- HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
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British Ambassador opens Father Ray Foundation Welcome Center
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Boarding school plays to a different tune
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World Class American Band “Ozomatli” rocks the Pattaya Orphanage
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Youth, business and politics feature at Skål Pattaya monthly meeting
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British Ambassador opens Father Ray Foundation Welcome Center
Elfi Seitz &
Paul Strachan
The Redemptorists had quite a ceremonious day on May 15, when British
Ambassador H. E. Quinton Quayle visited the center.
 H.
E. British Ambassador Quinton Quayle (center) is greeted by Mike Lancaster
(left) and Fr. Lawrence Patin (right).
He was the guest of honor at the much anticipated opening of the ‘Welcome
Center,’ now ready to host guests, visitors and donors. It is directly
accessible from Sukhumvit Road.
Ambassador Quayle was warmly welcomed by foundation director Fr. Lawrence
Patin, assistant directors Suporntum Mongkolsawadi and Luksampa Monzarid,
representatives from various organizations and, of course, by all the
children at the Fr. Ray Foundation.
After his welcome address, the ambassador unveiled a sign which bears a hint
of his visit to the Welcome Center, followed by the hoisting of the Union
Jack, symbolizing the generous help the foundation has been receiving from
Great Britain.
Since 1992, 600 million baht has been donated, mainly through the tireless
efforts of the London-based Thai Children’s Trust. The organization enables
numerous Thai children to be raised carefree and lifts their hopes of being
able to lead a normal life later on.
After a brief TV clip, to which tidbits were served, H. E. inspected various
facilities of the center. The Daycare Center offers room for up to 120
children and toddlers, the Fr. Ray Museum and the Vocational Training Center
for physically impaired, where the ambassador met some British volunteers
who teach English. He also chatted with some of the students, proving his
excellent command of Thai.
During a break in the rain,
the ambassador made
his way over to the Redemptorist Schools for a visit.
Before his departure, H. E. patiently gave an interview,
urging the people of all nations to continue their support, for help will
always be needed. We must not stop to care for the poorest of the poor and
specifically for innocent children, the ambassador said.
Later in the day the ambassador paid a visit to Tropical Bert’s, which is
the Thailand branch of the Royal British Legion. The Ambassador took time to
chat with some of the veterans and with vice chairman of the organization
Malcolm Glenny.
He also made some presentations on behalf of The Royal British Legion
Thailand.
Firstly a veterans badge to Vic Jarvis who was an air dispatcher during the
Malay emergency.
Then a branch banner to Christina Boden from the Charity Club of Pattaya for
organizing the highly successful pub crawl, which raised funds for the
branch. And to Kim Fletcher who in his capacity as the landlord of Jameson’s
Irish Pub managed to collect the highest amount in donations during the pub
crawl.
The sign is being unveiled.
A very special ‘Friend of the Legion’ award went to
Graham Macdonald for his continued work with the British Chamber of Commerce
Thailand which has aided the branch being the success that it is today.
His Excellency gave an interview for PMTV where he stated that it was great
to be back in Pattaya and that he was delighted to see that efforts were
being made to get the city back on track after the events that caused the
ASEAN summit to be cancelled.
 Ambassador
Quayle presents a veterans badge to Vic Jarvis, the latter having been an
air dispatcher during the Malay emergency.
Malcolm Glenny also gave an interview where he outlined just some of the
work that the branch undertakes, giving an example of a Thai woman who was
recently widowed from her British husband and was having difficulties wading
through all the paperwork. Malcolm stated that they facilitated all the
necessary documents that are needed in such cases.
His Excellency then made his way to the Dusit Resort for the BCCT Eastern
Seaboard dinner where he entertained the dining guests with his light
hearted sometimes serious account of his experiences as a sportsman-diplomat
in his address entitled “Down but not out - Baggies Boy Back in Pattaya!”.
(L to R) Pratheep Malhotra,
managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd.; His Excellency
Quinton Quayle, British Ambassador to Thailand; Maurice Bromley, chairman of
Golndustry-DoveBid; and Graham Macdonald, vice chairman of the British
Chamber of Commerce Thailand at the BCCT networking evening at the Dusit
Thani Pattaya.
Ambassador Quayle presents a
banner to Malcolm Glenny,
vice chairman of the Thailand branch of the Royal British Legion.
Ambassador Quayle presents a
very special ‘Friend of the Legion’
award to Graham Macdonald (right) for his continued work with
the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand
Kim Fletcher (right), landlord
of Jameson’s Irish Pub receives
a banner for collecting the highest amount in donations during the pub
crawl.
Ambassador Quayle presents a
banner to Christina Boden from
the Charity Club of Pattaya for organizing the highly successful pub crawl,
which raised funds for the Thailand branch of the Royal British Legion.
Ambassador Quayle merrily
gives out presents to the children at the centre.
Ambassador Quayle shows one
picture of him presenting
a No. 27 football shirt to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Boarding school plays to a different tune
Lewis “Woody” Underwood,
chairman of the Jesters Care for Kids charity drive, thanks Mile High and
Prem Tinsulanonda International School for their support.
Jennifer Bombasaro-Brady
For many people, “boarding school” conjures up images of rigid,
ferocious old teachers in heavy black gowns and long canes keeping their
beady eyes on the students marching in tune with stale rules and
regulations.
However, such caricatures do not always apply, as recently proven by Chiang
Mai’s Prem Tinsulanonda International School (PTIS).
In a concert that raised 22,000 baht for Jester’s Care for Kids, part of
which will go to Pattaya’s Fountain of Life, PTIS rolled out the red carpet
and opened its doors to host a concert by Chiang Mai sensation, the rock
band, Mile High. PTIS rallied the local community for a good cause and
helped meet the social and entertainment needs of its pupils.
Students and friends crowd the
stage for a rockin’ evening with Mile High.
“Usually our students impact the local community through
service initiatives where they teach in the classrooms of local schools,
mentor students with disabilities, or host underprivileged youth in
on-campus programming where they can take advantage of Prem’s facilities.
This special benefit concert, however, was a real treat,” said Linda Buck,
the Director of Boarding at Prem.
The event was attended by over two hundred people and featured cover songs
ranging from classic rock to modern pop. Mile High put on a terrific show
and encouraged guests to join them on stage and to dance in the crowd. Mile
High sang mostly in English while the multi-generational and multicultural
crowd cheered them on.
Students wildly applauded the event, saying that it was the hit of the year.
“It’s ideal because we don’t have to go into town and navigate Chiang Mai
with chaperones,” remarked one student. “Instead, they brought the music to
us”. Indeed, the concert struck a chord for Prem students and echoes of the
concert continued throughout the weekend as many, inspired, took up their
guitars in Prem’s courtyards.
Mile High put on a terrific
show and encouraged guests
to join them on stage and to dance in the crowd.
Mile High features cover songs
ranging from classic rock to modern pop.
World Class American Band “Ozomatli” rocks the Pattaya Orphanage
Sue Kukarja
From L.A. to the world!
Having the role of American cultural ambassadors bestowed upon them,
Ozomatli found their ways to the hearts of many underprivileged people and
children all over the world.
This world famous Latin hip-hop band has won several Grammy awards and their
music has been featured in dozens of Hollywood movies and television shows.
 The
children were thrilled to interact with the American musicians.
After their performances in Myanmar (Burma) and Vietnam, Ozomatli finally
made it to Thailand, and on May 16 they came to hold a special and private
concert for the children at the Pattaya Orphanage.
This great event was made possible by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.
The U.S. Embassy Cultural Attaché, JP Schutte told Pattaya Mail that it was
a great pleasure to bring this American band that represents multi-cultures
and diversity through their music to Thailand, especially to Pattaya, and
most importantly, to the underprivileged kids, which was part of the
outreach program requested by the Ozomatli group.
The multipurpose hall at the Pattaya Orphanage was packed with orphans,
underprivileged, and physically challenged youngsters, all waiting eagerly
to watch and listen to this phenomenal band.
As soon as Father Michael Weera Phangrak, director of the Pattaya Orphanage
ended his welcoming speech, two shows were performed by the lovely students
from the center.
Then came the moment of thrills when the Ozomatli band started, which
immediately sent thunderous sounds across the hall.
Ozomatli sing their way into
the hearts of many underprivileged people.
Not just the sounds of the vibrant multi-cultural music
(which was, by the way, the best live Latino - hip hop - mixed traditional
music we have had in this little humble town), but more so from the sounds
of excitement from the children, cheering and screaming like crazy rock star
fans.
I was sitting among the small children with hearing disabilities, and
thought I would have to help their teachers encourage them to dance, but to
my astonishment, they got up and bounced to the body gestures of the music
beat throughout the performance.
A 5-year-old deaf boy next to me kept pulling me out to dance with him!
First, two shows were
performed by the lovely students from the center.
The crowd went even madder when a student from the
Redemptorist School for the Blind went up to jam with the Ozo’s and took
over the drums while the other played the Northeastern Thai guitar or
‘Phin’. Several children joined in on the stage and jumped around in a
trance, while the rest of the audience danced, clapped and cheered.
It was an hour and a half of roaring laughter, music, fun and happiness all
around. The energy generated throughout the room was awesome! They had a
blast.
After the performance, the children gathered around the artists to get their
autographs and talked with them before joining the food feast in the garden.
In an interview with Pattaya Mail Television, members of the band, Raul
Pacheco and Asdrew told us that Ozomatli was named for the Aztec God of
dance, fire, and passion. It also means ‘monkeys’. That should explain their
dynamic, high energy performance!
Their music - an urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa,
dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, meringue and comparsa, East LA R&B and
New Orleans second line, Jamaican reggae and Indian raga - has long followed
a key mantra: it will take you around the world by taking you around L.A.
Originally formed to play at an area labor protest over a decade ago,
Ozomatli spent some of their early days participating in everything from
earthquake prep “hip hop ghetto plays” at inner-city L.A. elementary schools
to community activist events, protests, and city fundraisers.
Ozomatli has a firm belief that music is the key to every culture and the
beginning of an understanding. That belief was definitely proven at the
Pattaya Orphanage.
For these underprivileged children, it was night to remember and for the
performers and adults alike it was a memory to cherish.
You can obtain more information about the Ozomatli at
www.ozomatli.com/site.php
The crowd went wild when a
student from the Redemptorist School
for the Blind went up to jam with the Ozo’s and took over the drums while
the other played the Northeastern Thai guitar or ‘Phin’.
Youth, business and politics feature at Skål Pattaya monthly meeting
High powered speakers kept guests glued to their seats
Pramote Channgam
The Skål Club of Pattaya and East Thailand held a luncheon meeting
on April 30, when the topics covered by the guest speakers were as varied as
they were of crucial interest to the people of Thailand and foreign
residents.
 Squadron
Leader Prasong Soonsiri calls for unity and peace in Thailand.
Dr. Vongbhum Vanasin, chairman of the Youth Leadership Development
Foundation and managing director of the Pinnacle Hotels & Resorts spoke on
two subjects, the first of which was “Social Innovation on Business through
Corporate Social Responsibilities”.
The second part of his talk was about a project that is very dear to his
heart, namely about children under the care of the Youth Leadership
Development Foundation.
He said the aim of the project is to bring together youth leaders consisting
of pre-college students from southern provinces and other regions in
Thailand. “This was for them to participate in activities to develop good
relations and share good impressions, creating new visions and experiences
for the young attendees by emphasizing knowledge.”
 Dr
Vongbhum Vanasin, Chairman of the Youth Leadership Development Foundation
addresses the gathering.
This project has received a good response from all parties, which is
considered a good sign for youth to grow up to be good citizens in our
society.
The highlight of a most eventful afternoon was a talk on ‘The Present
Political Crisis in relation to the Constitution’ by Squadron Leader Prasong
Soonsiri, former chairman of the 2007 constitution drafting committee.
Squadron Leader Prasong spoke about the current domestic political crisis
which has grown into proportions more critical than this country had ever
experienced before. He said that it is so clearly seen that businesses of
all sizes have been badly hurt by the world economic downturn and the
country’s financial woes have been compounded by the political instability.
Squadron Leader Prasong encouraged the people to take heart and stand
united, so that Thailand and its people can work together to solve these
problems. “Cooperation is needed from all parties and no malice should be
shown to any sides. If everyone remembers that this land is our own homeland
then most likely we will be able to get through this crisis easily,” he
said.
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Pratheep Malhotra,
MD of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co Ltd. acted as MC and
interpreter. |
Ingo Raeuber,
President of Skål International Pattaya & East Thailand,
introduces the guest speakers. |
President Ingo presents
Skål Club of Pattaya & East Thailand banners
to Squadron Leader Prasong Soonsiri and Dr. Vongbhum Vanasin.
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