The Pandemic will not Come just Once

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Visitors take pictures in the front yard of Gedung Sate in Bandung, West Java, Sunday (1/3/2020) morning.

It does not seem that the COVID-19 pandemic will end as soon as expected. Everyone should adapt because it may return. The tones of the patriotic song "Hallo Bandoeng" (1929) by Willy Derby were heard loudly accompanying Muhammad Anugrah (31) to start the Gedung Sate en Omstreken tour on Sunday afternoon.

Twelve participants were invited to join a tour celebrating the heyday of the city of Bandung during 1930s, organized by the Bandung Good Guide. Like the yearning song of "Hallo Bandoeng", the participants longed for the beauty of Bandung.

Anugrah, commonly called Egar, brought tour participants to visit the Kodiklat building, the location of big international events in the past such as the Jaarbeurs annual stock exchange festival. Participants also saw potato houses, St. Albanus Church, Riaustraat, the Banda Post Building and the Heritage Factory Outlet. European architectural styles are still found on the streets around the Gedung Sate building.

Hopefully it will become a new source of income in the future

However, this tour was unusual. Egar was not with the participants in person. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was carried out virtually using the Cisco Webex conversation application and Google Maps.

"This method is very challenging. I must be very careful in describing a building and its legacy in detail. Plots must also be built carefully so that they remain attractive and not boring," he said.

Read also: In Sadness, They Share Happiness

The in-person version of the tour was established in February 2020, but then the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This did not stop Egar. Alongside two other founders of the Bandung Good Guide, Egar arranged the new procedure: a virtual tour. There are no pre-established rates. Tour participants pay what they like.

The response was quite promising when the service started in early April 2020. More than 100 people registered to take part in the first Gedung Sate en Omstreken tour. However, because there were only three guides, the participants were limited to 60 people. "We think it is not only surviving but also giving space to learn new things. Hopefully it will become a new source of income in the future,” said Egar.

Also read : Biggest Blow to Global Tourism in Two Decades

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Scavengers walk on Jalan Asia Afrika on the 14th day of Large-Scale Social Restrictions or PSBB in the City of Bandung, West Java, Tuesday (5/5/2020). Starting Wednesday (6/5), PSBB will be implemented in 27 districts / cities in West Java.

Helping workers

The pandemic makes no exceptions. Even a senior businessman such as Komarudin Kudiya (52) feels its financial effects. But this did not discourage him. Komar instead responded to the challenge by opening a virtual batik exhibition at his studio in Bandung. "Creativity is being tested in the face of difficult challenges," he said.

In the inaugural exhibition between April 24 and 30, Komar staged a typical Cirebon Megamendung batik show. Hundreds of fabrics of various shades and colors were on display. Some were hung in special displays. Some of the clothes were displayed on mannequins. The atmosphere was like a conventional exhibition, but there was no audience. This time, batik lovers enjoyed it through social media such as Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

The online audience’s response was quite positive even though it was not as busy as conventional exhibitions. But we could not feel the softness of the batik. While travel is restricted, finding buyers was not the priority. However, the sales of 15 pieces of batik cloth valued Rp 20 million was not bad. Komar was sure that he was on the right track to face the new era.

"We are preparing for the next virtual exhibition. The theme will be shibori batik, buketan in the morning and then batik from three countries," he said.

Also read : People Redistribute Social Aid to Others More in Need

Komar hopes this will be an alternative business model. Before the pandemic, he had 250 workers. Since the end of March, the majority have been laid off with compensation of Rp 25,000 per person per day. Now, there are only monthly workers and 20 administrative staff members.

"The production workers have returned to Cirebon, Pekalongan and Banyummas," he said.

Komar, who is the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Batik Craftsmen and Entrepreneurs, said that most of the association’s members were in difficult situations. He said his condition was equally bad. However, Komar said there was no time to complain. He believes, like the thousands of different batik motifs that he sells, that innovation is key. Batik artisans must be strong and ready to make friends with change.

"Online sales are a must. The colors of batik will remain alive if the craftsmen keep trying," he said.

Kompas/Priyombodo

Foreign tourists see Cirebon batik in Crafina 2019 at the Jakarta Convention Center, Central Jakarta, Thursday (17/10/2019).

Creations do not die

Cimahi art workers also do not want to stop making new creations. Alongside the Cimahi Theater Society (Masteci), they held the Greater Bandung Monolog Festival for the first time. However, the show was not held onstage as usual. The performances were held in bedrooms and living rooms through an online application. More than 30 participants took part in the festival. The number could have been more if participants from other areas were allowed.

"After the qualification stages from May 7 to 9, six participants will advance to the final round from May 17 to 19. The best three will get coaching money and certificates. The purpose is stay enthusiastic during the pandemic," said the chairman of Masteci, Ricky Angga Maulana. The head of the Cimahi city cultural council, Hermana HMT, said the pandemic had paralyzed the activities of artists in the area. It had not only hurt their creativity but also their livelihoods.

However, complaining was not a choice. Creativity had to continue even though everything had been limited. "We responded with a cultural program from May to July 2020," he said.

The program will feature a number of activities. Besides monologues, there is also an art training festival and a drawing festival. There is also training in recording video performances for artists who are not accustomed to appearing online.

If we don’t know how to respond to it, it will only continue to bring grief to humans and lives.

Hermana said that whether or not there was help, he and his friends would not stop working. The program would be held to face the possibility of another pandemic.

"A pandemic like this will not come just once. If we don’t know how to respond to it, it will only continue to bring grief to humans and lives," he said.

Meanwhile, in the evening, the virtual tour of the Gedung Sate and its surroundings ended. Egar promised that there were still a number of Bandung-specific events to be offered, ranging from the urban legend “The Little Story of Sukarno” to Bandung Stad Centrum.

"We are open to collaborating with various parties to work in the midst of a pandemic. Hopefully it will be an option to revive tourism amid limitations," Egar said.

His hopes are similar to a grandmother\'s longing for her children and grandchildren in Willy Derby\'s "Hallo Bandoeng", sung in Dutch. The lyrics include, “Hallo

Bandung. Hello my dear child. I miss you so much.” Everyone must adapt because the pandemic may return.