|
Pattaya’s Sophin Thappajug wins Woman of the Year Award for her outstanding community achievements in executive management
Suchada Tupchai
Sophin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group,
was recognized for her outstanding community achievements in executive
management. She was one of 11 recipients from around the nation recognized
at an awards ceremony last week at the Thai-Japan Youth Center in Din
Daeng, Bangkok.
 Sophin
Thappajug Sophin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group was
recognized for her outstanding community achievements in executive
management. She received her award from Bangkok Governor Samak
Suntornwech.
Each of these outstanding women were nominated by the
Gender and Development Research Institute, associated with the Promotion
of the Status of Women, in recognition of International Women’s Day on
March 8. This year the awards have special importance in light of HM the
Queen’s 6th cycle or 72nd birthday coming up in August.
Bangkok Governor Samak Suntornwech presented the awards
to each of the women. Many of the Kingdom’s most exceptional ladies
attended the ceremonies.
Group
photo with Khunying Nanataka Suprapatanant (center) former permanent
secretary for Bangkok who was instrumental in gaining equal rights for
women in the Thai constitution.
In all, 11 plaques of recognition were presented. The
recipients were: Somboon Areelua of Udon Thani (agriculture); Bang-orn
Wilawan for her development work in Prachinburi; Duangduan Khamchai, a
labor leader in Chiang Mai; Wassana Rungsaentong for business development
in Bangkok; Pranee Rachakhom for her environmental efforts in Chiang Rai;
Sophin Thappajug for executive management in Chonburi, Sanitsuda Ekachai
from Bangkok (media); Pannada Yarna, youth leadership in Mae Hong Son;
Panintra Pakkasem for her government work as an MP in Chiang Mai; Sumalee
Beuchoom from Chiang Mai (district management); and Jitra Arkhong for her
entrepreneurial skills in Prachinburi.
All 11
ladies were recognized for their individual achievements in promoting the
status of women in Thailand.
Three national figures also received prestigious
awards. Khunying Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunant was awarded Outstanding Woman
of the Year for her work in the field of forensics, Juthamas Sririwan, TAT
governor for her work in tourism and Khunying Nanataka Suprapatanant for
her work with the constitution.
Pol. Gen. Amnuay Petchsiri also received an award for
his efforts to ease legal procedures for women.
During
the award selection process, Sophin Thappajug relayed her history to Dr.
Suthira Wijitranont, chairwoman of the Gender and Development Research
Institute.
Chonburi and Pattaya residents can be proud that Sophin
Thappajug has been awarded this distinctive honor for her exceptional
dedication to business and especially the community over the last 20 years
in Pattaya.
She has tirelessly fought to improve conditions for
women and children in the area, through her business and community
activities, and in various roles as head of the Diana Group. The Diana
Group began as just three rooms for rent, and has progressed to the
present day to encompass the Diana Dragon Apartments, The Diana Inn and
Green Bottle Pub, the Diana Garden Lodge and Driving Range, the Bigmack
Resort Co. Ltd. (specifically for long stay and elderly residents) and the
Diana Institute for Development providing education for the members of the
community who want to further their education.
Upon
returning to Pattaya, Sophin was showered with affection and
congratulations from members of the community; she also donated 100,000
baht towards the local school system in support of activities and
scholarships for children.
Over the years, Sophin has also held numerous positions
including YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya president and implemented the Warm Family
Project to help children. She was awarded Mother of the Year in 1994, was
president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association focusing on
rebuilding Pattaya’s image, and she was instrumental in helping the
city’s street children lead better lives.
Further civic duties include a term on the city council
and being instrumental in promoting vocational courses for those without
formal education. She assisted with the MOI’s social order campaign and
is currently an Associate Judge on Chonburi Family & Juvenile Court.
“I have always operated business to benefit the
community and give back to society to help develop and further its values,
as well as aid those in need,” said Sophin.
Upon returning to Pattaya Sophin was showered with affection and
congratulations by members of the community. She then donated 100,000 baht
towards the local school system in support of activities and scholarships
for children.
|
Thousands take advantage of the long weekend during Makha Bucha Day celebrations
Traffic snarls abound
Suchada Tupchai
Makha Bucha Day, which falls on the 15th night of the 3rd
lunar month, this year fell on Friday, leaving many people to enjoy a long
weekend. People celebrated their faith at local temples such as Wat
Yarnsangwararm, Wat Sawangfa in North Pattaya, Wat Chaimongkol in South
Pattaya, Wat Potisan in Naklua and many others throughout the province and
the country.
 The
beauty of Buddhist temples is magical.
Those taking advantage of the 3-day break included many
motorists flocking to Pattaya, and in this modern age, causing a string of
traffic snarls along major routes.
This holy day commemorates the miraculous event when
1,250 disciples of the Buddha, Gautama Sakayamuni, traveled to meet with the
Buddha with no prearranged agreement, at Weluwan Mahawiharn Temple in the
area of Rachakhryha, India.
Worshipping or ‘Bucha’ occurs in the third month or
‘Makha’, identified in the middle of the 3rd lunar month. This year the
holy day fell on March 5.
 Devote
worshippers make merit at a local temple.
The day gained official recognition in Thailand during
the reign of Rama IV and became a nationally observed day with all
government institutions closing down and observing the rituals associated
with Buddhist commandments.
Devout followers participate in morning ceremonies,
making merit and listening to sermons at local temples, and later in the
evening return to the temple to perform the “wien thien ceremony” -
walking three circuits around sacred grounds, paying homage to the “Triple
Gem” or the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. The day is observed all over
Thailand.
Other countries where the Buddhist faith is predominant
and where Makha Bucha Day is officially observed as a national day include
Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and India. Other countries with
populations observing the day but in limited numbers include China, Korea
and Vietnam.
Bumper
to bumper traffic as many motorists enjoying a long weekend begin their
journey back home.
Early
morning merit making activities, such as ‘Tak Baht’, took place at local
temples.
|
Peter Cummins regales Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club with ‘UNecdotes’
As President Peter Malhotra said it, this ‘young’
fellow from Tasmania is going to entertain us in an address titled, “How I
thrived and/or survived in the UN”. And that, the other Peter, certainly
did.
 The
inimitable PC enjoyed reminiscing about his experiences at the UN.
Having ‘departed’ his native (savage?) Tasmania 48
years ago (see separate story PM upcoming issue) to see how the rest of the
world went about the challenges/joys - or whatever - of living, Peter
finally ended up in New York City on his t(r)usty Vespa 125cc motor scooter.
It was September 1963 and he walked into the visitors
entrance of the United Nations, scarcely able to believe that he was not
only in New York, but (almost) in the hallowed halls of the United Nations.
He walked out half an hour later with a job offer.
Christina
Dodd (left), star columnist of the Pattaya Mail, presents raffle prizes to
Graham Hunt-Crowley (center) and Lindsay Dodd (right) at the Rotary Meeting.
But, let’s not run ahead of the drama unfolding right
next door to the Security Council. He was so excited that he just had to
send a bunch of postcards boasting of his arrival in the “Big Apple” -
particularly to his doting Mum who was always busy knitting away in Hobart,
Tasmania. As a postcard to anywhere in the world was eleven cents, he
purchased a strip of 10 stamps, lined up his postcards at a counter
thoughtfully provided, but he rejected the fancy ‘moistener’. Rather, as
was his custom, he ran the strip over a rather large tongue, stamped the
cards and posted them.
As he was leaving the area, a voice behind him said:
“you MUST be Australian!”. A very surprised Peter asked “How would you
know that?”. Ah, the ‘voice’ replied, “only an Australian can lick
stamps like that. If you are looking for a job during the General Assembly
(which has traditionally opened on the second Tuesday in September), here is
my card; contact me!”
The man just happened to be the director of the huge
United Nations Personnel and Recruitment Division. Two weeks later, Peter
was fitted out with a UN blue uniform and cap and started out his new
‘career’ as a messenger in the United Nations complex.
He had the good fortune to be assigned to servicing the
Guides Lounge and as he was - and still, is - small, he became everybody’s
favourite teddy bear. Some of the girls actually picked him up and carried
him around the lounge - especially if he delivered a letter or two.
Several times a day, he collected the letters and
packages from the central mail service, loaded them on his trolley and
headed to the visitors’ area.
Between the Secretariat and the General Assembly area,
there was a gradual slope and our hero, full of exuberance, rode the trolley
down. Whoa! he spotted a guided tour and was on a collision course with the
group. A rather vigorous swerve, rolled the man and his machine over, right
in front of the incredulous tourists. Letters and packages cascaded out of
the slots.
“I say, does this happen very often?” asked one of
the startled visitors. The guide was superb. She gave Peter a big wink,
turned to face the questioner and said. “No; it is just once a day and you
are fortunate that you chose this 11 o’clock tour”.
Thereafter followed almost 10 years of night school at
Columbia University on New York’s West Side. Peter estimated that he
travelled around 80 km per day from his home in Brooklyn, to the UN on
Manhattan’s East River, then up to Columbia after work and, finally, home
to Brooklyn around 11 p.m. When he told this to a Swiss friend recently, his
listener remarked that, from a given point in Switzerland, he could reach
any of three countries for that same distance - or even less.
Armed with a B.A. and an M.A., Peter applied for a
position with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for
Research on Cancer, located in Lyon, France. There were 400 candidates and,
again, luck was on his side, in the form of another “calling card”. On
the way to his interview at a hotel in Washington, Peter noticed a card on
the floor, picked it up and quickly observed that the owner - who was also
conducting the interviews - was chief of the Epidemiology Division of said
agency. As the good doctor had a Scottish name, Peter figured his own French
would probably be as good as - if not better than - the doctor’s.
He was right and, within three months, he was aboard the
Italian liner “Michelangelo” bound for Marseilles and Lyon, with a
limited grasp on the French language and no medical experience, least of all
cancer research. He did not even know the difference between the medical
term “Krebs Cycle” or a Motor cycle.
But he learned very quickly.
Finally, in the early 1970s, he came out to Thailand to
join the International Labour Organization’s Regional Office, later
transferring to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific, on Rajdamnoern Avenue, as senior information officer.
Then, inevitably, this young fellow turned 60 and in
March, 1995, surviving - and, mostly thriving - on some 40 short-term
contracts with the various agencies for 32 years, he was “put out to
pasture”.
He left the office for the last time and walked out onto
Rajadamnoern Avenue. Ah, but he forgot one thing. A postcard to his doting
Mum, still knitting away in Tasmania, 32 years later.
But there were no stamps to lick. The UN Post Office had
installed an automatic franking machine.
He fielded a few questions, one of which was a trifle
skeptical. “I have no problems with the veracity of these stories,” said
Peter. “Anyone who knew me then either has memory failure, Alzheimer’s
or is dead!”
World-renowned Buddhist monk speaks to largest single gathering of Pattaya City Expats Club
Staff reporters
The Venerable Thanissaro Bhikkhu, who is an
internationally-oriented British citizen ordained and living in Wat
Dhammakaya in Bangkok as a Thai Buddhist monk, spoke to nearly 200 members
of the Pattaya City Expats Club Sunday morning meeting about his life and
how he came to embrace the Thai Buddhist religion.
After an enthralling presentation that took all and more
of the usual 90 minute meeting in which Phra Nicholas, as he is also called,
explained the basic tenets of Thai Buddhism and led a short meditation
session, members were still eager to engage in a question and answer session
until nearly 1 p.m.
Some of
the members of Pattaya City Expats Club pose with Phra Nicholas.
Of interest to the club members was his explanation of
how he, as a British citizen brought up in Scotland and graduated in
Psychology and Zoology from University in Manchester, came to dedicate
himself fully in the Thai Buddhist Religion. Explaining how his religious
education at school during his early years had left him with many unanswered
questions, he said he went on to question the collections of beliefs
propounded in Protestantism and especially Presbyterianism which left the
question of practice and how to develop one’s self unanswered.
Ironically he said he would be forever grateful to his
literature teacher, not his philosophy or religious teacher, because he was
introduced to the inspiring, best-selling novel, “Jonathan Livingston
Seagull” which had a profound influence on his life. From it he realized
that we should not just be seagulls fighting over scraps but should be
trying to soar ever higher and freer. This is the point.
Pattaya City Expats Club chairman, Drew Noyes expressed
his gratitude to Phra Nicholas for accepting the invitation made after Noyes
had attended a previous meditation session at Glao Kesa Institute. He also
thanked Songphol and Sermsakdi for making the final arrangements for Phra
Nicholas’ visit to the club.
Phra Nicholas explained that in his 16 years as a monk he
had never had the opportunity before to speak to such a large gathering of
expats in Thailand. He also said that since he came to Thailand in 1988 he
has spent a lonely existence as far as contact with foreigners was
concerned, as he has been mainly with Thai people at the temple and working
with Thai communities when posted abroad.
During his second year at the university he became
involved with Buddhist groups and realized that they all held the belief
that to develop yourself you need to meditate. They realized the limitation
of Western people trying to meditate sitting cross-legged on the floor and
that 5 minutes was about as long as they could concentrate before becoming
uncomfortable. Therefore, to increase the number of practitioners of
meditation among Western expats, he developed a less physically stringent,
seated, position for the expats to take during meditation.
This period was the turning point for Phra Nicholas; he
had found what he was looking for and sought more and more instruction in
methods of meditation. Through his increased involvement with the Buddhist
Society they asked him to become the secretary and hence he came to know
people from different Buddhist backgrounds around the world. In doing this
he was then able to compare the various interpretations and came to the
conclusion that Thai Buddhism maintained the basic facts and that the
adherents seemed to put into practice what they had studied.
Having completed his degree he was then faced with what
to do with his life. He was at that time in the middle of teaching practice
in inner-Manchester and had come to the conclusion that this was not going
to be the type of job he would hold for the rest of his life. Already the
problems of education in the inner city were prevalent and so he looked for
something else.
He had previously pointed out that as his mother and
father had both been in the Navy when they met and had honeymooned in
Thailand which left him with the belief that his inner being was implanted
at conception and had therefore connections with Thailand despite his white
outward appearance. It was therefore not surprising that he looked to come
to Thailand for a time.
During his time at university he had maintained a
lifestyle consistent with his quest to lead a disciplined and sober life
following Buddhist principles. For this reason unlike many students who had
amassed debts he had managed to save some money in the bank and enquired
about buying a ticket to Thailand. Despite having some money he did not have
the 600 pounds to buy the return ticket but had enough for a one-way ticket.
The decision made, he arrived in Thailand and decided to
enroll in a meditation course at Wat Dhammakaya near Bangkok. He felt
himself progressing in the discipline and then moved away to seek work.
However, once away from the temple he was not able to maintain the same
level of meditative awareness and the abbot persuaded him to move back to
the temple. During his time there he went with the monks to various places
including California, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan, establishing worshipping
communities among the Thai residents there.
After 9 years he was ordained and was asked to go to
Belgium from where the Dhammakaya Temple had received a request from the
westerners to establish a meditation center. Over the last 7 years Phra
Nicholas has spent much time in teaching meditation techniques and
establishing and maintaining links with foreign communities. He then led the
club members in a short meditation as they sat in their chairs.
After a short break for the usual notices and upcoming
events it was time for the question and answer session during which Phra
Nicholas was faced with many well thought out and interesting enquiries.
This gave him the opportunity to explain the complex nature of Thai Buddhism
where it has had to take on board some features from the near-neighbor
religions of Hinduism and animism, yet trying at the same time to uphold the
original teachings of the Lord Buddha.
Phra Nicholas was able to give some simple guides to the
basic structure of the religion and the progression to seek attainment of
release from the round of reincarnation within the 31 realms.
The triple gem, or triple refuge of Buddha, Dharma and
Sangka are basic guides and aids to living a good life. The five precepts
are the nearest rules to the Ten Commandments. From this one can progress to
follow the 8 precepts for a stricter lifestyle and then one can go on to be
ordained monk and live according to the 227 rules.
There were then some enquiries about the best means of
learning more and how one could learn the essential nature of Buddhism. The
writings of the Lord Buddha are contained in some 45 volumes and there is no
single “short” book readily available. One volume was mentioned;
“Reforming society means reforming human nature”.
On a more practical level it was interesting to find out
that the earth tone colors of the robes worn by the various groups of monks
are such that each temple may choose to wear a color of their choice within
the broad band, and that each temple’s monks will have one such chosen
color.
The differentiation between career monks and temporary
monks was explained with the added statement that proved interesting to the
western thinking; many young ladies would choose not to accept the proposal
of marriage from someone who had not been to spend time as a monk in the
temple. The time spent at the temple is seen very much as a rite of passage
and the merit gained would be shared with the person for whom the time was
dedicated. This was usually the mother who had given the person life and
would be seen as giving something back to her.
As usual, the Pattaya City Expats Club, once again
provided a forum with an interesting speaker which expats would not normally
have had the opportunity to meet and discuss important, interesting and
positive issues relating to the challenge of expats living in Thailand.
Ancient ceremonies at The Market Pattaya
Owners pray to deities for prosperity
Suchada Tupchai
Senior management and staff of The Market Pattaya,
destined to become the Jatujak shopping zone, held a number of ancient
ceremonies, which included the placement of statues in large traditional
style salas.
Chatri
Sophonbunarak aka ‘Meng’ Jatujak (left), Thanakorn Thelan (2nd left),
president of the Market Pattaya, and staff take part in the blessing of the
center stone.
Vendors have already bought up 26 lots, and now the
Market Pattaya has a variety of zones offering everything from jewelry to
electrical goods.
President Thanakorn Thelan and Chatri Sophonbunarak (also
known as ‘Meng’ Jatujak) led staff and members of the public through the
ceremonies which began at 7:00 a.m. Food and flowers were presented as
offerings for prosperity.
Residents and vendors who joined the morning’s events
were given special gifts as tokens of their support, and at 9:39 a.m. a
classical Thai dance and cultural show was performed to mark the occasion.
Company directors told reporters that the market will definitely open on
April 10 in time for the Songkran festival, which will be a good time to
start a new project as the festival attracts a large number of tourists to
Pattaya.
Judging
by the sheer scope of the ceremonies, which included placing offerings to
the deities in the hope of prosperity, the ownership went all out to ensure
prosperity.
Management
performs the ceremonial laying of the center stone.
Carrefour bring a Taste of France to Pattaya
Suchada Tupchai
French owned hypermarket chain, Carrefour opened their
Pattaya branch in December 2003. The new branch, the second outside Bangkok,
is proving popular among residents.
 The
Eiffel Tower was a popular theme at many of the 50 booths offering plenty of
choices at the Carrefour French Fair 2004.
As a sign of its popularity, company management brought a
taste of France to the region when they opened the first Carrefour French
Fair last weekend. The fair, which runs until March 14, has over 1,000 goods
from France and around the world on offer during the fair.
Fine wines, imported cheeses, pastries, deli-products,
gourmet foods and even top brand cosmetics are on offer.
The opening ceremonies, held on the ground floor, were
presided over by Jacques Torregrossa, French economic and commercial consul
who was joined by senior management, Francis Wagner, regional director and
Luc Dayot, managing director of CenCar Ltd. (Carrefour Thailand).
 (L
to R) Jacques Torregrossa, French economic and commercial consul, Ian
Johnston, general manager Novotel Lotus Bangkok and Luc Dayot, managing
director of CenCar Ltd. (Carrefour Thailand) cut the ribbon declaring the
fair official open.
Hundreds of interested shoppers watched as the
opportunities for more world-class products were brought in specifically for
the fair on both levels of the huge center.
During the opening, Luc Dayot, managing director said,
“Our aim is to make Carrefour Pattaya the destination of imported items
from every corner of the globe. As a result of good cooperation between our
partners, we wish that our customers, both local and foreign will enjoy the
tremendous variety on display during this fair at Carrefour.”
Carrefour Pattaya, located on Pattaya Central Road is running the fair
until Sunday, March 14 from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. Friday
to Sundays.
French
wines are literally stacked to the ceiling...
Some the
execs have their eyes on the delicious French bread on offer at the fair.
|
