thailand a guide to professionals in thailand
professionals Vol. 2 No. 9
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December Issue 2013
Bangkok . Pattaya . Phuket . Khon Khen
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MAGAZINE STAFF CEO Pilli Shahin Noble Editor-in-Chief Bradley Villanueva Copy Editor Jayhce Boondock, MA Layout and Design Jerubem Era, MIS-IEC Content and Design Consultant The Box World, Inc. Manager Taraphatsorn Saengngam
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Marketing & Communications Sean Parker Rao
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Photographer Dev Mohnani Distribution Bangkok - TPMag Pattaya - Pattaya People Media Phuket - Phuket Gazzette Khon Khen - Khon Khen Int. School TPMag is published once every two months by: The World of Professional (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Owned and Managed by: Pilli Group Co., Ltd. No. 12, Soi Pattana Wet Pridi Banomyong 26, Sukhumvit 71 Bangkok 10110, Thailand +6681-409-1501 info@thailandprofessionals.com Visit us at: www.thailandprofessionals.com Follow us at: www.twitter.com/thailandProf Like our page at: www.facebook.com/pages/ Thailand-Professionals For advertising rates, download our Media Kit at our website. Request a hard copy. Visit our office at the address above. We can also send to you. Email us your address and send us 75 Baht/issue by check at our office. We will send it through EMS post. Outside Bangkok: request for quote.
Views and opinions expressed in the articles herein by individual writers and contributors do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editorial staff and management of Thailand Professionals. An Invitation to our readers We welcome articles, news, story ideas and/or photographs from our readers. Send them to: thaipromedia@gmail.com or mrd@thailandprofessionals.com. Your submissions are subject to approval by the editorial team.
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CONTENTS
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Editorial Merry Christmas to all our readers! We would like to take this time to thank everyone for the support you have given to Thailand Professionals. We have ended 2013 with a blast and we are ready to move on to greater things for 2014. The main highlight to end the year is the Asian Networkers convention at Plaza Athene on December 8-10. This event is hosted by World of Professionals. The event is the first of its kind to have different MLM companies join together in one place. Speakers from around the world are coming to speak and inspire people to go for their dreams and live the life. This month is also full of activities, aside from the Christmas season, Father’s day is also celebrated here in Thailand. It is because of HM the King’s birthday on December 5. The whole country joins and celebrates his birthday and also honors all fathers in Thailand. Last month was also a tragedy for the Philippines as the mega Typhoon Haiyan struck the Central Philippines. So this month, if you have the heart to exercise the gesture of giving, please also remember the Philippines if you want to give this holiday season. They are in need of your help and would appreciate any gesture whether great or small. Lastly, we would like to wish all the entrepreneurs a joyous Christmas and lots of blessing for the new year. This year has been really great, but we hope to be greater for 2014. Raise your glasses and cheers for the success ahead. Bradley Villanueva Editor-in-Chief
PROFESSIONAL SECRETS
From Cabbage Patch To Wii: The 3 Secrets Behind Christmas Crazes THE PRODUCTS THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO STAMPEDE DOWN RETAIL AISLES HAVE THREE THINGS IN COMMON. KEVIN YOUNG REVEALS WHAT THEY ARE.
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lose your eyes. Think about the best gift you ever received. The gift that made you involuntarily jump out of your chair and give the gift giver an enormous holiday hug. Chances are, the gift wasn’t something that you asked for or even needed. The best gifts are those that are unexpected and fulfill some unarticulated desire. You might not have even realized you wanted it until you received it.
into our lives. For example, think of receiving a car navigation system such as Garmin or a digital camera as a holiday gift. They fulfill the practical and rational need of finding your way when you are lost and recording the moments of your life. However, they don’t deliver on our highly emotional needs and therefore probably won’t have you jumping out of your chair. To create a gift that someone will love, addressing rational needs isn’t enough . . .
2. SUBCONSCIOUS DESIRES
Creating these kind of moments is the goal of countless companies, who work year-round to create the next holiday hit--the Tickle Me Elmo or Kindle that will fly off the shelves in December. Many try, but few succeed. So how do you do it? How do you come up with exciting new products that are destined to become the icons of the holiday season or even a generation--resulting in both millions of happy people and millions of dollars? As head of the product design group at the global design and innovation consultancy Continuum, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to design products that make people jump out of their chairs. The key, in my view, is to find the intersection of people’s rational needs and subconscious desires, and unexpected outcomes. Finding this rather elusive sweet spot has the power to create compelling product ideas that are destined to become a consumer success for the holidays. But you must deliver on all three:
1. RATIONAL NEEDS We all require products and services that will make our work life and personal life run smoothly. Successful product solutions--and ultimately gifts--address these needs. These are the fundamental, baseline requirements for products to do their job effectively and fit
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Thanks to the complexity of our brains, we have hidden needs and desires that we’re often not consciously aware of. These latent desires help create the emotional connection that we have with products. And a well-designed product strategically taps into these needs to elicit the desired response from the consumer. Take the Cabbage Patch doll: All little girls want to be mothers like their moms--and this doll hit on all of those cues. Cabbage Patch Kids come with a story and background--born in a secret cabbage patch, they live in a place called BabyLand General until someone “adopts” them--and even come with a birth certificate! They address the emotional and subconscious needs that little girls inherently have. Or consider a gift such as the first twowheeled bicycle that you received as a child. Remember how excited you were? This served the rational need of helping you learn how to ride a bike and later provided shortdistance transportation. However, what made it such a thrilling gift was that it tapped into the subconscious desires for independence, freedom, and becoming more grown-up. Product researchers and designers make strategic efforts to mine your subconscious with the goal of achieving this type of strong emotional connection to products.
beyond rational or subconscious needs to offer something that even your subconscious didn’t know existed. This is the trifecta of product creation and gift giving--and it’s honestly very difficult to achieve. Consider a mega-hit like the original Furby in the early ’90s. It fulfilled logical/rational needs of entertainment for a child. It also fulfilled a subconscious desire of wanting to care for a pet. But what made it an enormous hit: It had personality and was like a living being in your home. A stuffed animal that could respond to voice commands and would even learn from you, Furby was an instant hit because it was so unexpected and had never been seen before. Or think about the first time you used a Wii. You were able to do something that had never been possible--wirelessly interact with a game on your television. You simply used the same motions you would normally use to bowl, hit a tennis ball, or swing a bat and your character was magically on the TV mimicking your actions. It was also incredibly intuitive and easy to use--making it attractive to a wide range of people. The Wii offered an experience that was entirely novel. It was a huge hit upon its release, and six years later it continues to be a popular gift item. As these holiday hits show, when creating products or services, your goal should be to find ways to leverage all three of these factors. In the world of product design and development, it’s a daunting challenge. But I believe that by deeply understanding consumers and following this approach, companies can dramatically increase their odds on delivering huge, involuntary holiday hugs.
So we’ve now delivered on rational needs and augmented that by tapping into your subconscious desires. But there’s one last step to ensuring gift-giving success . . .
3. UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES This is the X-Factor, the unexpected surprise that can blow away the gift recipient. It goes
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CORPORATE EVENTS
Professional High 5
Photo Credits: Peter Kraemer & Chaianan Moontreephakdee
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PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE
Dr. Luís Filipe
Dr. Luís Filipe was born in Angola in 1957 of portuguese parents.
He graduated in Oriental Medicine in Japan in 1983, and earned his Master degree from P.R. China from the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1991. Since then, Dr. Luís Filipe has worked in several countries , treating patients with acupuncture and other different TCM therapies. He begun to work in TCM in the United States of América (USA), in Houston and Chicago by always cooperating with Dr. Zhengang Guo, his principal Master and Mentor (www.liferising.com). As his mother language is portuguese, he travelled in 1987 to Brazil ( Rio de Janeiro), and worked for several years in a oriental medicine japanese clinic. In 1992 he flew to Portugal ( his parents motherland) and opened 2 private TCM clinics ( one in Oporto and other in Vila Nova de Gaia) . He began to deliver seminars in several Universities abroad and afterwards he expanded his seminars to other european countries. In 2004 he returned to Angola and begun to work in Hotel Trópico health Club, receiving patients and treating them with TCM therapies. In 2011 in a partnership with Nelson Van – Dunen opened a TCM clinic in Luanda (Angola capital). Until now he successfuly treated more than 37000 patients. He goes on giving lectures and seminars and so far he hás appeared in many newspapers and TV interviews worldwide. But Dr. Luís real dream is to open a SPA ( With TCM therapies) as soon as possible in Bangkok and relieve the patients through acupuncture and other TCM therapies. Since 2005 he began to travel to Thailand giving consultations and treatments to some Thai and expat patients. Last May he was invited at Chiang Mai Channel 11 (NBT) and during two days stay there he successfuly treated about 80 patients during the comemorations of their Majesty our beloved King and Queen birthday celebrations free of charge. Now in December at 22nd he´s invited to speak at BIVA ( Bangkok Internacional Vegetarian Alliance) explaining how TCM treats the chronic diseases and at December 25th, he will again be in Chiang Mai Channel 11, where he will explain more TCM therapies to the TV audience through hands on practice display.
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Above: International TV Interview Right: Treating a patient with acupuncture to heal ailments.
Below: Dr Luis Filipe treating one patient stroke victim. In one acupuncture session in Channel 11 the patient recovered her arm movment
Above: A picture of an international interview.
Left: Another patient that couldn’t move the arm and only one acupuncture session he could move it freely. He shows to Tv cameras - Channel 11
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FEATURE STORY
Story about His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
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IS MAJESTY KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ of Thailand was born in Cambridge Massachusetts, The United States of America, on Monday the 5th of December 1927, being the third and youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Mahidol of Songkhla. Even the facts of his birth seem to be significant in several ways. He is, first of all, the direct grandson of His Late Majesty King Chulalongkorn or Rama V who was renowned for the great reforms which he made to all institutions of Thailand to bring them up to date and in line with the rest of the Western-oriented world. Prince Mahidol himself was perhaps one of the most modern-minded of all the sons of King Chulalongkorn and his life was dedicated to the development of many modern ideas particularly in the field of Medical Science so that he is now known as the Father of the Modern Thai Medical Profession. Last but not least, he was given the significant name of Bhumibol Adulyadej, meaning Strength of the Land Incomparable Power which becomes prophetic as his Reign advances through various critical periods and the Thai nation evolves more and more around the Throne as the sole sources of unity and strength. Prince Mahidol came back to Thailand and passed away when His Majesty was not yet two years old. After a brief period of primary schooling in Bangkok, His Majesty left with the rest of his family for Switzerland where he continued his secondary education at the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Chailly sur Lausanne and received the Bachelieres Lettres diploma from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne. He then chose to enter Lausanne University to study Science, but the death of his elder brother King Ananda Mahidol in Bangkok on the 9th. of June 1946, changed the course of his life completely, for the Law of Succession bestowed on him the arduous but challenging function of the Thai Crown. His Majesty decided to go back to Switzerland for another period of study, but this time in the subiect of Political
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Science and Law in order to equip himself with the proper knowledge for government. In 1950, His Majesty returned to Thailand for the Coronation Ceremony which took place on the 5th. of May. He went back to Switzerland for another period of study before the urgent call of his country and people brought him back to Thailand in 1951 to stay. His Majesty met and became engaged on the 19th. of July 1949 to Mom Rajawongse Sirikit, daughter of His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath (Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara) and Mom Luang Bua Kitiyakara (nee Mom Luang Bua Snidwongse). His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath was the third son of His Royal Highness Prince Chandaburi Narunath and Her Serene Highness Princess Absarasman Kitiyakara. Their Majesties were married by Her Majesty Queen Sawang Vadhana, the paternal grandmother of His Majesty, at Sra Pathum Palace in Bangkok on the 28th. of April 1950 and Their Majesties have four children namely: 1. Her Royal Highness Princess Ubol Ratana who was born on the 5th. of April 1951, in Lausanne, Switzerland and graduated form the Faculty of Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in The United States of America with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bio-Chemistry in 1973. She was married to Mr. Peter Ladd Jensen and has three children. 2. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was born on the 28th. of July 1952, in Bangkok, Thailand, and was conferred with the title of Somdech Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman by His Majesty the King on the 28th. of December 1972, making him the Crown Prince or Heir to the Throne. His Royal Highness graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon, Australia, on the 9th. of December 1975, and now serves in the
Royal Thai Army, with the rank of Major General and commands the King's Own Body-Guards Regiment, the Frist Division, Royal Guards. His Royal Highness is married to Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali (nee Mom Luang Soamsawali Kitiyakara) and has one daughter. 3. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was born on the 2nd. of April 1955 in Bangkok, Thailand, and was conferred the title of Somdech Phra Debaratana Rajasuda Chao Fah Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimakunakornpiyajat Sayam Boroma Rajakumari by His Majesty the King on the 5th of December 1977. Her Royal Highness graduated from the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History , First Class Honours, in 1976. In 1979, Her Royal Highness received a Master of Arts Degree in Oriental Epigraphy from the Graduate School of Silapakorn University and in the following year received a Master of Arts Degree in Oriental Languages from the Graduate School at Chulalongkorn University. Her Royal Highness received her Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Educational Development from Srinakharinwirot University in 1986 and is currently studying for a doctorate degree in educational administration at Chulalongkorn University.
4. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn was born on the 4 th. of July 1957 in Bangkok, Thailand, and graduated from the Faculty of Science and Arts at Kasetsart University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organic Chemistry, First Class Honours, in 1979. Her Royal Highness completed her doctorate work in organic chemistry in 1985, and received her Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Mahidol University in July of the same year.
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COVER STORY
Powerhouse Development Habitus
Pattaya’s finest property designs.
With the fast rising trend of real estate surrounding Pattaya, it is easy to overlook some of the various properties that offer some value for your money. People may be overwhelmed with looking around and trying to figure out the right one for them. Affordability as well as location are probably the two key drivers for many intending purchasers, but nowadays there is also a concern about environment. Waters Edge at Na Jomtien, Skylight and Habitus in Jomtien are the three signature projects of Powerhouse Development Co., Ltd. With the high standards of Waters Edge, the property is ideal for people who prefer a Beach Front living. At a distance of just 6 meters, it is one of the very few developments in Pattaya that are situated near the beach. Rising eight storeys the project consists of only 37 units and is now under construction. The limited number of units should ensure that these buildings become quite exclusive addresses in a very short time. Skylight is a seven-storey 56-unit condominium complex. It is located near the well-known Hanuman Statue at the bottom of Thappraya Road in Jomtien. As such, it is ideally situated for those who want quick access into Jomtien and other areas of Pattaya. Sizes are interesting in that Powerhouse have bucked the trend in some ways by offering studios in Skylight at 31.2 square metres and studios in
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Waters Edge at 37.5 square metres. The one-bedroom units in Skylight vary in size from 37.28 to 52.25 square metres while in Waters Edge there are three sizes: 55, 60.5 and 71.5 square metres. Powerhouse Development Co., Ltd recognized they needed to be different in their approach to the Skylight condo complex. It wasn’t enough just to be situated right in the heart of Jomtien, they wanted to offer a little more ‘class’ and ‘style’ to the project as well as ensuring that it was in harmony with the environment. So, there are specially coated steel panels on the outside to deflect heat while inside there are fountains and an indoor pond in place to help cool down the interiors. An Atrium which will rise the entire height of the building will provide what Powerhouse terms ‘a living wall of greenery’ to cool and oxidise the air. Rain water will be collected and recycled for use throughout the building and all compressors are sited at the rear. On the roof of the building the Skylight (after which the building derives its name) will provide natural light and can be opened or closed. Green areas have also been established on each floor. Internally, all units have floor-to ceiling windows; the appliances are Italian-made and include the usual white goods, central air-conditioning, Whatever your view of global warming may be the reality is that population-wise, cities like Pattaya are growing, and with this growth comes the deterioration of local natural resources. Powerhouse Development Co., Ltd. is behind three prime projects that are ideally situated in terms of location and, prominence when it comes to what many people now refer to as the ‘carbon footprint’.
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COVER STORY
Habitus Habitus is Pattaya’s finest design boutique resort. Signified by an undeniable individuality, combining contemporary natural elements with a sustainable urban living space, drawing the perfect balance between style and functionality. By one definition ‘Habitus refers to lifestyles, values, tastes and expectations of particular social groups acquired through the experiences and activities of everyday life.’ If that doesn’t make it clear enough then perhaps the simple statistics of this project will. Habitus will be what is called a low density resort which will certainly be boasting an exclusivity factor for the developer Powerhouse Development Co.,Ltd. Habitus, which is Powerhouses third major project, will be set on a generous expanse of just under three rai (51,677 Sq ft or 4,800 Sqm) of land in Jomtien. Half of this land will be dedicated to what will be impeccably maintained gardens, swimming pools, wooden decks and terraces, various reflection pools and water features that collectively make for a truly spacious and picturesque communal grounds. Each of the three buildings will have an elevator descending to a basement where a total of 75 individual spaces provide ample parking. A distinctive character will be prevalent throughout Habitus where high quality design and uncompromised choice of materials will be clearly identifiable inside and out. Habitus will consist of 228 units spread between the three, seven storey buildings all with a selection of six-unit configurations including iconic ground floor studio lofts and top floor duplexes with their own private plunge pool on the balcony. Every unit will come with high quality fitted bathrooms as well as fitted kitchens and centralized air conditioning.
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Powerhouse Development Co., Ltd.
Where Ideas Get Built Habitus is expected to be defined by an undeniable individuality, combining contemporary natural elements with a sustainable urban living space, and drawing a perfect balance between style and functionality. Pattaya is a city that thrives of its own merits, a city that has used its notoriety to elevate it to the debatable status of ‘The Entertainment Capital of Asia’. The transformation of Pattaya is witnessed by those of us who live here on a daily basis, and with the increasing local and foreign investment, added commercial appeal and ‘cosmetic’ blossom, comes responsibility and an increasing risk of ‘generic monotony Habitus, from its initial planning, has been designed with an uninhibited idea, free from parameters governed by a formula of utilizing the maximum space where sacrifices are made for profitability. Being centrally sited in Jomtien Beach, a location proven to be one of the strongest growth regions in Thailand, means the positioning of Habitus will offer the ultimate convenience, whilst retaining privacy from the secluded tropical landscape. An exceptional array of city center amenities from fine dining restaurants, wine bars, cafes, spas and much more can all be located within a few minutes’ walk but more importantly, so can the beach. Renowned for its six kilometers of palm fringed golden sand, Jomtien beach caters to all tastes. The busier northern end of Jomtien beach is a hive of activity with sailing, parasailing, scuba diving, fishing and boat trips available every day. In contrast, the Southern stretch of Jomtien beach is calm and peaceful, often the only footsteps in the pristine sands are your own.
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FEATURE STORY
What Christmas means to us Commemorating Jesus' birth Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary as a fulfillment of the Old Testament's Messianic prophecy. The Bible contains two accounts which describe the events surrounding Jesus' birth. These biblical accounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18, and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40. According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem. According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals. A manger (that is, a feeding trough) is mentioned in Luke 2:7, where it states Mary "wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (KJV); and "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them" (NIV). Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child. Popular tradition also holds that three kings or wise men (named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar) visited the infant Jesus in the manger, though this does not strictly follow the biblical account. The Gospel of Matthew instead describes a visit by an unspecified number of magi, or astrologers, sometime after Jesus was born while the family was living in a house (Matthew 2:11), who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to
the young child Jesus. The visitors were said to be following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to announce the birth of a king of the Jews. The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some churches. Christians celebrate Christmas in various ways. In addition to this day being one of the most important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are other devotions and popular traditions. In some Christian denominations, children re-enact the events of the Nativity with animals to portray the event with more realism or sing carols that reference the event. A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity scenes are traditionally set in a stable with livestock and include Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus in the manger, the three wise men, the shepherds and their sheep, the angels, and the Star of Bethlehem. Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crèche, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church practices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made on Christmas Eve, and many families' major observation of Christmas actually falls in the evening of this day.
Bangkok Adventist International School (BAIS) hosts “On Our Way to Bethlehem”
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angkok Adventist International School (BAIS) hosted a Christmas event entitled “On Our Way to Bethlehem”. The audience took a journey back in time where they encountered shepherds, angels, Roman soldiers, and magi as they made their way to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was a remarkable experience where the sights and sounds of the first century was witnessed. This effort was to raise fund for the school and a DVD is available to anyone who wishes to relive the miraculous event. You may contact mrd@thailandprofessionals. com or 085-139-0806 to order the DVD through Thailand Professionals or contact the school for more information. You may visit their site at www.bais.ac.th.
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PROFESSIONAL LIFESTYLE
‘TASTE OF BELGIUM’ CEMENTS BILATERAL RELATIONS CELEBRATIONS
Certainly, it was well supported by some of Belgium’s and Thailand’s most definitive brands, notably Thai Airways, Marcassou, Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden and Bdelicious!, besides, of course, the embassy, Sheraton Brussels and the host hotel itself. The week-long culinary celebration continues until Saturday, 9 November 2013, with a Belgian Food Festival at The Rain Tree Café’s lunch and dinner buffets, featuring the likes of Guinea Fowl Stew with Brown Beer, Chicken Waterzooi, Ballotine of Poultry with Mushroom, Mussels with White Wine Sauce and Assorted Smoked Sea Fish, to name but a few.
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TASTE OF BELGIUM
November 5, 2013 ……With Thailand and Belgium celebrating the anniversary of their Treaty of Friendship and anniversary of diplomatic relations, Plaza Athénée, a Royal Méridien Hotel has been setting the scene for appropriate expressions of amity of a culinary variety. The special culinary event began on Monday, 4 November 2013, with an exclusive guest chef appearance at The Reflexions restaurant by M George Deprez, the much celebrated Executive Chef at Sheraton Brussels, another hotel under the Starwood Hotels & Resorts umbrella, who on this occasion had the honour of cooking for, among other discerning diners, H.E. Marc Michielsen, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Thailand. “To celebrate 145 years treaty of friendship and 130 years of diplomatic relations I would like to thank Plaza Athenée, a Royal Méridien Hotel, to establish a partnership with the Embassy to organise the “Taste of Belgium” week. I am happy that the first edition of “Taste of Belgium” was a tremendous success. As Belgians and Thai both like good food I truly hope this event will be repeated on a yearly basis”. Said His Excellency, Marc Michielsen, and the Ambassador of The Kingdom of Belgium to Thailand.
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TOO GOOD TO LEAVE OUT
Help the Philippines: Typhoon Haiyan caused massive damage Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, in early November 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 5,759 people in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the fourth strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed. Typhoon Haiyan caused catastrophic damage throughout much of Leyte and Samar islands, where cities and towns were largely destroyed.As of 8:00 p.m. local time on November 22, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed 5,209 fatalities across the country, 4,919 of those taking place in the Eastern Visayas. Guiuan in Eastern Samar was the point of Haiyan’s first landfall, and was severely affected due to the typhoon’s impacts. Nearly all structures in the township suffered at least partial damage, many of which were completely flattened. For several days following Haiyan’s first landfall, the damage situation in the fishing town remained unclear due to lack of communication. However, the damage could finally be assessed after Philippine Air Force staff arrived in Guiuan on November 10. There was widespread devastation from the storm surge in Tacloban City especially in San Jose, with many buildings being destroyed, trees knocked over or broken, and cars piled up. The low-lying areas on the eastern side of Tacloban city were hardest hit, with some areas completely washed away. Flooding also extended for 1 km (0.62 mi) inland on the east coast of the province. City administrator Tecson John Lim stated that roughly 90 percent of the city had been destroyed. Journalists on the ground have described the devastation as, “off the scale, and apocalyptic”. Most families in Samar and Leyte lost some family members or relatives;
families came in from outlying provinces looking for relatives, especially children, who may have been washed away. The entire first floor of the Tacloban City Convention Center, which was serving as an evacuation shelter, was submerged by storm surge. Many residents in the building were caught off-guard by the fast rising waters and subsequently drowned or were injured in the building. Although wind speeds were extreme, the major cause of damage and loss of life appears to have been storm surge. The major focus of devastation appears to have been on the east coast of Samar and Leyte, with a particular focus on Tacloban, because of its location between Samar and Leyte, and the large population in low lying areas. Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas said the scale of the relief operation that was now required was overwhelming, with some places described as a wasteland of mud and debris. The storm crossed the Visayas region for almost a day, causing widespread flooding. In Cebu and Bohol, struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake two weeks before, cities were also severely devastated. During the morning of November 8, media stations across the country were able to broadcast live the destruction of Haiyan. However, before afternoon, all communications on the Visayas region failed. The Presidential Communications Department of President Benigno Aquino III had difficulty contacting DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Iloilo to plan relief. Widespread power interruptions, landslides and flash floods were also reported. Major roads were blocked by trees, and impassable. 453 domestic and international airline flights were canceled. Some airports were also closed on November 8 and 9. Ferries were affected. Relief and rescue efforts were underway by November 9, but some places remained isolated and out of communication due to severe damage.
Many of the Filipino expats from Thailand raised funds through activities in their work places and schools to send to organizations that will distribute to the Philippines. One concert by AdventChores was held at Central World department store and raised more than 400,000 baht to send to the Philippines.
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Entrepreneurship: The Perfect Christmas Gift for Children by: Linda Raasch This Christmas season we find many families struggling financially and the burden to make things "merry and bright" is palpable in all parts of our nation. Buying gifts this year is a low priority for many who are faced with the current economic challenges. Yes, these are lean financial times, but I believe there is no better time to encourage a child to become entrepreneurial than during the holidays. As the creator of a company dedicated to supporting entrepreneurism for kids, I'm a proponent of promoting an early education in true capitalism. This rough economic time can be a teaching moment and the lessons learned in the process can be some of the most valuable, intangible gifts we can provide to our children that will benefit them throughout life. With American families spending 52% less on Christmas gifts due to financial issues, this season is a prime opportunity for our kids to step up and earn some money for themselves—becoming less dependent on the home budget and gratified in contributing to the family in ways they never knew they could. Many of you may recall the lemonade stands we set us as children to earn a few dollars earning money was secondary to the fun we had learning how to manage our own store! If a child can create lemonade from lemons- then most certainly a child can squeeze opportunity from the economic lemon! The benefit of earning one's own spending money comes in a gift package that is not visibly obvious. Remember the Christmas Day when your toddler quickly discarded the shiny new toy in lieu of playing in the empty cardboard box? Right now is the perfect opportunity to help your teen rediscover the joy of playing in the empty box again and experience the discovery of self-reliance, responsibility, the pride of contributing to the family, and the joy of earning one's own money. It's important to let kids know they are worthy of learning how to earn their own pocket change - even at a tender age. "Owning" a job and doing it well creates true self esteem; the kind of self-pride that is hard to manufacture for our young ones. This intangible gift earned when we give our kids the freedom to experience the feelings of "doing a job well
done"—it doesn't come by being coddled or coerced. Making sure that a child's comfort is our first priority sometimes backfires in the area of teaching our kids that they can indeed accomplish on their own - they are more talented than we give them credit. Our desire for our offspring to not "suffer" in the same way we did as youngsters has given rise to a segment of our youth that is incapable of independent accomplishments because parents are too focused on doing it for them. This is a prime time to offer support and suggestions to our youth to get them busy learning how to earn money, and more importantly, contributing to the family finances by being more financially independent. During this holiday season there are many ways to earn some money. Combined with the extra holiday activities and time off school, your child can take advantage of the variety of possibilities. Encourage your child to offer their services to neighbors, friends, and family members by telephone, email, passing out flyers, or even texting! Seasonal ideas include hanging or removing Christmas lights and décor, gift wrapping, decorating trees, baking cookies, prepping the garden for winter, planting spring bulbs, pulling in and cleaning the lawn furniture, and addressing and stamping Christmas cards. If your teen is handy with the computer, scanning old photos can be a lucrative business, as well as organizing digital photos and creating digital photo albums and books. Babysitting, dog walking, and lawn mowing may be standard small business ideas, but there is still a demand for convenience by those who can afford it. As friends and neighbors travel, offering pet care and house sitting can be such a relief for pet owners and worried homeowners. I know a boy that gets paid to flush toilets and run faucets in an otherwise unoccupied condo complex! Thinking inside that box may generate ideas of using your child's hobby or talent to start a small business. Play an instrument beautifully? Hire out to entertain at parties. Love to knit, sew, or craft? Offer classes for
youngsters during this busy time. Do you have an athlete in the family? Arrange for some organized games and skill building with the neighborhood kids. Many parents would find the activities refreshing for their kids during the two-week Christmas break. Instilling in your child a sense of pride in a job well done is one of the best gifts that will launch them into the next golden age. As a mother of four, I know that the smile radiating from the face of one of my own children caused by a personal achievement cannot compare to any other radiance. Their pride in success and independence is unmatchable in life skills and can only be achieved by allowing them to succeed or fail under their own weight. Earning those dollars contributes to their cando attitude that will serve them well in life. Parents, we are the number one cheerleaders for our offspring and we can offer the support, encouragement, and love by allowing our kids the privilege to succeed and experience for themselves that which we learned long ago. Remember, running a small business is a new concept for a child and your offering the advice and support needed for success in their first experience with an entrepreneurial venture is imperative. Help them create a safe advertising campaign, offer them a possible client list from your address book, educate them about expectations when working for someone (being timely, working diligently, adhering to safety rules, cleaning up, and finishing a job even when it is hard, etc.), and cheer them on-remembering your first day of work. ‘Tis the season for making lemonade and exploring empty cardboard boxes. So grab the reindeer by the antlers and let your child ride the wave of boundless opportunities this Christmas. Delight with them as they discover what it feels like to be rewarded for their own efforts, share their joy as they walk a few inches taller; and relish in the victory of their newfound skills in managing their own small business. The "learning while earning" and the pride that accompany an entrepreneurial venture are most undoubtedly gifts that will keep on giving--gifts of greater value than anything found under the tree this year.
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Upcoming Event PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA WORLD HERITAGE FAIR Date: 13-22 December 2013 Venue: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair 2013 will be held from 13 to 22 December at the Ayutthaya Historical Park compound. The annual event aims to celebrate the historical significance of the Thai ancient capital with celebrations and displays of traditional culture and lifestyles since Ayutthaya was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
cockfighting game, Thai country song singing contest, Thai Red Cross booths and activities and an exhibition of Ayutthaya?s cultural and historical significances.
Mr. Wittaya Phewphong, Governor of Ayutthaya Province, said: ?Highlights of this year?s celebrations will include a regal and religious ceremony to pay homage to King U-Thong (who found Ayutthaya as a capital in 1351) and a religious ceremony to pay respect relics of the Lord Buddha at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum on 9 December.? The grand opening ceremony of the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair 2013 will be held on 13 December. The 10-day fair will feature cultural performances and entertainments, Thai
THIS ISSUE’S
The highlight of the celebration is a nightly light and sound presentation, depicting the glorious past of Ayutthaya, at Wat Manathat. The tickets for the show cost 200 baht and 500 baht. Mr. Pramote Sapyen, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) Ayutthaya office, said: ?Prior to enjoying the light and sound presentation, visitors are invited to travel back in time to experience the ancient people?s way of life in a replica market of the Ayutthaya period at Wat Langka Khao. At this market, people use ancient coins to exchange for food and desserts.?
Ayutthaya is famous for monumental remnants of old palaces and temples spread across a tranquil landscape. It served as Thailand?s capital for a period of 417 years from 1350 to 1767 under the reigns of thirty-five kings. The Ayutthaya World Heritage Historical Park was described by UNESCO as a repository of priceless art and a symbol of excellence in artistic creativity. For more information, contact: TAT Call Centre 1672 TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office +66 (0) 3524 6076-7, 3532 2730 Ayutthaya Provincial Hall +66 (0) 3533 6563, 3533 5244 Website: www.tourismthailand.org
BOOK REVIEW King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is the world’s longest reigning monarch. Indeed, his 65-year reign is one of the longest in world history, an achievement few would have predicted when the Thai king acceded the throne after the mysterious death of his brother in 1946. How did King Bhumibol revive the sinking fortunes of the Thai monarchy? Why has he become arguably the most revered king in Thai history? This illustrated biography tells that remarkable story. Beginning with an introduction explaining the unique history and traditions of the Thai monarchy, King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work offers a fresh and insightful account of his life, from his birth in America and education in Europe to his unexpected accession to the throne. Following him through the Cold War and Indochina War periods, the book shows how the king has used his position to help develop the country and its people while at the same time securing the status of the monarchy itself. King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life’s Work also includes insightful chapters on the often-misunderstood institutions that support the crown – the Crown Property Bureau and Privy Council – as well as essays on the controversial lèse-majesté law and the issue of succession.
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PROFESSIONAL TECH
WebMob December Event
O
n Monday 16 December, join us at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Sukhumvit soi 26 (BTS Phrom Phong) for a joint Bangkok Entrepreneurs-WebMob Thailand event with 2 great and innovative companies!
1) From Lazada to Pomelo, a fast fashion brand startup with regional ambitions! While working in Finance and Venture Capital in New York City, David Jou was approached by Oliver Samwer (Rocket Internet) to work for him in Southeast Asia. After some consideration, David chose to manage Bangkok and the newly launched Lazada. 1 year and 2 months later, after growing Lazada to where it is today, David left Lazada to launch a new startup, Pomelo Fashion, with other former Lazada co-founders. David will share with us his experience of working at Lazada, explain to us why he left and tell us about his new project Pomelo and his ambitions for the Southeast Asian startup market.
MOVIE Romeo and Juliet Release date 05/12/2013 Snowpiercer Release date 05/12/2013 Frozen Release date 05/12/2013 Battle of the Year Release date 12/12/2013 The Hobbit 2 : The Desolation of Smaug Release date 12/12/2013
GrabTaxi is a for-profit social startup with a mission to revolutionise the taxi industry and improve the lives of taxi drivers and passengers. Awarded the 2013 Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Most Innovative Travel App of the Year and a runner-up in the 2011 Harvard Business School Business Plan Competition, its core product is a mobile taxi-dispatch service with GPS-enhancements, allowing passengers to safely hail the nearest taxi with extreme ease. It launched in Malaysia in June 2012 and has expanded to Philippines, Singapore and, since October 2013, Bangkok. Passengers can seamlessly book taxis on their smartphones and tablets throughout these countries. As a humble startup, GrabTaxi believes that business and social value can be achieved in parallel. Panya Vornpuan, Country General Manager, will presentGrabTaxi Thailand's social mission and the power of a double bottom-line business that focuses on both positive social impact and financial profit. To know more about this event, visit: www.meetup.com/WebMobThailand
Do you have something to share for “The Last Month?� Send your happenings to be included in the next issue of Thailand Professionals Magazine. Submit your pictures and a small description to thaipromedia@gmail.com or info@thailandprofessionals.com
NIGHT OUT December
2) GrabTaxi Thailand, a startup with a social mission.
Happenings in the Last Month American Bullshit Release date 19/12/2013 Last Vegas Release date 19/12/2013 47 Ronin Release date 24/12/2013 Police Story 2013 Release date 25/12/2013 Free Birds Release date 25/12/2013 Walking with Dinosaurs Release date 25/12/2013
24 th Photo Fair 2013
The Greatest International Photo Equipment Exhibition with the most Advance Technologies in the World of Digital Photography.