สถานเอกอัครราชทูต 
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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Message
by
His Excellency Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya
Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines
on the occasion of the ?Songkran Festival 2010?
at the Ambassador?s Residence, 15 April 2010
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Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy and the Team Thailand in the Philippines, it is my great honour to welcome you all Friends of Thailand, to the Songkran Festival 2010. May I also take this opportunity to commend the efforts of Team Thailand as well as the support of our Filipino friends who are among the most respected in the Philippine society, in making this event possible.
Songkran or the traditional Thai New Year is celebrated annually on the 2nd week of April, and is regarded as one of our most important tradition. Through cultural diplomacy, I would like to share that our tradition, which emphasizes our respect to the seniors and value of family is very similar to the practice and values of Filipinos. Thus, it can be said that we Thais and Filipinos are indeed like brothers as we share the same core values.
And through this special event, it is my pleasure to present Thainess to all of you, especially the ceremony of ?Rad Nam Dam Hua.? This ceremony is a unique opportunity for the young generation to pay homage and express gratefulness to their parents and the elderly people by way of using water as a symbol of purity, representing blessing in our traditional belief. We show respect to the parents and elderly because of their good virtues, as good role models for us to follow in order to achieve a happy and successful life which in turn will benefit not only ourselves, but our families and the society as a whole.
Making this event more meaningful is the presentation of the Sbun Nga Dance Troupe from Chiang Mai, who will present performances from the different regions of Thailand. And to complete the experience of Thainess, are sprinkling water on the Buddha image, umbrella painting, shadow puppetry, flying lanterns, sand pagoda making, fruit and vegetable carving, not to mention the special Thai cuisine prepared by our chefs. Truly, I hope all of you will be amazed by the diverse facets of Thai culture, arts and cuisine.
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Indeed, Songkran Festival 2010 in Manila is one of the major events that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Thai people which features a unique blend of solemn ritual and joyful festivities. I am confident that this event will further promote mutual understanding and people to people contacts between Thai and Philippine societies.
Thank you very much.
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