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Better
Education Open Chances for Women to Work
in Tourism
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When was Mother’s Day First Celebrated
in Denpasar?
Better
education makes it possible for Balinese
women to get jobs in the public domain including
the tourism industry. The growing number
of Balinese women who work in hospitality
can be seen as a result of the on-going
struggle for Balinese women to promote education
for their nation or group.
 This
dated back to the colonial period of the
1930s when a number of Balinese women established
schools and organizations to promote womens
fate. They celebrated Mother’s Day
and encouraged Balinese women to get an
education as equally as men.
Mother’s Day was first celebrated in
Denpasar at Taman Siswa Building on 22 December
1939. The celebration of Mother’s Day
that actually falls on the 22 December was
deliberately changed to Saturday night in
order that invitees could attend the reception
conveniently.
The first celebration of Mother’s Day
in Denpasar was initiated by the organization
of Peroekoenan Istri Denpasar (PID) or Woman
Association of Denpasar. In the meantime,
the committee designated Mrs. Ida Bagoes
Geredeg as the chairwoman of the organizing
committee. The celebration was made merry
with a music performance. Information about
the celebration of the Mothers’ was
published in an article entitled “Mother’s
Day Celebration” in the magazine Djatajoe
(published in Singaraja) on the 25th January
1940. The article constituted the speech
of Mrs. Ida Bagus Geredeg that was read
at the reception of the Mother’s Day
celebration.
Mother’s Day was decided, based on
the Congress of Indonesian Woman in Yogyakarta
on 22 December 1928, just two months after
the Youth Congress on 28 October 1928 declaring
the Youth Oath. This meant that the Mother’s
Day celebration in Denpasar in 1939 was
conducted 11 years after it first sparked.
It was unclear why Mother’s Day was
never celebrated in Denpasar before that
time. One of the possibilities was that
tight control of the Dutch administration
against any nationalism-oriented movements.
The growth of nationalistic zest in Bali
was really impeded by the Dutch.
Invitees who attended the celebration were
government delegates, a delegation of the
press, Mr. Soerjokoesoemo, the spouse who
had lent Taman Siswa building for the celebration
venue, a Boy Scout’s chief, and a number
of other invitees. The celebration night
was fully supported by a modern art group
that donated musical entertainment on the
night. Mrs. Ida Bagus Geredeg admitted that
the Mother’s Day celebration would
not have taken place without the support
of many parties.
Mother’s
Merit
In her speech, Mrs. Ida Bagus Geredeg expressed
that a Mother’s Day celebration was
only dedicated to appreciate the merits
of woman. “The merits of women’s
groups in life is invaluable, as what she
does is intended to cater for our needs
and prosperity,” wrote Mrs. Ida Bagus
Geredeg. She emphasized that the merits
of women was abundant, starting from pregnancy,
giving birth, educating and earning a living.
Mrs. Ida Bagus Geredeg also expressed her
glorious message to the women’s group.
In the message was advice to women to do
tapabrata (self-control), and be careful
when in pregnancy. Its purpose is clear
so that the child will be safely born. In
addition, women were also expected to take
a firm standpoint to maintain self-purity
by thinking, speaking and acting well. On
the contrary, women were forbidden to act,
hear, see and eat something less good that
disgraced the purity of woman.
In her speech, Mrs. Ida Bagues Geredeg recounted
the story of Men Brayut, a traditional legend
of Bali. Men Brayut had 18 children, sons
and daughters. Due to her firmness and purity,
Men Brayut and her husband brought up their
children so that they spread goodness in
society. She did not intend to emphasize
on the large number of children they had,
in recounting the story above, but rather
their success in bringing up their children
to be a shining example for society.
By the end of her speech, she carefully
clarified that if she focused on the important
role of the mother in a family, it did not
mean that she underestimated the role of
the father. “Exactly no. Because, the
father has great merits as well,” she
said. But, she did not forget to explain
the Mother’s Day celebration needed
to stir up people’s thinking so that
all people will remember the great merits
of mother.
In her closing speech, Mrs. Ida Bagus Geredeg
said that Mother’s Day is aimed at
enhancing the important role of women in
order that they can support the development
of their fatherland. Other than emphasizing
the important role of women in their household,
the celebration of Mother’s Day in
Denpasar also contained political propaganda
and nationalism.
The high number of Balinese women working
in the public sphere, particularly in tourism,
can also be seen as one result of Balinese
women of the past in the field of education.
(BTN/04)
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