Royal Thai Embassy 
Royal Thai Armed Forces Day Manila, Republic of the Philippines 18 January B.E. 2553 (2010)
Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati, Manila
Ambassador delivers speech, accompanied by Group Captain Nathapong Viriyakupt, Defense and Air Attach? and Captain Wilers Smabut, Naval Attach?.
Group Captain Nathapong Viriyakupt, Defense and Air Attach? and Captain Wilers Smabut, Naval Attach?.
H.E. Ambassador Kulkumut together with Thai Defense, Air Force and Naval Attach?s, Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim and Mr. Washington Sycip.
H.E. Ambassador Kulkumut, together with Lt. Gen. Oscar H. Rabena, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force and General Victor Ibrado, AFP Chief of Staff and distinguished guests.
Gracing the event are Vice Admiral Ferdinand S. Golez, Commanding General of Philippine Navy, General Victor S. Ibrado, AFP Chief of Staff and Lt. Gen. Oscar H. Rabena, C.G. of Philippine Air Force and other distinguished Defense Attach?s.
Thai Naval Attach? and wife pose with Vice Admiral Ferdinand S. Golez, Flag Officer in Command, Philippine Navy and distinguished Naval Attach?.
Pilippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Oscar H. Rabena and Madame with Group Captain Nathapong and spouse as well as Captain Wilers.
Former Philippine Air Force Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Pedrito S. Cadungog and guests also joined the event.
Thai Naval and Defense Attach?s, Official from Royal Thai Embassy with their distinguished guests
Distinguished guests from the military service.
H.E. Ambassador Kulkumut, representatives of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Foreign Armed Forces Attach?s and distinguished guests.
Spouses of Military Attach?s add glamour to the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day.
Performance from distinguished guests, led by General Victor S. Ibrado, AFP Chief of Staff.
Thai Community in the Philippines.
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Speech by H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya,
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines
On the Occasion of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day
Manila, Republic of the Philippines, 18 January B.E. 2553 (2010)
Excellencies Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand in the Republic of the Philippines, it is my great honour to welcome all of you all here today, to the celebration of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces Day can be traced back to the year 1592. In the Thai tradition, His Majesty the King is highly honoured as the top leader of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and is greatly revered as an adviser of peaceful solution to conflicts. The Monarchy also serves as a role model of patriotism having displayed a deep love for country and the Thai people. As His Majesty stated on the Coronation Day, ?We will reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Thai people.?
The role of the military in Thailand not only focuses on defending the country?s sovereignty but also assumes a high degree of civilian and social responsibility, particularly in promoting economic socio-development and assistance in the area of mitigation, rehabilitation, and relief assistance in times of natural disaster and calamities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thailand and the Philippines share a common history in the region, as we are partners in establishing the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954, we are also the co-founders of ASEAN in 1967, and within ASEAN, evolving to an even more active role in promoting regional security under the framework of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Equally important is our common vision in the promotion of education in the region through the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Also worth mentioning is the special role of the Philippines as observer of military strategies and tactics to the ?Cobra Gold? military exercises between Thai and US Armed Forces in Thailand.
The past year was indeed very challenging for all of us here in the Philippines, the onset of many natural disasters and calamities left the country in need of rehabilitation works. Apart from the assistance of the Thai government to the Philippine government, the Royal Thai Armed Forces also rendered support directly to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the victims of Typhoons Frank, Ondoy and Pepeng.
In the international level, Thailand and the Philippines share the same path of policy in actively participating in UN peacekeeping operations. As another unexpected calamity that hit Haiti recently, let us pray for the safety of four (4) Philippine peacekeeping personnel trapped underground.
Excellencies,
In spite of the abovementioned challenges, the Embassy witnessed the regular exchange of every highest level of military visits from both sides which further enhanced our mutual cooperation and respect.
In the area of military personnel interaction, and exposure to information, educational visits of the Royal Thai Air Force academy as well as the National Defence College of Thailand were undertaken last year. In addition, is the goodwill trip and operational visit of the 600 Thai Navy officers on-board training ships HTMS Taksin and Bangpakong in April 2009. While this upcoming March is the operational visit of two navy ships HTMS Taksin and Chaophraya with nearly 600 Royal Thai Navy officers and cadets on-board. Significantly, these activities plays an important role in exchanging experience and learning best practices from each other.
Meanwhile, the promotions of camaraderie is given equal importance through sports diplomacy as it flourish with activities such as the friendly badminton competition organized by the Philippine Air Force, as well as the Philippine Air Force?s staffs? participation at the musical play ?Mama Mia? during the Songkran Festival last year. The Embassy attaches great importance on this aspect as it reflects closer ties of friendship and we? wish that this activity will continue to be fruitful and tangible in the years ahead.
Lastly, I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the Office of the Air Attache and the Office of the naval Attache for their active roles at promoting relations between our two armed forces.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this auspicious occasion of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day, may I invite you to join me in a toast for the long lasting friendship of our two countries and close cooperation between the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines, Friends of Thailand, together with our friends from the military services towards our common goal of an armed forces that are responsive to the needs of its country and people.