Royal Thai Embassy 
PRESS RELEASE ROYAL THAI EMBASSY, MANILA
Thai New Year?s Celebration 2010
The Royal Thai Embassy in Manila and Team Thailand in the Philippines organized a Public Celebration of the Thai New Year Festival, also known as the ?Songkran Festival? on April 15th - 18th April 2010 in the Philippines.
Songkran Festival in the Philippines this year will consist of the Songkran Ceremony of paying respect to the elders, cultural performances of an outstanding Thai dance troupe, and traditions customs of celebrating Thai New Year. A popular Thai Dance Troupe ?Saban-nga? is invited to present authentic and stunning Thai cultural dances from the different regions of Thailand. The group consists of 25 male and female performers. To complete the experience of ?Thainess?, the Embassy organizes the Thai rituals and activities for the guests at the event to know more about Songkran Festival.
On 15 April 2010 at the Thai residence, the Diplomatic Corps and high respected guests will enjoy our cultural show of a popular Thai Dance Troupe from Thailand amid of the atmosphere of the traditional Thai customs and decoration. The event is also a showcase of Thai food of well-known Thai dishes. Moreover, fresh and delicious Thai fruits especially shipped from Thailand will also be available for sale at Villa Escudero during the said dates.
On 17-18 April 2010, the Embassy in cooperation with the Villa Escudero Plantations and Resorts will organize a Thai-Philippine Cultural Show at Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort, San Pablo City, Laguna. This Cultural Show will showcase a combination of the Thai traditional dance in the Philippine atmosphere and decoration. The visitors of Villa Escudero will experience the dance along the river. We would like to invite the general public to join this Songkran Celebration.
The objectives to organize this event are to promote cultural diplomacy, and to further enhance closer ties of friendship and people to people contacts between Thailand and the Philippines.
Songkran symbolizes a move or change in the year and the lives of Thai people. This Festival embodies the spirit of moving forward and starting anew, as well as respect for elders, with water playing a large role in this renewal as a symbol of cleansing and purification.
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