HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Pattaya remembers Father Ray on 6th anniversary of his death

Senior citizens rock out for Mother’s Day

Charity Club of Pattaya provides Isaan Up-Date

Central Festival Pattaya Beach celebrates Mother’s Day

La Chaine at Bruno’s

---

Pattaya remembers Father Ray on 6th anniversary of his death

(From left) Priests Worawut Saraphan, licensee of the Redemptorist Vocational School, Aphisit Kitsralum, Somphong Teawtrakoon, and Michael Weera Phangrak, director of the Pattaya Orphanage, preside over the religious ceremony commemorating Father Ray’s sixth memorial.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Six years after the death of Father Raymond Brennan, about 1,000 friends, students and coworkers of the man who helped so many of Thailand’s needy turned out over two days to remember the man behind the Father Ray Foundation.

Worawut Saraphan, licensee of the Redemptorist Vocational School talks about Father Ray and what he meant to the many lives he touched.
The memorial began Aug. 15 at an overflowing St. Nikolaus Church, where four priests active in the organization celebrated mass and the placing of flowers on Brennan’s grave.
On the 16th, the anniversary of Brennan’s 2003 death, memorials were held throughout the day, starting with volunteers from the Redemptorist School for the Disabled giving alms to nine monks. Later on, Witthaya Kunplome, chief executive of the Provincial Administration Organization, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Pattaya Mail Publisher Pratheep S. Malhotra, and Sophon Cable TV President Chanyuth Hengtrakul and other guests joined the celebration.
Festivities kicked off with children too young to have known their benefactor performing a slightly clumsy, but endearing version of “The Smiling Sun.”

Witthaya Kunplome, chief executive of the Provincial Administration Organization addresses the gathering.
Worawut Saraphan, licensee of the Redemptorist Vocational School, noted the Father Ray Foundation marks the anniversary of its founder’s death each year as the many schools and charities it spawned would not have been possible without him.
“Today is an auspicious day for those who would carry forward the never-ending love, mercy and effort that Father Ray had towards those in need,” he said.
Witthaya, in his welcoming speech, said Brennan believed that “all human beings have feelings, worth and dignity and that every person should be treated equally with respect and love.” He also believed that it was Father Ray’s pure love that brought a change to the society, bringing together all as one.

Witthaya Kunplome (left) presents first prize to Prakasit Bumrong from the Father Ray Outreach Work and Drop-In Center for winning the student category of the “Father Ray, My Father” essay contest.
Inspired by Brennan’s chartable mission, the government is working harder to improve the quality of life for the disabled, Witthaya added.
Speeches completed, prizes were then bestowed upon winners of the “Father Ray, My Father” essay contest, with winners from both the staff - Sonthaya Phanno from the Father Ray Foundation - and children: Phrakasit Bumrong of the Father Ray Outreach Work and Drop-In Center.
Witthaya then cut the ribbon in front of the Father Ray monument after which flowers were placed on the statue.

Witthaya Kunplome (left) presents first prize to Sonthaya Phanno from the Father Ray Foundation for winning the staff category of the “Father Ray, My Father” essay contest.
Organizers also took children to perform at different venues, including the Pattaya Floating Market, Carrefour and Central Festival Pattaya Beach, all of whom helped sponsor this year’s memorial.
Entertainment included a Thai musical performance by the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind, cabaret dancers from the Tiffany Show, tricks from the Tuxedo Magic Show, plus there were free medical checkups from Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, haircuts from Jutamas Beauty School, free food and drink from the Chefs Association and, at night on Walking Street, wheelchair dancing and “fire poi” put on by the Redemptorist School for the Disabled.
Brennan was born Dec. 7, 1932, in Chicago. He came to Thailand in 1961 as a volunteer to assist impoverished and disabled people and from that day until his last he devoted himself to assisting Thailand’s poor.
He established the Orphanage Foundation in the early 1970s after a baby was left in his care. In the early 1980s a young deaf boy was left at the orphanage and Brennan was unable to find a local school for him. This led to the opening of the Sotpattana Kindergarten School for the Deaf in 1983.

Father Aphisit Kitsralum (left) presents a gift to Witthaya Kunplome,
 chief executive of the Provincial Administration Organization,
 thanking him for attending the ceremony.

Witthaya Kunplome cuts the ribbon in front of the Father Ray statue.

Pratheep S. Malhotra, managing director and publisher of the Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. Ltd., places flowers in front of the statue.

Suporntham Mongkolsawat places flowers in front of the Father Ray statue.

Foreign volunteers solicit contributions for the Father Ray Foundation.

The magic show from Tuxedo Magic was an enjoyable part of the ceremony.

The Thai music performance by the blind students
was memorable during the event.

Clowns prepare to entertain the children.

Youths perform Thai dance at the Pattaya Floating Market.

Youngsters perform the Sunshine Dance at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.

A large number of people attend the Father Ray Memorial.

Visually impaired children sing at the Father Ray Memorial.

Priests perform a religious ceremony in front of Father Brennan’s grave.

Disabled members of the Father Ray Foundation place flowers in front of his grave.

Senior citizens rock out for Mother’s Day

Pramote Channgam
Senior citizens from the Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center celebrated a rockin’ Mother’s Day as the Hard Rock Hotel hosted a musical lunch and donated 13,000 baht in adult diapers to the senior center.

George Hazard, general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe Pattaya, presents adult diapers to the Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center.
The Aug. 11 party led by Hard Rock Hotel General Manager George Hazard featured the Hard Rock Cafe Band. Everyone in attendance also received a gift and an invitation to attend the Hard Rock’s Father’s Day celebration in December.
The Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center has operated for more than 40 years and currently cares for nearly 300 elderly men and women.

Senior citizens say thanks for remembering them
and organizing a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Charity Club of Pattaya provides Isaan Up-Date

Christina Boden
The Butt Family
The Charity Club found Somporn, his sister and his father living in a hole on their visit to Isaan in March with only the clothes they stood up in. The Club provided the family with food on the spot and arranged for clothing and shoes for the father and the two children, plus cooking utensils to be bought that day.

Somporn in hospital with his dad and sister awaiting his operation.

A Norwegian man built them a house and the Charity Club paid for guttering, water pots, and a filter system, which goes to the water pots.
Somporn, who is 12 years old, was born with both male and female organs, and needed two operations, which the Charity Club has covered as well as food, travel, and accommodation for this little boy and his family. He has since had the first of two operations.
The hospital now wants him to get a little stronger before his next operation.
The Charity Club is also in talks to see if the Father can become a part time handy man at the local school. The Charity Club have also supplied dad with a lot of garden equipment and plants so he can create a vegetable patch in his new home.
Pantip Bunlam
More good news from this family. Pantip left school to look after her severely depressed mother and to work in a pig farm at night to provide food for her and her mother.

Sittipong with mum.

This is the family with the leaky roof, which the Charity Club arranged to replace and then the house fell down! So, they rebuilt the house and with the building of the house this brought the mother out of her depression. She landed a job and has improved day by day.
The Charity Club agreed to pay 1,000 baht a month to the family for 1 year so that Pantip could stop working at the pig farm and attend school properly. They also provided fruit trees, flowers, vegetables some chickens and ducks. By the end of the year, they should be fully self-sufficient, and the Charity Club will walk away.
The mother is still working hard and has managed to save some money; the money has gone towards buying two buffalos!
Pantip is doing incredibly well at school and her mum no long needs any of her medication for her depression.
Pantip and the family are also proud to let the Charity Club know that with the old wood that the original house was made from (when it fell down!) is now a house again…this time for the buffalos, duck’s and chickens.
Poo Gan
Poo Gan has had a new pressure mask fitted this month (August) and she is coming on in leaps and bounds.
Poo Gan is the little girl that fell into a fire at 18 months old and the family couldn’t afford to have her treated, so the Charity Club stepped in and are covering all her treatments, food, travel, and accommodation while on her trips to Bangkok.
Sittipong
15 year old Sittipong is still the same. The Charity Club will continue supplying him with the special food he requires. The Club is in the process of finding him a comfortable wheelchair.
Waranut
The Charity Club found Waranut being cared for by her 14-year-old brother while on a visit to Isaan in March of this year. No parents are around and the older children all live in Bangkok. The two children were fed now and again when the neighbors could give them food or when the brother stayed away from school and went begging.

The buffalo house.

Waranut could not walk so her brother was caring for all her hygiene needs.
Waranut was accepted into the home for mentally handicapped girls in Bangkok while the brother went to live with relatives in Bangkok.
Waranut is extremely happy and settled at her new home in Ban Rachawadee Ying. They say that she never stops smiling. Her strength is improving and she is walking little by little and this will improve as she gets stronger.
The promises from the family regarding visiting her have yet to appear, but Waranut has stated to the home that she is happy where she is and not bothered if her family comes or not as she is scared they will take her back to Isaan again.

Poo Gan has had a new pressure mask fitted this month.
The Charity Club will keep in contact with Waranut and visit because club members have seen such a difference in this little girl since first meeting with her in March.
When they first found Waranut she was just sitting on her wooden porch lost in a world of her own with no one speaking to her. It was heartbreaking. Now, as the staff at the home say, she just never stops smiling, talking and giggling.
Just as a little girl of that age should be!
Home with autistic Children
The Charity Club are also looking at a project in Isaan helping a home with autistic children. More details at a later date when things have been clarified.
As well as these children in Isaan the Charity Club prepare and distribute food parcels for the elderly and the needy, arrange for artificial limbs to be fitted, plus distribute wheelchairs, tricycles and walking aids to adults and children.
Anyone who would like to help with a donation of cash, food, clothing, bedding, children’s clothing, shoes, toys and/or games can contact the Charity Club at any of the following: Christina on 0821094453; Malcolm on 0895454185 or 089 7441040; or charityclubofpattaya@ yahoo.com

Poo Gan is due an operation on her fused fingers.

Waranut where she use to sit all day and sleep at night (March 09).

Waranut now July 09

Central Festival Pattaya Beach celebrates Mother’s Day

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Singer and former model Dome Pakorn Lum headlined Central Festival Pattaya Beach’s Mother’s Day celebration, which saw the Thai heartthrob give his own mom flowers and awards to nine others.

Dome Pakorn Lum croons for the mothers at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
The Aug. 10 celebration of HM the Queen’s birthday saw the 29-year-old Dome enter the mall on a bicycle and present jasmine flowers to his mother. The galleria was awash in white and pastel for the occasion, with 100 species of jasmine flowers brought in by Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.
The festivities concluded with a “best mothers” award ceremony which Dome topped off with a short concert.
The winners of the award to honor Pattaya’s outstanding mothers were: Jintana Wetchote, head of the Pattaya Education Department, Siriphorn Khomkhum, managing director of Hollywood Entertainment Complex, Naowarat Kakhay, president of the Restaurants Association of the Eastern Seaboard, Chanansa Suttithamrongsawat, Pattaya City Councilor in charge of community and youth assistance, Prapai Chareonwong, owner of Mae Prapai Somtam Restaurant; Arphorn Rajsingho, principal of Pattaya School No 5, Nittaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center, Aurora Sribuaphan, director of the Redemptorist School for the Blind; and Piriyaphan Sophonkijavanit, director of the Parents Association of Sathit Kaset University and owner of Company Wedding.

(Center, left to right) Kasin Owatsuwan, general manager
of Central Department Store, Mam and Dome Pakorn Lum surrounded
by children wishing all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!

Dome Pakorn Lum’s mother Mam (left) and the winners of the Pattaya City Outstanding Mothers awards pose for the camera with Dome Pakorn Lum and Kasin Owatsuwan, general manager of Central Department Store.

La Chaine at Bruno’s

Dr Iain Corness
The Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest and one of the most prestigious gourmet groups in the world, took the opportunity to experience the creations of the young Swiss chef Patrick Zellweger, currently on duty in the Bruno’s kitchens.

Chef de Mission Hugh Millar points out that the Yalumba winery was founded by an Englishman in 1849.
The Chaine members, a small but select group, worked up their appetite by sipping a Pol Clement Brut while enjoying an assortment of canapés and each other’s company. By the time the formal dining began, I think everyone was looking forward to see just what a young chef could prepare. Would we be disappointed?
The first dish in the five course menu featured lobster medallions with a spicy cucumber sauce (set in a hollowed out cucumber - great presentation), with carrot cream laced with ginger and a soft boiled egg with truffle mayonnaise. This was accompanied by a Sutter Home 2006 Pinot Grigio, a refreshing wine and not so full flavored that it might clash with the spicy cucumber sauce.
The second course was a brilliant green broccoli soup with mascarpone foam. This met universal approval and was one of the nicest soups I have had for some time.
However, it was the third course that really made the evening for me. This was a vegetable risotto enhanced with truffle oil and Taleggio cheese molded into a tower, wrapped in zucchini slices and topped with grilled lamb tenderloin. Normally I am not a fan of risotto, but this was no ordinary risotto. Top marks from me for this one. The wine was a Santa Cristina Toscana Antinori 2006, which, though pleasant enough, lacked any real finish for my taste (but as always, appreciation of wines is an individual experience).

Hugh Millar (background) listens in as Ranjith Chandrasiri thanks Fredi Schaub (2nd right) and guest chef Patrick Zellweger.

After a cassis sorbet with champagne, which exploded in the mouth, we were all ready for the traditional roast, a requirement of the Chaine des Rotisseurs dinners and we were not disappointed here either. It was Australian Angus beef tenderloin, and it was certainly tender, placed on a bed of a forest mushroom ragout with pine nuts and the wine reduction of shiraz and thyme.
To go with the Australian beef the accompanying wine was an Australian Yalumba 2007 Y Series Viognier, this one having more body and finish, and for me, was more satisfying. In his description, Chef de Mission Hugh Millar was at great pains to point out that the Yalumba winery was founded by an Englishman in 1849. As Samuel Smith is long gone, any connection with the ‘motherland’ is now tenuous at best! Sorry Hugh, the Smith family today are true blue Aussies.
The dinner had not ended yet and a cheese platter with a wonderfully satisfying goat’s cheese rolled in caramelized pistachio nuts was presented to the members, which I thought was a wonderful ending.
Those who had more stamina than I, made it through a cinnamon-flavored Panna Cotta with a pomegranate, pineapple and raspberry coulis washed down with a Sicilian muscat.
The finale was the presentation of certificates to the kitchen brigade, accepted by K. Anage, the service personnel accepted by K. Kassaporn and finally to chef Patrick Zellweger, an honor that he certainly deserved. We were not disappointed in the food in any way, and I can still taste the wonderfully smooth risotto with Taleggio cheese!
If you are interested in good food and fine wines, I would recommend that you join the Chaine des Rotisseurs. Many chapters have waiting lists, but we (or you) are fortunate that there are still places available here in Pattaya. I would suggest you make contact with Bailli Ranjith Chandrasiri and then possibly attend as a guest initially and then send in your application to join. Ranjith can be contacted at [email protected].

Chaine members mingle between courses.

News | Business | Features | Columns | Mail Bag | Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up

E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.