“Out to Sea, We Go Together”
A pinisi ship as part of the "Pinisi Bagi Negeri" (Pinisi for the Country) program sails in the waters of Makassar, South Sulawesi, Wednesday (12/4). The program is a collaboration between the Makassar Skalia Foundation and PT Toyota Astra Motor and runs maritime education and coral reef conservation programs for senior high school and university students in Makassar.
The west wind blew smoothly under the searing sun over Losari Beach in Makassar, South Sulawesi. A traditional Bugis-Makassar pinisi ship had its anchor pulled up before it sailed off to the seas in the calm morning.
Not long after, the traditional song “Nenek Moyangku Seorang Pelaut” (“My Ancestors Were Sea Voyagers”) was sung, reaffirming the maritime spirit reflected by the legendary ark.
“My ancestors were sea voyagers who loved to sail through the open seas. Through crashing waves, they had no fear. Through severe storms, they boldly went. The wind blowing, the sails unfurled, the waves crashing on the beach. Courageous young men, rise up now. Out to sea, we go together!”
The lyrics of the song written by celebrated songwriter Ibu Sud were sung enthusiastically by 20 students from the Al Hidayah Islamic high school of Makassar who set sail on the pinisi boat managed by the Makassar Skalia Foundation (YMS) on Wednesday (12/4/2017). Together with PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM), YMS held the “Pinisi bagi Negeri” (Pinisi for the Nation) educational and maritime environmental conservation program in Makassar. The program was held in collaboration between Toyota, the Makassar city administration and Kalla Toyota as the owner of Toyota dealers in South Sulawesi.
The 25-meter-long vessel sailed at eight knots (15 kilometers per hour) toward Samalona Island on Makassar Strait, around four nautical miles (7.4 kilometers) to the west of Losari Beach. Midway through the journey, the captain ordered the crew members to unfurl the sails. The seven sails, a feature unique to the pinisi, bolstered the ship’s magnificent looks.
The students were guided by Fachril, a facilitator from YMS, in a tour on the ship – including visits to the bow, the stern, and the upper, middle and lower decks. They were also taken to the bridge to watch the captain as he ran the 55-gross-ton ship.
Fachril carefully explained the technical components of the ship to the students. He also told them about the history and local wisdom of the ship. The students listened to him closely.
The tour then moved to the lower deck, which had a study room, a multimedia room and a mini library. In the room, the students watched a video on marine biodiversity. There were also explanations on coral reef rehabilitation through transplantation, currently a part of the pinisi program.
Revival
“Since the program was established in January, local students have participated enthusiastically. Some 95 percent of the students told us that they had never boarded a ship before, let alone a pinisi like this,” Fachril said.
This was among the reasons the Pinisi for the Nation program was established. The maritime culture, which was highly developed among locals hundreds of years ago, is no longer found in today’s societies in Indonesia, including in Makassar.
Before the Pinisi for the Nation program was established, the pinisi ships that used to rule over the archipelago’s trade routes had not been seen in Makassar shores for decades. It is the revival of this maritime spirit that is sought after through the program.
Pinisi for the Nation program manager Mirwan Anugrah from YMS said the program was aimed toward students of elementary school up to universities. The program is held free of charge on work days and is adjusted to the academic calendar and weather conditions.
Participants are chosen from schools and colleges randomly selected based on data and recommendations from the Makassar education and culture agency. Thus far, 12 trips out of 85 planned trips throughout 2017 have been conducted.
The program comprises a maritime education program and a rehabilitation of a 500-square-meter plot of coral reef by Samalona Island. A number of selected participants are given scholarships, such as diving courses for high school and college students and snorkeling and swimming courses for elementary and junior high school students.
Mirwan said that the pinisi served as a “field laboratory” for the youth to study various things about the ocean. “We wish to revive the seas as the ‘front yard’ of the nation. Our past and our future lies at sea,” he said.
Maritime culture
YMS chair Amiduddin Hammado said the pinisi was chosen to symbolize the grand maritime tradition of the archipelago. “The ship is the perfect medium to reintroduce the ocean and all of its potentials to the younger generations,” he said.
Al Hidayah Islamic high school principal Arqam Abdul Rahman, who accompanied the students on the trip, said he was grateful for the students’ participation in the trip. “Thus far, the students only know pinisi from books or museums. Now, they can see and feel what it is like to sail on a pinisi,” he said.
Such an experience and knowledge is important as it introduces the maritime world to students. Furthermore, the students can also learn about their ancestors who used to sail the oceans on pinisi ships. Sailing can also serve as a tour for the students.
PT Toyota Astra Motor vice president Henry Tanoto said that, as a gateway to Eastern Indonesia, Makassar has huge maritime potentials, including in its coral reefs, which play an important role in supporting the undersea ecosystem.
The coral reef in Makassar is included in the coral reef triangle recognized as theglobal center for marine biodiversity. However, current conditions areworse compared to decades ago.
“Through the Pinisi for the Nation program, we plant coral reefs around Samalona Island. This is an effort to conserve the marine region and prevent an expansion of coral reef damage,” said Henry, who also serves as PT Astra International director.
The program, he said, comprised not only planting coral reefs but also maintaining and monitoring the development and health of the coral reefs. A healthy coral reef region is expected to serve as a “marine laboratory” to support research.
Social contribution
Efforts conducted by PT TAM, Henry said, is a form of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the Toyota Berbagi program. It has four CSR pillars, namely environment, education, safe driving and community empowerment.
Specifically in environment, Toyota contributes through the “Car for Tree” program, which involves Toyota and its sales network by setting aside profits to support environmental conservation programs.
“We hope this program will improve the conditions of coral reefs and the undersea ecosystem. Therefore, people can develop environmentally friendly behaviors and understand the importance of preserving the values of maritime culture,” Henry said.
Separately, PT TAM corporate planning and legal division general manager Frans Ihutan Budianto said that the Pinisi for the Nation collaboration that was initiated in October 2016. At the time, YMS was raising funds to build a pinisi boat in an effort to help revive maritime culture.
PT TAM funded the completion of the pinisi ship and planned the Pinisi for the Nation program with YMS as part of its CSR. It is hoped that students and the general public can get to know local maritime culture better through the program.
Apart from that, Frans said that the aspect of environmental conservation through coral reef rehabilitation campaigned through the Pinisi for the Nation program is of no less importance. “Makassar faces challenges in preserving coral [reefs] as part of the world’s coral triangle,” he said.
The maritime spirit expands once more, just like the unfurling sails on the pinisi ship that morning. The traditional song’s last line comes back to one’s mind: “Out to sea, we go together!”
(BANU ASTONO)
