I Made Mandra
Exceptional Retiring Puppeteer

It can be said, I Made Mandra is a rare figure artist, because, he is one of the puppeteer elders of Calonarang shadow playing in Bali. However, this man originally from Parekan sub village, Sibang Gede Village, Abiansemal Sub District, Badung Regency, was born in 1936 and now has been retired for more than 10 years. He was the receiver of Kerthi Budaya Arts Award (2001) from the Culture Department Badung.

Due to his creative process in the past, this father with 3 children who often studied in Sekolah Rakyat (public school) has adopted the art talent from his father, the late I Wayan Retig who also a famous Calonarang puppeteer at previous era. Mandra, who became an extraordinary lecturer at STSI Denpasar in 1982, is an important informant of Calonarang shadow playing.
How did he become a puppeteer? “Ngewayang (shadow playing) is my hobby. Since a little boy, I was wanted be a puppeteer,” he said to Bali Travel News, he started his puppet lessons at a young age.
His father, I Wayan Retig, is his idol, so he wanted to become a puppeteer. However, after he learnt the art, he received no jobs for staging. “Perhaps I am not as famous as my father, so people don’t trust me,” he said.
However, since his first performance, people started considering his name as a famous puppeteer. According to the audience, his playing is much alike his father and job orders are on the increase, firstly in Klungkung area then to Karangasem, Badung, Jembrana, Gilimanuk, up to Nusa Penida.
Calonarang as the theme is known for it’s scary story. “Because at that time, puppeteers dared to present the Calonarang story,” he said. Presently, many puppeteers perform this just like at the Bali Arts Festival. “Because the story contains a comparison lesson which recognizes evil and good deeds,” he said. (BTN/budarsana)

Sylvia Marie Challita
Country Manager Amex Indonesia

As the Country Manager for American Express Bank Ltd. In Indonesia, Sylvia Marie Challita is responsible for entire operation of American Express in Indonesia.

Sylvia Marie joined American Express Bank in the USA (1986) and since then she has held several positions within the company. She has vast work experience in Asia, including a few years in Indonesia. Then, she moved to Indonesia (1990) as the Division Director, Corporate Banking. In 1996, Sylvia went to Singapore to assist the development of Corporate Finance American Express Bank activity in Asia-Pacific territory. In 1998, she returned to Indonesia and was assigned the position as Senior Country Executive for American Express Bank.
Sylvia-Marie Challita holds two magisterial titles (Masters Degree) from USA (Harvard University and John Hopkins University) and the mastering of three languages fluently, namely: Arabic, English, and Indonesian. (BTN/*)