In the view of the workers there, especially of those who are rather nationalists, the Monas gave the people of Indonesia access to possess the knowledge of the nation’s history and the great struggle the country faced. “The Monas lets the people in and out of Indonesia know the story of our country’s history,” according to one of the workers. The other opined that “The Monas also opens doors that welcome those out of the country. It is a good opportunity for the people of Indonesia to meet those of different cultures and learn more about the world and at the same time, teach them about our country so they too, will also know more about the world we live in.”

Some expatriates such as our Physics teacher, Mr Ronnie Rustia, had no idea what the Monas was all about. But after visiting the monument with the students, he had an appreciation for its beauty and significance. He drew comparisons with the history of his home country, the Philippines, and of Indonesia. The Philippines has also been under colonial rule. However, it was under the Spaniards, and one of the monuments built to commemorate independence was the statue of their national hero, Jose Rizal, who inspired the Filipinos through his writings pointing out that the ‘pen is mightier than the sword.’ The Rizal Park is found in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.