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Lunch ahoy at the Ocean Marina
By Gillian Thom
The Pattaya International Ladies Club lunch in June was held on a crisp, hot
day at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, with outstanding views across the water
to Koh Larn and Koh Pai to the north and Koh Rin to the west.
 Gillian
Thom, president of PILC
Gillian Thom made a short welcome speech to members old and new. There are
now some 135 members, as the club goes from strength to strength, and
although some members were away from Pattaya for their annual holiday, there
was a good turnout of some 50 ladies.
Helle Rantsen announced that the recent garage sale had made in excess of
66,000 baht, which will be split between the Bang Jin Jai Home dental care
program and “Our Home” at Phu Luang. Khun Tiew was on hand to accept the
donation and to express thanks to everyone.
Helle also handed over an amount of 53,000 baht towards scholarships
administered by the Mercy Center, and Diane Doell was present to accept this
donation.
Khun Tiew then went on to give a short talk about gems – her family is very
much involved in the business and there were many beautiful gems and items
of jewelery on display and for sale.
Lunch was a real spread, with Thai, Italian and many other cuisines from
around the world together with some mouth-watering desserts.
Khun Tiew, talks about gems
and jewelry.
Presentation of scholarships
to the Mercy Center.
Tiffany beauty queens say ‘thank you’
Narisa Nitikarn
After successfully organizing the Miss Tiffany’s Universe Beauty Pageant
recently, Alisa Phanthusak, assistant MD of Tiffany’s Show led her troupe of
beauty queens to visit the Pattaya Mail to show appreciation for our friendship
and support in assisting to make the this year’s extravaganza the best ever.
Suwanthep ‘Tony’ Malhotra, Executive Director (left) and Kamolthep ‘Prince’
Malhotra (right) Asst. MD were on hand to welcome them. The gorgeous girls
Rat-Ravee Jiraprapakul (Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2006), Aphirada Terachanukul and
Sophananat Utomkul presented the young executives with a token of their
appreciation.
Rene Pisters celebrates 50 years of youth
Jessica was MC extraordinaire
throughout the evening in honour of her father.
The happy Pisters family, Ploy,
Rene, Jessica and Anthony.
Narisa Nitikarn
Rene Pisters celebrated his half-century mark on June 20 at the Moon River
Pub, with family and friends crowding around to see if he could manage to blow
out so many candles unaided. Art-Supawat Amprasit provided humor, and music was
care of the Power Jam Band,
The stage was beautifully decorated with balloons and an ice sculpture in the
shape of the number “50”, while a sign read “Rene 50 Years Young Today” did not
allow the birthday boy to forget the venerable anniversary he was celebrating.
Help and advice for the women of the second category
Love Life Love Health theme of educational seminar
Girls of the second category had a
fun day at the cinema
Narisa Nitikarn
The Sisters Counseling Center for Transgenders on June 16 held a screening of
the movie The Last Song, attended by 45 transgender people and officers of the
center.
Along with the screening was an educational session on AIDS and its prevention,
and other advice for transsexual people.
The Sisters Counseling Center in Pattaya is part of Population Services
International in Thailand, whose supervisor Sittiphan Boonyapisomparn said is
funded from donations from the government, private sector, and international
organizations. PSI helps and advises those at high risk from sexually
transmitted and other diseases. The Sisters Counseling Center follows PSI policy
in improving the health and quality of life for transgender people.
Sittiphan said that over the two-day workshop that included the movie
presentation at SF Cinema City there was a demonstration of the dangers of
HIV/AIDS infection, so that members of the center could understand the risks if
they did not protect themselves.
Amongst the organizations supporting the workshop were Sophon Cable TV and
Pattaya Mail.
The Last Song is a story about a transgender person who falls in love with a
man. Screening the movie was a way of allowing members to see themselves in
another light. Khun Sittiphan said that he hoped the transgender people would
learn to love themselves more and to be cautious when falling in love so that
they would not hurt themselves. “Love moderately’ he said, and think carefully
before doing anything in matters of the heart.
Redemptorist Center stages seminar for disabled
Piyavadee Suvannahong
A seminar on the rights, duties and improvement of the quality of life of the
disabled, and organized for village public health volunteers throughout Pattaya
was held at the main conference hall of the Redemptorist Disabled Job Center on
June 22, and opened by Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay.
 Father
Worawut Saraphan speaks at the seminar
Samrit Chaphirom, manager of the Redemptorist Job Center said that the seminar
was a project organized by the Redemptorist Foundation for the development of
the disabled through the support of Pattaya City Council. Training was conducted
under the policy for distribution of skills to local areas, and to improve
public knowledge on the rights of the disabled.
Father Worawut Saraphan, license holder of the Redemptorist School Pattaya said
that the situation for the disabled in Pattaya is looking good. Many who have
successfully completed their studies and training have become leaders in
encouraging and helping others. The seminar attracted more than 200 community
volunteers.
Public health volunteers learn how
to better assist the disabled.
Chanathip exhibition displays 16 years’ of art memories
Kanokwan Chaiyayangkul (center)
cuts the ribbon to open the exhibition, flanked by Chanathip Chaiyayangkul
(left) and Liam Ayudhkij.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Liam’s Gallery on Pratamnak Road Soi 4 is currently staging an exhibition of the
works of Chanathip Chaiyayangkul, with more than 200 pieces on display amassed
during the artist’s 16-year career.
The artist’s mother, Kanokwan Chaiyayangkul, whose own keen interest in art has
clearly been passed on to her son, performed the grand opening on June 17.
Chanathip, who is 34, is a former student of King Mongkut Institute of
Technology in Bangkok, having majored in fine arts in the architecture program.
He continued his education in the subject of philosophy in the liberal arts
department at Banaras Hindu University in India.
He has been painting since 1990, and his collection contains more than 200 works
of art including paintings, and stone etchings of marble, sandstone and granite.
Chanathip said that he did not follow any one style, preferring the works to
come from experiences throughout his life. He says that studying philosophy has
made him think in different ways, and that this is reflected in the paintings
and other works he produces.
The exhibition of Chanathip Chaiyayangkul’s artworks will continue at Liam’s
Gallery through July 16, with the works on display everyday from 10:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m. except Monday.
The next art exhibition will be held from August 13 until September 16, with
works from Michael Korn, an artist who specializes in depicting the purity of
the male body.
Chanathip Chaiyayangkul
Retrospective 1990-2006 - “Philosophy of Life”
Art Exhibition Review
by Michael Bulley
“A Spiritual Evening” – All of the spirits’ senses were charmed at the opening
of Chanathip Chaiyayangkul’s “Retrospective 1990-2006” at Liam’s beautiful Art
Centre on June 17.
The viewers became as one willing audience for we were treated and entertained
with music, poetry, sculpture and painting.
In any age when artists stay within the fringe “sofa comfort zone”, as if any
success must be held on to… It is so refreshing that Chanathip has the spiritual
energy as a true artist to express his feelings both in paint and stone. His
joyous love with sculpture invites the viewer to fondle and caress each
conception.
The same feelings of having fun and happiness are comfortable companions of all
his soul artistic works.
The artist has studied and exhibited in many countries, both in Thailand and
abroad. We see nods of approval to some of the giants of the art world. Such as
the elephants with its fun pointiless style, what lovely postcards they would
make!
A small gesture is made in the direction of Henry Moore, and in his intrinsic
smile in the direction of Marc Chagall with his jest of humour in his mystic
paintings.
It is seldom that the viewer has the opportunity to enjoy all aspects of art
where the artist can transfer his style and feelings so smoothly from stone to
paint.
With this in mind, maybe a connection could be found to view both styles of work
as soul mates, side by side as surely they are very good companions.
As for the future of this so sensitive an artist, I hope he does not dwell too
long in the Land of the Gods of Happiness.
But for now, this viewer is grateful for such a “Spiritual Evening”, and to
quote from a most beautiful catalogue of Chanathip Chaiyayangkul’s works. “All
who view will leave with a happy and peaceful heart”
Visitors were entertained with
music, poetry, sculpture and painting.
Many Happy Returns of the Day to Premprecha Dibbayawan
Premprecha and Supanee are
thrilled with the birthday cake. The icing read, ‘Do not be distressed, just
have faith’
Caspian Pike
Premprecha Dibbayawan is a gentle, modest, humble, generous, unassuming, lovely
man. I effectively gate-crashed his sixty seventh birthday party and was greeted
with a broad smile, a warm handshake, some outstanding steak and multiple
celebratory libations. I had arrived at the lighting of the candles of the cake
(and resplendent it looked too), in the calming sanctuary of St Nikolaus Church,
where he is Chairman of the Church Council. Surrounded by his gracious wife
Supanee and their siblings, close friends and family, the affection of the
assembled for their esteemed host, was obvious.
Khun Premprecha is quite a character. He looks marvellous, a man at peace with
the world. I hope I look that young even when I’m half his age! His moon-face
radiates calm, his bright eyes sparkle, his words betray his compassion. He was
enjoying some verbal jousting with his guests and would break into wider and
wider smiles as the evening progressed, until it became a permanent feature.
Besides being Past District Governor of District 3340, Rotary International,
Khun Premprecha is an Attorney at Law out of MCL Miami University. He speaks
with the erudition of a lawyer and the heart of a sage. He is not afraid to
share his wisdom, either. In the most recent edition of the parish publication,
there is an article entitled; ‘Are you laughing?’ It’s a hard hitting, possibly
polemical piece, which goes directly to the heart of what I perceived to be Khun
Premprecha’s philosophy: “to get you thinking” about our place in the world and
about God, in particular. In the pamphlet, he talks about the steady erosion of
values in society, and the bizarre and (I suppose) morally hypocritical protests
we hear when something terrible happens as a result of the dereliction of our
spiritual duty. “Funny” he writes, “how we believe what the newspapers say, but
question what the Bible says. We reap what we sow”.
Khun Premprecha clearly enjoys life and gives of his wisdom freely. Likewise his
humour. There’s a fierce intellect burning inside and the passion of his faith
is obvious. Yet it is compassionate, loving, caring, sharing; and I’d only known
him for a few hours. Happy Birthday, indeed, Khun Premprecha and many happy
returns of the day!
The Dibbayawan family and in-laws
young and not so young came from all corners of the world to celebrate this
joyous occasion.
Nittaya re-elected as
YWCA president
President Nittaya Patimasongkhroh
(seated) and members congratulate Khun Sopin Thappajug (center) for her
dedicated work for the benefit of children everywhere.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Nittaya Patimasongkhroh was re-elected as president of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya
Center on June 13, having stepped down from the position at the end of her
previous term.
The annual general meeting of the association was held at the Diana Garden
Resort and attended by the committee and members including Sopin Thappajug,
honorary advisor, and Mrs Elfi Seitz, vice chairperson of fund raising.
The meeting re-elected Nittaya as president again, with Mrs Malinee Suwanseanee
as vice chairman. The annual report was presented to the members and the
successes of projects such as the student lunch projects, the Happy Family
Project and special educational scholarships were commended.
The ladies gave a big round of applause to three lovely ladies who wore the most
beautiful yellow dresses. They were Khun Mas Chinaworatanakanok, Khun Nittaya
Noyes and Khun Samrong Kwangwibut.
Khun Sopin Thappajug also an honorary advisor to the YWCA was presented with a
bouquet of flowers commending her for her praiseworthy achievements as an
Associate Judge of the Chonburi Family and Juvenile Court.
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