THE REAL STRUGGLE

Name of Harry Mantong began to rise up when he succeeded to place himself as the big five of Indonesian Idol II (2005). Actually, the name of Harry has been popular among national competitions. He was the runner up of Geronimo National Festival in Jakarta in 2000 and the runner up of Christmas Award Competition held by private TV channel in Indonesia in 2004. He also gained of position of the best vocalist and performer in Youth Christian Creativity Competition  in Jakarta. He was also the third winner of National Singing competition for P-4 (songs of Pancasila – the national philosophy – values as the message) in 1996. He is a good nationalist, isn’t he?

In his own country, Harry is a champion. Three provinces in Indonesia including Central Sulawesi, Jogja, and Central Java have been explored. He was the champion on Radio and Television Star (BRTV) or teenager in Central Sulawesi Province in the male entertainment category (1995). Besides that, he is also the champion for singing of P-4 songs in the same province (1996). Moving to Jogja, Harry is more and more skyrocket. He got a champion of Pop Singer in DIY and Central Java (1999). In 2001, he was the runner up of BRTV in DIY Province.

Many achievements and experiences lead him to fly anywhere. Good performance and tested quality make him awaited by others. Project by project comes without hard searching. Many chances to have performance as star guest in one stage with other stars are coming endless. In 2004, Harry in one stage with Glenn Fredly, Rio Febrian, Krisdayanti, and Aminoto Kosin orchestra in “Mandiri Visa” concert. In 2005, Harry performed “Rayakan 5”, a spiritual concert together with Franky Sihombing and Band, Glenn Fredly, Ello, and Cornelia Agatha. He was also involved as a featuring singer in Irsan Saleh Album entitled “For All Those Tears” (2005). It is a kind of solidarity album for the victims of tsunami and earthquake in Aceh (2004).

THINK ABOUT STRUGGLE

In the first Indonesian Idol, Meuthia Kasim had criticism Harry as having no commercial name and performance. This severe criticism actually quite humiliated him as at that time Harry had had many experiences in many competitions. He felt down. However, this boy had a good self-control and he gave a smart reply. Harry said that every one had his own right to appreciate something and it was a subjective view, but most of all he believe that all God’s creature was fine! Wow it is great, man! It is a smart answer, right?

This idol figure is very attractive through his smart thought. When he was in Senior High School, Harry has ever followed a scientifically article competition. Though he was an exact student, he analyzed social problems. Harry did a research about the dynamic life of a society living in a public housing complex, especially on social interaction among them. The study then performed in province level competition. It turned out that Harry was the first winner. His family was puzzled when he came home bringing a throphy. Wonderful!

Singing does not require just talent. Harry has a good vocal technique also. A minute after singing a song, Titi DJ said, “First, I think that no one can sing a song better than its actual singer, but now, you can sing better than the singer!” In a brief, Harry is not only practitioner. He masters the vocal technique theory and he is able to implement it in a real practice. Great!

RELY ON GOD

“Harry, please share your thinking on achieving an excellent achievement!”

“What hard we try without relying on God will perish. Real success comes from God. When my dad was interviewed in a program of “idolholic”, he reminded me to ask God any helps.”

“Many people rely on their own strength. Modern life teaches us a principle of self-confidence. When its context is in order not to let us feeling inferior and keeps optimistic is a good way. Otherwise, when the context is then shifting God backward behind own capability will be very dangerous. It is the same with atheism, and much closely to arrogance!”

“In my struggle of singing carrier, I feel the interference of God. My step to Indonesian idol is actually God leading. It seems that He arranged the detailed plan for me. Please think this. My failure entering the spectacular phase of Indonesian Idol I opened a chance for me to do my KKN (Kuliah Kerja Nyata, job practicing, the last duty to complete university degree) in Gadjah Mada University. It was at the right time. I came back to Jogja on the day the students were preparing to go to their spots, so I was able directly to join it. The next year, God also arranged everything so that I was able to pass the Indonesian Idol II through Makassar audition. The timing is exactly right! Jogja audition was at the same time with my proposal thesis (skripsi) seminar. Makassar audition made me to be only representative of Eastern Indonesia. Eventually, I got an achievement in Indonesian Idol II (the big five) and a success in my study. Those I got come merely from God’s mercy, guys!”

IMPROVING TALENT

“I often found two extrems attitude. Both of them are not good example. The first extreme is being passive with a reason just surrendering to God. The second extreme is working hard by diminishing God. We should do both doing and praying. Ora et labora!”

“Well, in God view, He has armed us with a certain talent. Actually the nature potency of a creature is very amazing. A normal man’s brain has content of billions of cells so in fact we can keep 100 move as fast as 300 mils per hour. Enormous speed, right?”

“Now, it depends on our pro-active effort. We admit that the talent given us is so various. One may have one talent or two talents of five talents for others. Nevertheless, it does not mean that less owner cannot have progress with his belonging. On the other hand, one has more talent will not be more progress when he does nothing to progress himself.”

“Self empowering demands perseverant struggle. I am proud of my daddy. He is just an economy senior high school graduate, but he is determined to have progress. The result is he gets good achievement in his carrier. The important thing is serious and not doing halfway. It is be hard in the beginning, but it will be better, and excellent through hard work. Look at the deaf Bethoven or misfortune Albert Einstein who could talk at the age of seven. Even, his teacher called him as “a silly dreamer” and the school kicked him out for his silliness. Then finally, they were encourage to rise up. Now, who don’t know their names?”

ENJOY LIFE

“Don’t think life struggle is a burden. Enjoy it. That is why choosing study and carrier should be matching with our talent and interest. Singing is my world and I enjoy it very much. I feel exited. Any practices or works related with singing never burden me. On the contrary it is such an exiting thing for me.”

“I was falling love in singing since I was a child. There was a funny story. When only a child, I always shook my body once I heard music or singing when I watched someone singing in TV. When my mom went to have choir practice, I followed her. I was delighted to see people singing and looking at musical note. I short, singing will thrill my heart….”

THERE MUST BE A VISION

“For me, having vision is crucial. A successful person must have a future vision. Without vision, we will be missing, walking without direction and no achievement. Life target must be clear. Therefore, I have vision since a child. When I was in primary school, I always answered that I wanted to be an engineer and a singer if someone asked about my future.”

“By the way, talking about vision, the principle is, don’t be afraid to dream. Hang your idea high in the sky! Have you ever drunk Coca Cola? Millions of people in the world have known its taste. Do you know, that it is because Robert Woodruff (Coca Cola company director in 1923-1955) always said: Any uniformed people may have a bottle Coca Cola just for 5 cents, whenever and wherever they are! The company is continually propagandized the vision. Now the dream comes true!”

“Vision is a choice. The nature of life is process in determining a decision. Study, occupation, life spouse, place to live and anything are choices. It is often that the situation gives us dilemma. That’s why one must have praying time to avoid having wrong a wrong vision.”

“Well, when once vision is established, the left is just focusing. Do not do something just for fun. We must be all out. We must be brave enough to pay for gaining the vision.”

POSITIVISTIC & OPTIMISTIC

“When I was singing in Bandung, a preaching of one evangelist gave me inspiration. The preacher’s name is Peter Tjondro. It turns out that he is a motivator. He said that you are what you are thinking you are and you can if you think you can. It means that, in God, we must be always positive and optimistic. Sometimes we feel fail in the beginning, though we never try even once.”

“If other people feel optimistic for us, why we are pessimistic? I  remembered how Harvey Malaiholo gave comment to me. He ever met me in Jogja in 2004, when I participated in one singing competition. Harvey was surprised when he knew that I failed to enter the next round. However, when a private TV interviewed him, he said that he believed I would be successful if I kept on trying and praying. What he said encourage me much.”

“Sometimes we are required to be wiser, having a mature thought  and take right decision for our social intercourse. Sometimes we rely on people to handle our problem though it often makes us up set. Thus, if we rely on man we will be up set but there is ONE that never makes us up set. To Him we always run to surrender and have a hope!”

THINK BIG, START SMALL, ACT NOW

“Having ideas or vision does not mean to be a dreamer. Hanging ideas high in the sky is not prohibited, but it must be realistic. Please begin from the small ones and never let anything delayed. Don’t just speak up but do it now!”

“Based on my experience, as early as we begin is better. I am lucky that I begin singing since I was child. I am not sure that I can be successful in Indonesian Idol without my earlier experiences. Experience is a good teacher and it takes time to process. So, don’t be late, act now!”

“I remembered a teaching on obedience. When we obey a small stuff, God will trust us on a big stuff. It is the same in carrier. No one be great instantly. So, don’t give up when we have small stuffs.”

DON’T LET YOURSELF ALONE

“Through Indonesian Idol, I do understand the meaning of support from others. The competition is very though. A little difference in a vote will kick us out the stage. How worth the support from family, relatives, and friends is.”

“My good carrier is a part of others’ contribution. Many people give advices, criticism, suggestion, ideas, and thought. Moreover, when we want to have one album, we cannot do alone. It is a collective work. It is a networking era, right?”

“So, we must be smart to enlarge our networking with many people and having interpersonal intelligence is a must. Whenever a conflict emerges, don’t let yourself absorbed, just regard it as a small pebble in your way, and keep yourself confidence, improve your capacity to have a strategic bargaining position.”

“Well, don’t forget to have a good community since it will give a positive environment. If we have a harmony and solid friends, tt will be an extraordinary power. I remember a motto of Toraja people: misa kada dip o tuo, pantan kada dipo mate that means: firmly united makes strength and dispersed makes vanish. It’s exactly right!”

BUILDING THE FIGHTER MENTALITY

Idol competition is a casting competition. Each participant will go through any steps before emerging as the best. All candidates are required to improve their capacity, have an attractive performance and build strong mentality to get severe criticism from the juries. In American Idol take an example, the finalist must be ready to accept any criticism launched by Simon Cowell, the jury. In Indonesian Idol, Harry has been ever teased not to have commercial name and performance….”

Entertainment is often bringing surprised. Sometimes no one knows it. In Portugal, take an example, the idol is coming from street singer. In Norwegian, the winner is a plumber, a father of two children. However, success is not merely luck. There is no instant process since all go through struggle.

For Harry, his struggle is the key factor of his success. He has a dramatic story in Indonesian Idol. The distinguished thing is he has also philosophic thought about what and how the struggle is. Mm…that’s great! The coming question then…how Harry has such fighter mentality? Let’s go on….

“Harry, how come so you have such mentality?”

“Mmm…actually I do a normal thing. When I was a little boy, I was similar with other boys in my village. Even, I liked hunting cricket in hills. I liked playing. It’s very normal. However, when other children liked to sing children song, I preferred to songs of Whitney Houston and Boys II Men. I felt that I wanted to be different, to be over the average and to be excellent. In short, I have a target to live more than common!”

“Is there someone support your spirit?”

“Certainly! My mom always encourages me since I was a child. She always took and accompanied me to sing. She cares much on my activities. She buys me new shirts and makes up to have an attractive performance. Her attention and care is very great….”

“How about your daddy?”

“It has a particular story! In the beginning, when I was still a child, daddy did not support my hobby and my singing carrier. Perhaps, he is not interested in entertainment. However, one day there was a peculiarly change of him. When I was 13 years old, I won a singing competition (PosoLake Festival) in Central Sulawesi. Though I was the youngest participant, I was the champion. My uncle took me to the competition place, but when daddy knew I was the first winner, he came to pick me up. He was so delighted. The next day he offered me to have a picnic. Since then, he supports my hobby and carrier, even he warns me whenever I fell reluctant to practice.”

“Is there a professional figure that builds your fighting mentality?”

“Off course! Singing is a hard skill. Even scientist said that skill in art of music is one form of intelligence. It will be different when we meet some experts having specialization in this skill. Appreciation and motivation they gave is so worth for me.”

“I will not forget my vocal teacher. His name is Wisnu. From him I learn much the correct vocal technique. He is the one revealing the secret of the skill. My thanks also go to my close friend, Deddy Zebua. He tells me much about totally performance. From him I learned how to catch the message of the song and how to deliver to the message to the audience so that they can enjoy the song. Those advices are clearly growing in my spirit. They are not just speaking, they have given proofs of what they said.”

“Sociologist said that personality is formed by society and culture as the life background. What do you think?”

“Wow…it is question I waiting for. Sure, I want to interact in global concept, so I match with Indonesian Idol. The concept of this event is wide worldly. This event is not only held in America but also in other countries including Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Austria, Norwegian, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and even Middle East countries. I feel that I am a part of global trend. However, I one side, until the end of the world, I love my Toraja. I released Toraja’s songs’ album in a fresh arrangement.”

“Beyond my awareness, Toraja values have become part of my soul. I never say that Toraja is superior to other cultures. I do not want ethnocentric thought traps me. However, I am sure that I inherit the struggle value to survive of Toraja people. There is a poetry talking about the bravery of Toraja, their will to roam to other countries, and firmly persisting in the gloomy side of life. The poetry confirms that Toraja people keep fighting to gain their ideas. Suffering is a logic consequences of a struggle. Those principles inspire me much.”

THE STRUGGLE VALUES OF TORAJA PEOPLE

Kami sang Torayan (we are the Toraja people)

Umba-umba padang ki olai (to any countries we will go)

Maparri masussa ki rampo (though very hard and difficult we will arrive in)

Tangki po mabanda penawa (it will not reduce our spirit)

Ia mo passanan tengkoki (it is consequences for us)

Umpasundun rongko’iki (to fulfill our goal)

“Well, very impressive! Hail the Toraja! Since you’re so philosophic, you must be inspired by spiritual values, right?”

“Love is an important spiritual value for our life. I am sure that closer to God makes ones full of love. In my faith, life without love and affection will have no value. It is normal if we love those who love us, but it will be amazing when we love our enemies, forgive their fault, and pray for those torturing us. Do not reply evil with other evil, but with kindness instead. It is such a radical love!”

“The last question, please. What other profession aside off singing that inspires you and build up your struggle mentality?”

“Emm, sometimes people have narrow-minded. When he has good reputation in a certain field, he tends to so absorbed in the field that neglects others. I think he has a less world. We become more creative if we open our life to other field different with our specialization.”

“I am lucky since I have some hobbies such as reading, traveling, and playing sport. I like badminton. I do not want to be much absorbed in singing. By learning, reading, looking, and trying many new things, I am more dynamic. The spirit of sport for example, encourages me to have a sportive soul to fight!”