LET'S BULLY

6 - Hooks, Not Fish

CHAPTER 6 - Hooks, Not Fish

A few years after retiring from teaching, Joko Wiryawan returned to society-not as a schoolteacher, but as the head of a new NGO:

GULALI CENDEKIA

(National Movement for Knowledge, Ambition, and College Access)

His mission was simple:

> "Every citizen of the Republic of Gulali (Cotton Candy) deserves a chance to go to college-even the poor, even the ones who failed state-university entrance exams."

During his speech at a well-known private university, he said:

"Politicians keep selling cheap groceries. But what we actually need... isn't rice or noodles. It's a future."

"The rich protect their money. But the educated? They are protected by their knowledge. And knowledge is like a vaccine-against corruption and stupidity."

At that time, the president of Gulali, President Suryo Walandaru, was a former action-movie actor who went viral on t****k for eating Nasi Kucing (Nasi Kucing / Cat Rice is cheap street food) while singing busking songs. His smile was comforting, his speeches sounded wise... but his cabinet? A landmine.

When Joko submitted a proposal for Free Private College Subsidies for the Poor, the government countered with their own program:

#SEDEKAHSEMBOKU (Free Groceries Every Friday!)

Huge banners appeared across markets:

> "People need food, not college dreams!"

National TV pushed the narrative:

> "Joko's NGO is out of touch. Elitist. Doesn't understand real hunger."

But Joko didn't back down.

In front of reporters, he said:

> "We must give the people hooks, not fish. Groceries last three days. Education lasts three generations."

He was accused of treason.

Attacked by online trolls.

His social media banned.

And yet... his movement grew quietly, through grassroots volunteers.

GULALI CENDEKIA (National Movement for Knowledge, Ambition, and College Access) sprouted in city after city-sharing free books, running online classes, raising donations for "people's private colleges."

Someone even painted a mural with his face and a quote:

> "If the state can't be fair, then let the people teach each other."

And from that mural... a revolution in community education was born.

---

That sharp look in Joko's eyes never faded.

Not in the classroom, not in street rallies-

and now, not in the dim rooms of cramped houses where children of Gulali (Cotton Candy) studied in secret.

Because one teacher who refuses to stay silent... is enough to shake a rotten system.

And the world wasn't over yet.

---

Subchapter: Raka, the Kitchen, and an Imperfect World

Raka Maulana was now 18. His face looked more mature, his eyes still sharp-only now not out of anger, but hunger. Hunger for change.

After finishing high school, Raka joined a culinary training center and graduated with near-perfect scores. He passed the selection for an international cruise line job. His dream: become a professional chef, create world-class dishes, travel across blue oceans.

But dreams sometimes demand long patience.

English wasn't widely spoken in the Republic of Gulali. And on a cruise ship, that became a huge obstacle.

"You don't understand instruction-go back to prep area!"

Raka often got scolded.

Not because of his accent, but because his active English was weak. He could read written instructions, but when it came to replying quickly to spoken ones... he froze.

Even though he could chop onions without crying, make tomato sauce from scratch, even plate bento like a Japanese chef...

His weak English got him demoted from cook trainee... to Runner, the guy who carried food from kitchen to waiters.

Ten months he survived with a tired smile.

Food was okay-rice, meats, salads, hot soup.

But some seniors still threw jabs:

"You smart with knife, but not with tongue, huh?"

Raka never got angry. He just wrote it down in his heart:

"I'm not dumb. I'm just not fluent yet."

Every night he texted his mom:

> "Everything's good here, Mom. The sea is blue. My friends are nice."

But the truth?

His shifts were 12 hours.

He got yelled at.

He ate alone sometimes.

Still, he stayed quiet-not out of fear, but because he believed: bitterness is also a teacher.

On his last day, his supervisor told him:

"Your knife skill is brilliant. But your English... must improve."

Raka just smiled.

In his heart:

"Skill isn't enough. The world isn't just about being good at something-

it's about communicating it."

When the ship finally docked, Raka carried his luggage and a new dream:

> "I gotta learn real, active English-so people can hear my skill, not just see it."

A new spark burned inside him.

---

The world was still unfair.

But like Joko once said:

> "We can't save everyone.

But if we can save ourselves... the world already begins to change."

---

Subchapter: Language, Prison, and a Nation Waking Up

A few weeks after returning home, Raka immediately visited Joko's small house-modest, with a garden full of chili plants and mint leaves.

Joko greeted him with a warm hug.

"How's the ocean, Ka? Peaceful?"

Raka grinned.

"Peaceful, yeah. But deep. Sometimes deeper than my confidence."

Joko laughed and handed him black coffee.

"So why the gloomy face? No paycheck?"

Raka shook his head.

"I got paid, Pak (Sir). But what I learned is worth more than the salary. My English sucks. I understand a little, but when I need to answer, everything gets messy. They demoted me to runner."

Joko nodded. His eyes sharp, his smile soft.

"Raka... I told you before. The rich protect their money. But the educated... are protected by their knowledge."

"I know, Pak (Sir). But if we have knowledge but can't speak to the world... it's still useless."

Joko looked up at the sky.

Long. Quiet.

The next morning, he wrote a proposal:

National Bilingual Program: Gulali Citizens for the Global World

Main points:

- All schools, public and private, must use English as a second language in school.

- Outside school, everyone still uses their local language proudly.

- Goal: produce citizens who not only have skills... but can express those skills globally.

In his proposal, Joko wrote:

> "The Philippines is one of the world's biggest exporters of skilled workers-not because they're smarter, but because they speak English.

Gulali citizens are not inferior in skill. We only lack the ability to explain those skills."

> "If we want our people respected globally, give them communication. Not just diplomas-voices."

The proposal shook the nation.

Some supported it.

More opposed it.

"This Joko wants to spread foreign culture."

"He wants to replace our national language!"

"This is a Western agenda!"

Politicians said it was dangerous for national identity.

But Joko didn't step back.

"I'm not replacing culture. I'm trying to help our people live better."

Then one morning, the news exploded:

"Joko Wiryawan Arrested for Treason, Foreign Influence, Threat to Educational Sovereignty."

The government showed his face on TV:

"Old intellectual hungry for power."

"Failed elementary-school teacher trying to be minister."

President Gunarto Sampurno smiled on camera:

"We must protect our culture from global infiltration disguised as patriotism."

Raka watched with clenched jaw, eyes burning.

He knew the truth:

This wasn't about treason.

It was about the government fearing educated citizens.

A few days later, Raka posted:

> "If teaching English is treason... then the Philippines must be a rebel nation.

But look who's more advanced."

The hashtags went viral:

#FreeJoko

#LanguageIsNotTreason

In his prison cell, Joko carved on the wall:

> "One day... the people's voice will be louder than propaganda.

And on that day, the ones who need language lessons...

will be the government."

---

Small steps still matter.

Every step we take today... becomes a highway for the next generation.

---

Wawan the Janitor

Wawan Gembel (Gembel is homeless)-the long-haired guy who once slandered Bambang and caused him to be beaten to death-had disappeared for years.

Life somehow gave him one more chance.

One night, after watching news about Joko's NGO, he sat alone in a rundown mushollah (prayer room) at the edge of Cemplang City.

He cried. Not from hunger.

But from finally understanding:

"I ruined a good man. I destroyed someone innocent."

From that night on, Wawan stayed in that prayer room.

Sweeping floors.

Cleaning toilets.

Filling water for ablution (wudhu).

Becoming a backup call-to-prayer (adzan) guy.

People were suspicious at first.

"Isn't that Wawan? The pickpocket?"

"Let it go... we all have sins."

Every dawn, Wawan sat on the steps reading the Qur'an slowly, stumbling over the verses.

One day, a little kid asked:

"Uncle, why do you clean this place so much?"

Wawan gave a thin smile, eyes watery.

"Just trying to clean a little bit... of a very big sin."

From then on, nobody called him Wawan Gembel (gembel is homeless) anymore.

They called him:

> "Wawan, the janitor who arrives before the first call to prayer (adzan)."

And silently, Wawan kept scrubbing the floors... hoping his soul would also be scrubbed.

He knew he couldn't erase everything.

But at least... he'd die trying.

---

Subchapter: The Rise of Arif's Son

Arif Setiawan's son-once mocked as "the pervert's kid" because of the false accusations toward his father-had grown into someone extraordinary.

He finished a PhD in Law from Yale Law School, the best law school in the world.

When he returned to the Republic of Gulali, his first mission was clear:

Defend Joko Wiryawan, who had been accused of treason for proposing bilingual education.

He walked into the courtroom wearing a sleek gray suit and sharp eyes inherited from his father.

Without accepting a single coin, he delivered a powerful statement:

> "If improving our nation's education is treason, then we are all traitors-

because we want the children of Gulali to speak to the world, not just to the village."

Verdict: Joko fully acquitted.

From that day, Arif's son joined Joko's NGO-becoming a pro bono lawyer for the poor: parking attendants, street vendors, truck drivers wrongly blamed.

The NGO grew stronger.

Not just teachers and activists anymore-

but lawyers, students, and honest journalists.

Eventually, the new president, Amanda Dewantara, passed the policy for Free Private College for the Poor.

And English became mandatory in all schools-public and private-just like in the Philippines.

Now students in villages and cities alike said:

> "Yes, I can."

And the Republic of Gulali... finally spoke to the world.

---