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I don't have a daily routine, I do what i can do.
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I don't like to just sit around in my house.
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Hard work, office work, I've done them all but deceiving people, I never do that, I'm far from that.
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Datuk Hanafiah, artist & pioneer of the Balikpapan Cultural Movement
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Before I resided in Balikpapan city, I have traveled to many Dayak villages
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I studied the culture of every Dayak clan
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Studying it didn't need a teacher, but by close observation.
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I watched closely, then I explored it by studying the story behind each dance.
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So the right way is to study the story behind each dance, to enable you to understand each movement.
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From 1956, I developed this.
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For this province, East Kalimantan Province, by the mandate from Kutai Kingdom...
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They made me the leader for cultural preservation for this area.
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In the neighboring city, Samarinda, they have appointed the Sultan's cousin, H. Raden Patpol.
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At Tenggarong city, the Sultan's son, H. Pugerpuger.
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But they have all now been long gone. It's only me now.
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Does the government pay any attention to the art and culture in Balikpapan?
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There's no help at all from the government!
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For example, I travel regularly to Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, with my crew.
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We're getting help from institutions, donations from the police or even the army. That's what's enabled us to go to these cities.
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But when they need us, when there's a ceremony, the government will ask for our help, then they will give us help.
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If we're talking about the current government...
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Don't need to mention art, they don't even care for the basic needs of the people.
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So did government provide facilities for artists?
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Only if they want any help, to show us in parks, buildings, offices.
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That's clear, I'm only talking about facts, no fantasies.
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So how do you respond to this situation?
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Since i'm a civilian, not government official, not political personality, not in the bureaucracy...
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I don't think of any suggestions, plans, or any hopes.
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You know these government officials are no strangers to us, but they don't want to help.
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So how do you see the younger generation?
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The younger generation, with so much improvement in technology...
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Even kids in elementary school now, they are using smartphones.
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They have money, but in here (knowledge), they have less than other generations before them.
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So we need to maintain our discipline in all aspects of life.
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