|
Pattaya holds Buddhist ceremony in memory of lives lost during southern disaster
Monks bestow blessings for good luck in 2005
Suchada Tupchai
Pra
Thep Kittipanyakhun from Jitrapawan College presented a sermon and a
blessing to the public.
On New Year’s Day, Pattaya City held a Buddhist merit
making ceremony to bestow blessings and good luck for the New Year, and to
remember victims of the deadly tsunami which struck Thailand’s southern
coastal provinces.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn lit the worship candles and joss sticks for the
Buddhist clergy.
At 7:45 a.m. on January 1, Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn began the Buddhist ceremony for the B.E. 2548 Thai New
Year. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of residents and tourists attended the
event, which was held in 3 locations; the Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya,
Lan Pho on Naklua, and Jomtien Beach.
“Pra Thep Kittipanyakhun” and priests from
Jitrapawan Buddhism College were present for the Buddhist blessing
ceremony, and to spread holy water. They also spoke about the disaster in
the south, and asked for all Buddhists to send their prayers, and support
if possible, to southern Thai citizens.
 Mayor
Niran led the public in presenting alms to the monks.
Mayor Niran gave a New Year speech stating that,
“Each country celebrates New Year’s Day in the style according to
their traditions and culture. Out of respect, Thailand canceled
celebrations in memory of the tsunami disaster victims in the south, and
Pattaya was no exception. We are saddened at the tragic loss of life and
send our condolences to our fellow Thais who lost their friends and
families. I would like to ask everyone to donate what they can to support
the people suffering from this disaster. These donations, which we will
make together, will not only aid the sufferers, but will bond us in
sympathy and hopefully make a good start for the New Year.”
After the mayor spoke, city administrators, city counselors, and the
public held a moment of silence for the victims of the tsunami, during
which time the entire pier area was quiet and somber. The event was
brought to a close when 99 Buddhist priests received alms, giving their
blessings for the 2005 New Year.
Pra
Thep Kittipanyakhun and priests from Jitrapawan Buddhism College blessed
people withholy water.
Grandma
also participated in this ceremony.
The
public waited until early in the morning to make merit for religious
teachings and for the blessing ceremony.
Pattaya celebrates National Children’s Day
Even the grownups feel like kids again
Staff Reporters
The second Saturday of January each year has been
designated as National Children’s Day. This year in Pattaya a myriad of
activities took place throughout the city as part of the festivities.
For the first time, city hall was open to children, as
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn declared the offices open for Children’s
Day. He also commenced numerous activities in front of the building.
 Who
wants ice cream?
Children were given a tour of council chambers, meeting
rooms, the mayor’s office and other local government departments. The
tour was part of the day’s activities, which included live music, fire
fighting displays, a martial arts show, windsurfing and plenty of fun and
games. Kids also received gifts from city hall.
Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai also paid a visit
to city hall with Democrat Party members, and joined in the children’s
activities.
Many of the schools throughout the city began
Children’s Day activities on Friday, January 7. Many city administrators
were seen leading the way through the activities in schools.
Lovely
Thai dancers entertain the crowd.
Pattaya police station opened their doors for children,
too, and Pol. Col. Somnuk Changate, Pattaya police superintendent and
senior offices prepared a stage in front of the station for Children’s
Day. Police officers joined in karaoke, hosting games and providing food
and gifts for the kids. For much of the time, it looked as though the
grownups were having every bit as much fun as the kids.
 My,
what big eyes you have...
The superintendent said, “On Children’s Day each
year here at the station, we like to provide an opportunity for children
and their parents to see how we work … this also helps improve public
relations.”
The Redemptorist School for the Blind hosted a very
special charity activity to raise scholarship funds for blind children.
They also made a special oblation to other charities. The children sang
and danced, drawing applause from all those in attendance.
Alcazar Pattaya also held activities for children, and
thousands packed the large car park area for yet more fun, games and shows
put on by staff and performers under the watchful eye of security guards
to ensure everyone’s safety.
When
Pattaya Police held Children’s Day activities, police and kids met on
stage for some karaoke and plenty of games.
Throughout the rest of the city, shopping centres and
businesses all held their own variety of shows for children and their
parents.
In the heat of the day, the smiles on the children’s
faces showed just how much fun Children’s Day is, especially with the
plenitude of toys, balloons and clowns entertaining children of all ages,
including the young at heart.
Children’s Day this year received special attention from Prime
Minister Taksin Shinawatra, who called for all children to be mindful and
work hard in their education and courageous in their thinking and speech.
The PM said that children the world over, from no matter which country,
are their nation’s future and everyone should invest in the future of
their country, not just in Thailand.
Former
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai enjoyed the day here in Pattaya.
Mr.
Council President, I’d like to propose we break for nap time. All those
in favour…
I’m
going to win the Pattaya Jet Ski Open in 2015.
A
future star shines at the police station.
I’ll
take two chocolate ice creams, please.
Adorable
dancers at the Redemptorist School for the Blind.
Redemptorist
School for the Blind hosted special activities to raise scholarship funds
and make merit whilst joining in Children’s Day activities.
Lovely
dancers at the Redemptorist School for the Blind.
There
was excitement for the entire family when city hall put on entertaining
displays and held fun activities for Children’s Day.
Pattaya Sports Club meets the needs of those in the South
Bernie Tuppin
PSC Charity Chairman
PSC Charity joined hands with the local Sawang Boriboon
Foundation in a recent trip to the devastated Phang-nga province.
Travelling overnight and well into the next day the
convoy of 8 fully laden six wheelers and 10 support vehicles finally
arrived at the operations centre in Phang-nga. On board the trucks were
tons of rice, dry foods, water and clothing as well as thousands of
specially packed bags containing essential items (towels toiletries eating
utensils dry foods and candy for the kids).
Unloading
the lorries was an arduous but rewarding task.
A quick meeting with the Ministry of Social Welfare
representative Khun Suwit and other organizers and the itinerary was put
in place. Before leaving the centre a donation of 350,000 baht was made to
Khun Chalasak, the director of School Ban Nam Khem, whose school was
almost demolished in the disaster.
Ban
Nam Khem School, or what was left of it. It had taken the full force of
the wave, but thankfully the disaster occurred on Sunday morning with no
children in attendance, or the tragedy could have been much worse.
Overnight in Phuket after 22 hours on the road the bed
was a welcome haven. Up at six, a quick bite and back to Phang-nga to
start the distribution of goods. First port of call was back to collect
the trucks containing the specially packed bags; all the rice, dry foods
and clothing had been off loaded at the main distribution point in Takua
Pa. Our first camp visit was Ban Muang, a virtual tent city with around
1,200 displaced people. Here the local authorities with the aid of many
NGO’s had things more or less under control. Plenty of food, water and
clothing were available and while the famous Thai smile was still evident
it was a little slower in coming and was tinged with a degree of sadness.
Many of the specially prepared packages were left at this site to be
distributed later along with several hundred thousand baht.
People
who previously were living under sheets of plastic spread over or between
trees were being relocated into temporary structures.
Next stop was Kao Lak where a camp has been established
behind the Pak Wiap School. Here, over a hundred and twenty people
received relief packages and were given 2,000 baht cash each to help them
over the next few days. Surprisingly at this site school was actually in
progress, which shows the resilience of these children as many had lost
family members or were in fact orphaned by the disaster.
The same format was followed at two camps in the Ban
Khuk Kak area. On arrival at each camp the appointed registrar or headman
was contacted who had a list of all temporary residents. An announcement
was made over loud hailers and the people quickly and orderly assembled to
receive their packages and money. At no time was there any sign unruliness
or ingratitude. These folk were still gracious and thankful in spite of
the ordeals they had suffered. At one of these camps temporary dwellings
were being constructed while we were there, and people who previously were
living under sheets of plastic spread over or between trees were being
relocated as the structures were completed. Counselling and healthcare
were also available, a pat on the back to the donors and organizers of
these services.
Our last stop was at the naval installation at Ban Nam
Khem, which is right on the water’s edge. Here the buildings were badly
damaged and many lives lost. Across the road sat the Ban Nam Khem School,
or what was left of it. Almost every classroom had walls knocked out and
had obviously taken the full force of the wave. Thankfully the disaster
occurred on Sunday morning with no children in attendance, or the tragedy
could have been much worse. Here also was another example of the
resilience of these people, children were in attendance in their school
uniforms and new buildings were being erected while the old ones were
being assessed for repair, if possible.
 People
received relief packages and were given 2,000 baht cash each to help them
over the next few days.
As our stock of goods was depleted and the last of the
money distributed at the naval base, we had to bid farewell to these
people and wish them a better future.
Our journey back to Takua Pa gave us the opportunity to
have a closer look at the devastation caused by this freak of nature. Much
has been written about it and much more will be, and I can only add that
while it was easy to see why so many perished in this disaster it made me
ponder the miracle of how so many survived.
An
example of Thai resilience: children were in attendance in their school
uniforms and new buildings were being erected while the old ones were
being assessed for repair, if possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the
Sawang Boriboon Foundation for allowing Pattaya Sports Club to participate
in their project and congratulate them on the compassionate yet efficient
way they carried it out.
In all over 3 million baht in cash was distributed to very needy folk
as well as many tons of essential items. While Pattaya Sports Club donated
only 500,000 baht of this total, its members can feel proud to have
contributed to a very worthy cause.
Redemptorist Vocational School
in Pattaya helps tsunami victims in the South
Suchada Tupchai
PM
Taksin Shinawatra and teams checked in on the team and lifted their
spirits.
The Pramahathai Vocational School in Pattaya, led by
school director Suporntham Mongkolsawat, with a total of 24 teachers,
students, and foreign volunteers, went to help the tsunami victims in
southern Thailand. Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn supported them under the
slogan, “Pattaya volunteers help the tsunami disaster victims”.
The
team worked at full capacity, using the Yan Yao Temple hall in Pang-nga as
a work center.
Director Suporntham Mongkolsawat said, “This trip was
done because the tsunami disaster caused severe damage, especially
injuries and deaths of Thais and foreigners. Finding and identifying the
corpses has proven to be extremely difficult. Clues to identity come
mostly from physical descriptions or items found on the bodies. There are
many people classified as missing, and it is necessary to identify the
dead in order to distinguish those who are deceased from those who may
still be alive so that we can inform relatives of the true status.”
A
government spokesman asked about the Pramahathai work being done.
Pramahathai Vocational School in Pattaya teaches
computer skills and electronics and therefore students and staff are in a
position to help with information processing, such as creating data bases
for lost and missing persons, registration, retouching old photos, taking
photos, and other help needed. This work will also prove the abilities
that the handicapped possess for society.
Minister
of the Environment and Natural Resources, Suwit Khunkitti poses with the
Pramahathai team.
The group went to work at the Yan Yao Temple in
Pang-nga, which was heavily damaged. The devastation and death toll was
heartbreaking and the calamity was on a scale never before been seen in
Thailand. Work on the first day was slow because the team didn’t have
enough support from the other organizations. The next day the team brought
all necessary equipment by themselves, including computers, printers,
digital cameras, scanners and mobile phones. Gathering all the data was
hard work under the existing conditions, but Prime Minister Taksin
Shinawatra and members of concerned departments cheered everyone up, which
significantly boosted morale and willpower.
The
Pramahathai team participated in damage checks and said it was incredible
how a tourist location could be gone in seconds.
Suporntham Mongkolsawat said, “Admittedly this work was plagued with
problems, but everyone was well supported by all concerned departments.
It’s believed that our humanitarian work will reduce the load carried by
the Science Institute, Ministry of Justice and the Public Health
Department in Pang-nga. This activity also makes our team so proud that we
can bring our knowledge to support the disaster victims and be useful for
society.”
School
director Suporntham Mongkolsawat (center) led the team to help disaster
victims in the South.
Director
Suporntham Mongkolsawat and the Pramathai team at Yan Yao temple in the
Pang-nga Province on the first day
Horseshoe Point to
host Tsunami Aid Concert
The Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club has joined
hands with M.R. Malinee Chakabandhu to host the “Tsunami Aid Concert at
Horseshoe Point” on January 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the concert will go to the Thai Red Cross
Society to aid tsunami victims in the South of Thailand. M.R. Priyangsri
Watanakun, director of the Thai Red Cross Society’s Fund Raising Bureau,
is chairing the event. M.R. Priyangsri will be present at the concert with
her team to receive direct donations from members of the audience who
personally wish to contribute aid to the tsunami victims.
The concert will take place in the beautiful garden at
the Three Kingdoms Park at Horseshoe Point. The outdoor stage will be lit
by the luminescence of lasers that highlight the magnificent Three
Kingdoms Pagodas.
The concert will begin with 2 rock bands: True Blue and
Band of Brothers. True Blue consists of 6 musicians who are considered to
be the “gurus”, or the backbone of rock music in Thailand. Band of
Brothers is UBC TV’s rock band created by the company’s CEO, Sompan
Charumilinda.
The concert’s highlight is “Travel Thru Time”
with the Royal Thai Army Band. It is being organized and led by M.R.
Malinee Chakabandu, a well-known Thai lady who has a great passion for
music and has been a keen supporter of various fund raising events.
She has brought together many famous musicians to
perform with her on stage, including Jonas & Christy, the famous
blond-haired, blue-eyed duo whose renditions of intricate and lilting
Northern and Northeastern Thai ballads have received local and
international acclaim, giving a new meaning to the term “cultural
fusion.”
As well as being in aid of a very deserving cause, this
Horseshoe Point Concert In the Park is also an opportunity for family and
friends, young and old alike, to spend a harmonious and happy time
together in a naturally excellent environment, sharing the enjoyment of
delightful music and a pleasant atmosphere.
Program
17:30 True Blue
18:30 Band of Brothers
20:00 Travel Thru Time
Ticket: Adult 500 THB, Child (under 15) 250 THB
Reservation: The Horseshoe Point
Chonburi: 038 735 050
Bangkok: 02 662 0801 to 3
Email: info@horseshoe point.com
*Net proceeds to The Red Cross Society for Tsunami victims in the South of
Thailand
Performers’ profiles
Band of Brothers
In 2000, Sompan Charumilinda, CEO of UBC TV, had the idea of setting
up a company band to play at various UBC parties and events. Ukrist
Balankura, senior manager of the Art and Audio Center, an ex guitar player
in “Butterfly”, a well known Thai band during the 1980’s, recruited
musicians from various departments in the company and set up a band called
“Band of Brothers”.
Band of Brothers consists of Sompan Charumilinda on
guitar and vocals; Ukrist Balankura lead guitar and vocals; Savasdi
Navavongs lead vocals, Kittisak Thareelapraksa lead vocals, Chaiporn
Ritharom lead vocals, Anusarn Guna Tilaka on bass, Chanya Manakulsawasd on
keyboards, Koranase Wasinondh on drums, Aht Gunlayanakupt on saxophone,
and Rungrat Kuysuwan lead vocals.
True Blue
If you show the name list of “True Blue” to anyone
who is involved in the Thai Music Industry, he or she will tell you that
these players are the “gurus” or the backbone of the industry. This is
because every musician in True Blue has been in the industry for more than
30 years and they created “True Blue” simply to get together to play
their favorite blues.
True Blue consists of: Warner Records recording artist
Tanapat “Pat” Mathayomchand on lead guitar and vocals; ex member of
“Butterfly”, producer and songwriter Jirapan “Ji” Ansvanand on
guitar and vocals; Sahajak “Poo” Boontanakit lead vocals; recording
studio owner, songwriter, producer and “Beatle Nuts” band member Paul
Bekanan on guitar and lead vocals; studio owner, engineer, ex “The
Street” band member Jitjaroon “Jeab” Niyomsiri on bass guitar; and
“Jo-Gong Nuvo” band member Robert “Bob” Dila on drums and vocals.
Travel Thru Time by Ying Mud
M.R. Malinee Chakabandhu, Khunying Mud, is a well-known
celebrity in Thai Society. She is the great, great, granddaughter of King
Rama IV. Her strong passion for music began with the love of her
father’s music. Khunying Mud is a keen writer; she is a columnist for
many famous magazines. She is also a great supporter of many charity
events.
Khunying Mud will perform Travel Thru Time, the show
that she successfully performed at the Emporium, Bangkok earlier this
year. Travel thru time was written by Khunying Mud and was extremely
well-received; there have been many requests for a repeat performance. To
be able to host Travel Thru Time by Khunying Mud is truly a great honor
for the Horseshoe Point Concert in the Park.
Travel Thru Time takes the audience back to the time of
classical music, jazz, Latin and rock and roll. The audience can reminisce
with well known songs such as It had to be you, G.I. Blues, Dream a Little
Dream, Crazy, Baby Face and Medley of Neil Sedaka songs.
Khunying Mud begins the show with the song that her
father, His Highness Prince Chakrabandh Pensiri, composed called Love and
War - Yam Rop Yam Rak which is played in traditional Thai Ram Wong rhythm.
Yam Rop Yam Rak was composed with the objective of giving classic
entertainment to the Thai military. It became very popular amongst the
Thai military, to the point that each and every Thai soldier is able to
sing this song.
Khunying Mud has selected two Thai military bands, The
Royal Thai Army Jazz Band and The Storm Band, to play for Travel Thru
Time. The Royal Thai Army Jazz Band usually plays for military and charity
purposes only, therefore it is a great honour to have the band performing
at the Horseshoe Point Concert in the Park. The Storm Band is a newly
created band in the Thai Army that consists of Thai youth (aged 12 years
old and over), who possess a passion for music and are able to pass an
exam. These youths will become part of the Thai military, majoring in
music. The audience will find The Storm Band very lively, creative and
energetic.
There also will be many other famous artists and
celebrities performing. Together, these performers will make Travel Thru
Time an outstanding show: H.E. Gershon Zohar, ambassador of Israel;
Claudia Chakrabandhu, respected Thai actress; Jonas and Kristy, popular
Swedish look tung singers; Nadda Viyakarn, popular Thai singer; Dolchai
Boonyaratavej, president & CEO of Brandscape Co. Ltd.; and Poo
Sahajak, respected Thai singer.
|
