สถานเอกอัครราชทูต

Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Thai Food Festival 2008 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila, a fusion of Thai gastronomic delight and culture.

In the same cordial note, I wish to express my warmest congratulations to the organizer and eminent host of the Thai Food Festival, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Airways International.??? ?

The Thai Food Festival will not only showcase an array of authentic and sumptious Thai cuisine but will also feature an exhibition of Thai design and culture, giving our foreign and Filipino friends an opportunity to enjoy a unique Thai experience. ?

Thai cuisine has been gaining popularity worldwide. It is considered among the world's most delicious, with a unique blend of tastes consisting of hot, sour, sweet, and always highlighted with natural and healthy herbs. The combination of herbs such as ginger, lemongrass, galangal, coriander root and kaffir lime to be used in Thai cuisine is blended wisely and amazingly tasteful. Because of the high quality and natural ingredients used in preparing Thai dishes, it also helps promote good health.? ?
It is my firm confidence that this even will not only popularly bring about the promotion of Thai food to be more well-known in the Philippines, but will also serve as a cultural gateway to strengthen the people-to-people relations between Thais and Filipinos.

Last but not the least, the Royal Thai Embassy will work closely with all of you and support other activities through cultural diplomacy to promote better understanding between the Thai and Philippine communities here. ?

Once again, may I invite you all to sample the special cuisine and authentic Thai food for your amazing Thai dining pleasure.

Honourable Armenius Silva, Vice Mayor of Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Honourable Cornelio Balingit, Municipal Counsellor of Calumpit, Bulacan
Khun Chaowalit Ekabut, President of SCG?s Paper Group
Distinguished Guests,
Parents, Teachers, Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, let me extend my sincere thanks to SCG in the Philippines for inviting me to join this special occasion. It is my great pleasure to witness the Ceremonial Check Turn-Over of the "SCG Sharing the Dream" Scholarship Program this morning. This event is a part of a series of the SCG's continuous effort to return the benefit to the society and community in the Philippines. SCG, one of Thailand's largest business conglomerates is well known in its commitment to corporate social responsibility for nearly 100 years of establishment.

Just to give you a brief background of SCG's presence in the Philippines, SCG's investments are manufacturing of industrial paper packaging products, ceramic tiles for household and industrial use, and various building materials. Harnessing state of the art, and environment-friendly technology, and in particular, initiating the use of alternative energy by using heat from coconut waste, rice husk, corn waste, hay, wood shell, decayed wood and many surplus materials to produce energy in the factory. SCG has been established in the Philippines since 1969 and provides employment opportunities for more than 1,000 Filipinos. Indeed, SCG's business presence here of over a decade indicate that SCG values Filipino human resources and believes that we can work together as one family towards a common interest. Thus SCG, is a good example of an admirable foreign investment in the Philippines.

In its current programme, I would like to commend SCG?s initiative in further promoting human development, through various scholarship programs for less-privileged students. I am very happy to learn that in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), 200 incoming second year high school students from urban households in Batangas, Bulacan and Metro Manila, who are present here today will benefit from SCG?s support. Meawnhile, SCG?s donation of a TV Satellite to an elementary school in Calumpit, Bulacan earlier this year will allow Filipino students to experience cyber-education. Moreover, the SCG Foundation also provides scholarships studies in Thailand for Master?s Degree in Manufacturing System at Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology and Master of Arts Program in International Development Studies at Chulalongkorn University.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Looking at the bigger picture, the Royal Thai Government? also continues to give priority to ?Education for All? since we believe that human resource development is fundamental for social and economic progress. The Royal Thai Government is determined to cooperate with our friendly neighboring countries to enhancing educational cooperation. For several years, Thailand has offered various kinds of scholarships to the Philippines. The programs cover areas ranging from health care, environment, tourism, trade and investment, etc.

As part of these efforts, the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila share the same vision with SCG in promoting better access to education, particularly for less-privileged Filipinos. In 2005 and 2006, the Embassy donated to the Munting Kalinga Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) for training facilities and materials for special children and supported its Ongoing Educational Assistance Project to 20 scholars in completing their studies for the school year 2006-2007. The Embassy has undertaken the renovation and reconstruction of the Sucat Day Care Center for the benefit of the pre-school children in Muntinlupa. And last year, we provided undergraduate scholarships to students under the Pathways to Higher Education Program of the Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo-Pathways).

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Indeed, better access to education is one of the best tools in fighting poverty. I would like to encourage the participants and local community together with the initiation of SCG and with the Royal Thai Embassy to mutually consult and work together so that we can determine other needs of the communities wherein SCG has established presence. To achieve this common goal, I envision that further assistance which SCG and the Embassy will make available in the future are in the areas of healthcare, sanitation, skills trainings and livelihood programme to empower the community, to mention a few. We welcome? all? of? you? to? be? part? of? planning? our? future? projects and programmes. Our common efforts will improve human resources and eventually the quality of life which will create sustainable growth. Thus, it is my desire that we work closely together as one family so we can help each other and realize our goal to return the benefit to the people.

Last but not the least, as cooperation among all stakeholders is valuable, I am pleased to see all of you today, the local government, teachers, parents, donors and students, to witness an important step for the selected 200 second year high school students which SCG wishes to see their bright future. Nobody knows, my dream may come true if some Filipino students here today may work at SCG?s headquarters in Bangkok in the future. Lastly, let me congratulate all of the students and their families who received this unique opportunity from SCG.? Truly, I am one with you in ?Sharing the dream.?

Message on the 2nd Year Anniversary of ASEANBIZTIMES

On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy, I have the pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations to ASEANBIZTIMES on the occasion of its 2nd Year Anniversary.

In this age of information, the role of ASEANBIZTIMES being the first news magazine that provide up to date and in-depth information on the ASEAN market is very significant. As such, I would like to take this opportunity to commend ASEANBIZTIMES for its efforts in fostering goodwill and deeper understanding among the peoples of Asia and beyond.

I would like to express my deep appreciation for the generous support which ASEANBIZTIMES, as Friend of Thailand, has given the Embassy in promoting our various activities, particularly as we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Thai-Philippine Diplomatic Relations this year. Through the years, Thailand and the Philippines share a long standing friendship and dynamic relations anchored on many common values. To culminate this milestone,? the Royal Thai Embassy has organized various activities to promote the long-standing ties of friendship between our two countries and peoples which will not only further contribute to the strengthening of our diplomatic relations but ensure that our special friendship will continue to flourish in the future.

Again, more power to AEANBIZTIMES and I am one with you in promoting cooperation and good relations among our countries and peoples.?? ?

Thank you very much. Mabuhay!

Representative of FM
Excellencies,
Honourable? Secretary Jesus Dureza,? ?
Honourable Secretary Rodolfo Garcia,
Honourable Assistant Secretary Evelyn Daplas,
Brigadier General Reynaldo Sealana,
Ms. Janet Lopoz,
Distinguished Guests,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all today for the Conference on The Peace Process Cooperation: Learning and Sharing Best Practices from the Philippines. I am truly honoured to receive our special guests from the Philippines, Honourable Secretary Jesus Dureza, President of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Honourable Secretary Rodolfo Garcia, Chairman of the Government Panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Honourable Assistant Secretary Evelyn Daplas of OPAPP, Briadier General Reynaldo Sealana, Co-Chairman of the GRP-MILF Ceasefire Committees and Ms. Janet Lopoz of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, as well as representatives from the Thai security agencies. I am confident that the objective of this conference, which is to learn from the best practices and experience of the Philippines Peace Process, sharing information on security and peoples? safety and building networks between Thailand and Philippine counterparts, will empower us in addressing our common desire of peace building in the southern part of our countries.

This conference is also envisioned to further enhance our close cooperation in ensuring the effective and efficient pursuit of our peace agenda in the south through sharing of experience and best practices between our two countries? comprehensive approach on areas of political, economic, diplomatic, military and legal aspects.

Needless to say, this conference is the first of its kind being the brainchild and undertaken through the efforts of my colleagues at the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila and through the invaluable participation of our counterparts and friends from the Philippine peace process and negotiating agencies. I am positive that our fruitful cooperation and participation in this? conference will be a pioneer effort in deepening our understanding of the challenges we face in maintaining a peaceful society in our two countries.

Today?s conference is designed to emphasize five thematic discussions namely:

1. Addressing root causes of the conflict To be discussed are the keys to effective policy formulation and implementation, different dimensions of root causes of multifaceted conflict and need for comprehensive approach
2. Negotiation method and tactics Including identification of common purpose, peace settlements, groups differentiation, different purposes and different tactics.
3. Institutional building and development Within the national/local levels, inter-agency collaboration and identification of focal points.
4. Implementation and monitoring Which will highlight conflict management, works of monitoring team, post-conflict peace building and rehabilitation to ensure enduring peace.
5. Development approach Under this are the parallel approach, long term approach, rehabilitation, complimentary measure for conflict prevention and post conflict settlement as well as addressing socio-economic challenges in conflict prone areas.

Excellencies,

Before we proceed with our intensive discussion, I would like to give an overview of the Thailand and Philippine approach on peace building.? ?

The Thai Peace Model is anchored on three pillars, first is the bridging leadership of our beloved King; second is compassion and understanding symbolized by the Monks; and third is inter-religious dialogue. The five provinces of southern Thailand is where the Muslim population are concentrated, interestingly enough these areas are where the economy is at a standstill and categorized as the poorest in the Kingdom. Today, very evident are the positive strides in terms of economic development and social cohesion built between the Buddhist Thai and Muslim population of the region. The achievement in southern Thailand on peace building is centered on a workable social cohesion between diverse cultural and religious groups through the absence of a formal negotiation and without political settlement or peace agreement. The peace making has been anchored along three major landmarks: education, development programs and good governance.???????? ??? ?

The Philippine experience on the other hand, is also prevalent on the five poorest provinces in the south and has centered on issues of poverty, political autonomy and cultural identity. The Philippine government has provided an opportunity to reinvigorate and seek new approaches to the peace process in Mindanao, with the government?s desire for sustainable peace and development in the south and a detailed roadmap that directly addresses the plight of Muslims. By reaching out both to the government and Muslim people?s constituents? and engaging their active support on the peace process, workable solutions has been put in place for its Muslim minority.

Excellencies,

Although the nature of our challenges in the south are different, I truly believe that we can study the best practices adopted and implemented by the Philippines, and through our cooperation in intelligence gathering/sharing, dialogue and strengthening

and exchange of networks, we can explore different options and which will significantly contribute to the common ground of achieving peace process. We can specifically learn from the experience and challenges faced by our Filipino brothers in crafting lasting solutions that address the root cause of the conflict.

Distinguished Guests, Excellencies,

May I also reiterate that in all endeavors, cooperation among all stakeholders is valuable. In this case, to achieve and promote sustainable peace is worthy of our common efforts. I hope this conference will be the start of our continued closer cooperation in this area making the elusive peace with our Muslim brothers in the south be attainable in the near future.