BCA Sets MURI Record for the Company with the Most Wayang Preservation Activities, BCA Holds Wayang Drama Performed by 118 Indonesian Students

Jakarta, 7 March 2023 - PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) presented a Wayang drama performance titled "Hanoman: Ada Apa Dengan Shinta?" and a Wayang comic strip exhibition featuring over 100 talented youth and students. The event was held at Ciputra Artpreneur, South Jakarta, and was virtually opened by Nadiem Anwar Makariem, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, and Jahja Setiaatmadja, President Director of BCA. The performance served as the culmination of BCA's “Wayang for Student” education program this year.

The wayang comic strip performance and exhibition was held at Ciputra Artpreneur, South Jakarta, and was virtually opened by Nadiem Anwar Makariem, Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, and Jahja Setiaatmadja, President Director of BCA. This event also served as the culmination of BCA's “Wayang for Student” education program this year.

Initiated by BCA in 2012, the “Wayang for Student” program aims to involve and target youth as relay holders in preserving the nation's culture. The program is part of BCA's larger mission to instill knowledge of puppetry, history, tradition, hereditary culture, local wisdom, and increase the number of puppetry practitioners from the younger generation, contributing to the sustainability of the puppetry business.

Antonius Widodo Mulyono, BCA Director, said, “We are proud that Bakti BCA has maintained its commitment to preserving wayang culture through the “Wayang for Student” program for 11 years. BCA also broke the MURI record as the “Company with the Most Wayang Preservation Activities” on this occasion, presented by Mr. Jaya Suprana, Founder and Chairman of MURI. We appreciate the support of various parties and the positive public response to the program."

The wayang drama performance titled “Hanoman: Ada Apa Dengan Shinta?” featured Hanoman, a popular character from the Ramayana epic, presented in a modern way. More than four talented student youth groups participated in the Wayang Youth Festival Award BCA in the Sendratari category, starring in the performance. The audience followed the journey of Hanoman Sang Anjani Putra, a magic ape with shiny white hair, as he searched for perfection for world peace, his devotion to Sri Ramawijaya, and his adventure in search of Dewi Shinta's whereabouts. The performance provided moral lessons throughout the hour-long show.

The performance starred more than four talented student youth groups participating in the Wayang Youth Festival Award BCA in the Sendratari category, namely Sanggar Pendopo, Swagantara, Sanggar Paripurna, and Wayang Studio. In total, there were 118 youths involved, who were representatives from the cities of Jakarta, Solo, Blitar, Yogyakarta and Denpasar. During the preparation period, they received training and guidance from Swargaloka and Ksatria studios. After practicing for a long time in their respective cities, the performers gathered in Jakarta and performed their best as an artistic unit. BCA also involved Sandrina Mazaya, a public figure and dancer who graduated from a talent show.

The Wayang Youth Festival also included a comic strip exhibition by ten selected comic artists, families of BCA employees, and students of the DKV IKJ program. The comic artists received intensive training from Ario Anindito, a Marvel & DC Comic artist, and Irwan Riyadi, a wayang art activist from the Swargaloka foundation. BCA selected the works to foster the younger generation's love for wayang and support the promotion of culture utilizing the digital/technology realm.

Dr. Restu Gunawan, M. Hum, Director of Development of Cultural Personnel and Institutions, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, expressed his support for BCA's efforts to preserve wayang, stating, “We strongly support BCA's initiative to preserve wayang. We hope that through events like this, more and more young people, especially those in Gen-Z, will become interested in preserving wayang.”

Hera F. Haryn, BCA's Executive Vice President of Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility, added, “BCA recognizes that the younger generation plays an important role in the preservation of Indonesian culture. We hope that our efforts to support the preservation of wayang can increase their understanding of the exemplary values contained in this art form and inspire them to continue to maintain and preserve it in the future.”

MURI Record for BCA - PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) was awarded a MURI record on Tuesday (7/2) for having the most Wayang Preservation Activities among Indonesian companies. BCA Director Antonius Widodo Mulyono (center), accompanied by BCA Director Vera Eve Lim (second left), received the award from MURI Founder and Chairman Jaya Suprana (third left). Also present were BCA EVP Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility Hera F. Haryn (third right), MURI President Director Aylawati Sarwono (second right), Head of the Working Group for Cultural Institutions Development of Kemendikbud Ristek RI Wawan Yogaswara (far left), and Senawangi Board of Trustees Kodradi (far right). Since 2012, BCA has been implementing the "Wayang for Student" program that involves thousands of elementary to high school students in several cities across Indonesia. The program aims to preserve Indonesia's sovereign cultural identity by engaging the younger generation in Wayang preservation activities.

Awakening the Love for Wayang Among Young Generation - Bakti BCA Presents 'Hanoman: Ada Apa Dengan Shinta?' A Spectacular Performance by Over 100 Talented Indonesian Youth and Students. This Showcase Highlights Bakti BCA's Commitment to Nurture a Deeper Appreciation for Wayang and Its Exemplary Values Among the Next Generation, as Part of the Ongoing Efforts to Preserve This Art Form for the Future.