I often leave my youngest kids since he was eight months old. I'd have to entrust him and leave him for my duty for three to six months" Said Andi Rabiah.


Her salary is 1,7 milion Rupiahs (192.787 USD) per month. She used her salary for her kids need. Her needs is already fulfilled. in fact, because her hard work as a nurse, Andi Rabiah had twice pilgrimage, the first in 1993. then, the second pilgrims was done a year later when she appointed as health officer for pilgrims.

(To be continued....)

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Kick Andy Magazine (3rd issue), Dealing with death and Coping with Crisis.

The latest edition of Kick Andy Magazine is out. Though, it is hard for someone like me to get the magazine. it was published at the end of June but i got it at the middle of July. Well, let's review the magz...shall we?

Lisa, Before doused by acid and After surgery

Face Off become the main article for this issue. I thought it was about plastic surgery which is done by several celebrity. I was wrong. it was about Lisa, a woman who doused with acid on her faces by her husband. She tell her story here. Lisa is one of victims of domestic violence. Her Husband, Mulyono, jealous with Lisa. He assume that Lisa have an affair with another man. Lisa came to hospital 3 years after Mulyono Douse her with acid. 90% of her face was damaged. She try to avoid any medical treatment because Lisa afraid if Mulyono have to deal with police.

Another interesting and inspiring brought by Kick Andy. Some of them are an interview with Virgiawan Listanto (people know him as "Iwan Fals"), "Coping with Crisis" in Me Time, 10 local innovators in Kick Andy's top 10, A story of "Robin Lim", a midwife who stay in Bali in Our Hero. The Survivor Club, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Berkah Kehidupan were reviewed on Reading Room.

One Article that attract me is Hot Talk, Siap Menghadapi Kematian (Prepared to Face Death) and Me Time, Coping with Crisis. In my opinion, both are related. Death is something we can't deny. everybody will facing their death. However, death become something that human afraid of. There are two reasons why human afraid with death. First, human are pampered with worldly things, and they hold these things so tight. Second, Death is something mysterious, humans can't predict when it will comes. According to Komaruddin Hidayat, author of "Psikologi Kematian" (Psychology of Death) and "Berdamai dengan kematian" (Make Peace with Death), life is like waiting in an airport. We are sitting, waiting our plane will be depart and will crossing border of world. But, we must enter "Immortality Gate". We must prepared and welcome the journey with enthusiasm because this journey is "fixed". All we have to do is wishing that this is a happy journey and enrich our inner/mind, sort of spiritual tours.

Sorrow is a psychological reaction which we have to deal with. Ieda Poernomo Sigit Sidi, a pyschologist, states that everyone who lost will passing a "sorrow phase" such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. For how long someone pass the phase, it depend on the person. Sometimes, some person can't reach the last phase. Some people stuck on depression and then it will affect his body ( for instance, he will get sick). Denial phase depend on causes of the death, emotional closeness or meaning of the person to us.

In my personal life, It was truly sad when I lost one of my best friend. She was passed away a week before her birthday and 3 months after her marriage. A short message was sent from friend shock me. I don't have an overwhelming reaction. I just say, Owh maybe because she was ill (several days before, she update her facebook said she was on hospital). But, I felt regret the she passed away too soon. I felt sorry for husband. I felt regret since I felt I'm not being a "proper" best friend and (at that time). I said God are so cruel, why He don't give a happy live to my friends? Why God took Her?? Lots of friends and relative love her (until now her facebook are filled with comment say hi,  telling their activities, or say that still missing her).

In the end, allow someone's death might not easy. But we must know, nothing eternal in this world. Everything has the end, we must learn to accept that and see that everything is not bad and knowing that God have a better plan for us.

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