Knights of Rizal Chapter officially established in Thailand

A local chapter of the Knights of Rizal is now officially established in Thailand.

Col. George Reiff, KCR

The Knights of Rizal, one out of two state orders of the Philippines, has officially introduced its first chapter in Thailand under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok.

The order was originally founded 100 years ago in order to commemorate the teachings and works of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Also, the Knights of Rizal obtained their present legal standing as public law corporation according to Parliament Act Number 646 in 1951.

As Dr. Jose Rizal was the first known person in modern history to have employed non-violent resistance, and as he has been quoted for that by Gandhi of India and by Dr. Sun Yatsen of China, the Knights of Rizal have a strong international outreach to all nations of the world. Chapters exist from UK to US and from Malaysia to Bahrain.

The organization was introduced into Thailand by Col. George Reiff who organized the first initiation of 4 Knights of Rizal in Bangkok on 10 of April 2010. In the meantime, the number of Knights increased and so the chapter could be established today.

Founding Chapter Commanders are Col. George Reiff and Pol. Gen. Teeradej Rodphotong, who is the deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police. Members of the founding committee were also: Pol. Gen. Vibool Pakamas, Pol. Gen. Likhit Klinual, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schaller, Dr. Tae Sul Kim, Pol. Col. Nanthawut Suwanla-Ong, Pol. Col. Noppadol Wongnom and Pol. Major Siriwut Padsiri.

All knighthoods have been awarded by H.E. Ambassador Linglingay F. Lacanlale and her deputy Consul General Edgar Badajos, who is himself a Knight of Rizal.

The newly founded local chapter in Thailand will strive to make a difference in the field of education, charity and patriotism based on the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal.

Cooking her way to a new life

It’s ready to serve: Sompong Prachariko and her daughter Sukalyani Prachariko prepare to serve mom’s signature dish, “Larb Ped Buriram,” or Buriram Spicy Minced Duck Salad.

Manoon Makpol

After years of hard, menial labor, Sompong Prachariko has found success and happiness doing what she loves: cooking.

The 40-year-old Buriram native came to Pattaya in January, hoping for new fortune after working her life as a rice farmer, day laborer and street vendor. Her only skill was with a skillet, but her friends told her she did it well, so she tried her luck. It turns out her friends were right.

Sompong specializes in those spicy Issan dishes so popular among Pattaya’s large northeastern population. Som tam, of course, is a staple of the menu at her Naklua Market Soi A food stall called the “Larb Ped Song Krueng Buriram” which denotes her signature dish “Larb Ped Buriram,” or Buriram Spicy Minced Duck Salad.

Customer Sirikul Korsiri said she thinks the food is delicious and that Sompong provides great service.

Somgpong said she had always enjoyed cooking and never enjoyed the hard labor. Not only was it exhausting, but it provided to little income to send her children to school. Now she takes in 10,000-15,000 baht a month and her daughter, Sukalyani, lives with her and helps out in the evenings.

Sukalyani said her mother is happier now, as is she. She said she’s proud her mother was brave enough to follow her own path and, as she continues school, she wants to work in the culinary field.

Amari wraps up the Gourmet Festival

(L to R) Yongyuth Phianprasit, Mantra Restaurant and Bar’s executive sous chef; Chef Hirokazu Tomizawa from Yoshimura, Japan; Chef Giorgio Stephanosio, Restaurant Galerie, Monpazier; Philippe Bramaz, wine maker from Best Cellar Co., Ltd.; Patcharee Musikul, sales manager of Best Cellar Co., Ltd.; Jens Heier, executive chef of Mantra Restaurant and Bar; Chef Werner Snoek from Saxon Boutique Hotel, Johannesburg; and Supparatch Piyawatcharapun, Mantra Restaurant and Bar’s social director.

Dr. Iain Corness

The Amari Orchid’s Mantra restaurant wrapped up their week-long Gourmet Festival with a gala dinner at the Mantra. Featuring the final menu from the four chefs, it did show all their individual talents.

The three visiting chefs were Werner Snoek from South Africa, Giorgio Stephanosio (Italy/France), and Hirokazu Tomizawa (Japan) who joined the Amari’s resident chef Jens Heier (Germany) to produce a series of spectacular dinners and cooking classes during the week.

The Gala Dinner also featured French wines, with the majority from the Bordeaux region, with others from Burgundy and Alsace.

Before we began, I ‘tested’ the Mantra to see just how well prepared this restaurant really was - I had forgotten my pen and glasses, but our lovely smiling waitress quickly brought me replacements, so I could continue the review. Thank you, Mantra!

The first course (of eight) was a coffee cured duck with a lavender, praline and truffled duck liver pate from chef Werner. A sensational start to the dinner, taken with a Chateau Ferran Blanc Bordeaux 2005, a clean, crisp wine with a long finish.

The second course was from Giorgio, featuring scallop on a beetroot carpaccio, washed down with a Louis Roederer Brut Champagne. A luxury item, but very much appreciated by everyone.

Tomisawa-San produced an Awabi with kimo sauce dish with Abalone, something of an acquired taste.

The fifth course was from Chef Jens and was a crispy sea bass in morel gravy and spinach with a Verget Meursault Tillets Burgundy 2007. A most enjoyable combination.

The sixth course was a lamb and beef duo with the South African beans chakalaka, taken with two reds, a Chateau Cantemerle Bordeaux 2006 and a Chateau La Fleur du Bouard Bordeaux 2007, with the latter being more to my taste.

Almost at the end, but an amusing course, with the eternally happy Chef Giorgio coming round with the cheese trolley, which featured a very appetizing range.

And so we said farewell to the three visiting chefs with another ‘tour de force’ from the Amari Orchid, a resort which has changed just so much in the past 12 months, to become one of the top hotels in Pattaya.

27 groups lay large artificial reef in Bang Saray

Local officials gather around the soon to be installed artificial reefs in Bang Saray.

Patcharapol Panrak

Twenty-seven government, military and educational groups joined together to lay a large artificial reef and release 200,000 shrimp as part of a marine-environment restoration project in Bang Saray.

Groups including the Royal Thai Navy’s Recruit Training Center, Chonburi Integrated Coastal Management, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, municipal workers from Sattahip, Kledkaew, Jomtien, Khet Udomsak and Samae San; the Sriracha Fishery Research Station, Ubon Fish Co. and others participated in the March 22 event.

The frame of the large reef will be supported by 90 floating buoys. Once developed, the coral is expected to boost the local fish population and also make Bang Saray an eco-tourism stop.

Bang Saray Mayor Pinsom Nimsuwan said the new reef is part of the area’s aggressive action to rehabilitate the battered marine ecosystem and preserve it.