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[al005-blog]

Long Live The King

From the entrance steps all the way up to the steps by the Office Area, the path was empty. I wondered where the kids were. They usually hung out along the steps, especially this time around--after dinner. Some would be talking to their classmates. Some would be playing hide-and-seek. Some would be watching the stars. But not tonight. No one was here tonight although the stars were brightly visible beyond the roofs of the school buildings. I looked around. The shadows that the orange lamps cast out were also empty. Our older kids, the grownup ones, or the high-school ones often prefer obscured corners for a hangout. But not tonight. I realized the dining area was also empty. It turned out our kids were gathering in the Theater Area, where events are usually held. Oh, my, I had forgotten an important ceremony. Now I knew why they all were there. His Majesty The King’s arm-length photo was on the table on the stage. The King's flag and the Thai flag were beside the photo. A foot away, a Buddha statue resided in a shrine-like offering. Kru To, a family teacher, was lighting the candles before the offering. On the other side of the stage, Bill our family manager was adjusting a microphone. Apparently, he had set a camera on the tripod legs, which themselves sat on a stool each. The camera looked down the stage where the kids were. They were murmuring to one another. Some of them were comparing the colors of the flower-like candle holders. Later on, I found out the candle holders were cut off of the top part of water bottles. The kids made themselves the candle holders in the art room during the day. Among the kids was Kru Chong, another family teacher. He was giving out candles. He also gave me a candle holder, but this one was made out of folded used paper. Kru Chong said something. All of a sudden, the lamp went out. The kids fell silent and turned their eyes to the stage. Bill started “Father of the Land,” and the kids repeated the lyric.

Eighty-five years ago, today, Bhumipol Adulyadej was born. Since he became the King of Thailand, he pledged that he would "reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the people." He had proved what he promised.

He had gone to remote villages where no roads reached them. He stayed overnight with the villagers to listen to the problems they were facing. With a map in his hand, while sweating rolling down his face, he overcame heat, rain, and dirt to work alongside with the people in the fields. He never complained. He knew it was his duty to help his people. He used his power and wealth not to buy luxuries for comfort but to build countless projects that had solved various problems throughout Thailand. His action touched the people’s hearts. In turn, the people will remember the humble values he planted in their hearts for years and years to come. At seven and a half this evening, like our kids, millions of Thai people--young and old--across the country were holding the candles for him. Standing in rows with the kids, we sang for him, prayed for his good health, and remembered his good deeds and selfless care for his people.   Long live His Majesty The King, the Father of the Land.

  Video credit goes to Bill.

[al005-blog]

A Bunch of Jewels

Yaowawit is a boarding school for students from poor families. Even though the children have grown up poor, their hearts are rich, unbeatable by their miserable circumstances. They're eager to learn. They want to change their destiny. They want to make a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Because of that potential, Yaowawit gives them a chance. Yaowawit adopts them, hosts them, feeds them, educates them, and funds their schooling careers.

[al005-blog]

Sky Lanterns and an iPad

At the end of a dear friend’s birthday party, we launched sky lanterns. Seconds before they take off, each of us held them side by side and mumbled our good wishes for ourselves. God who lives up there must have gotten my wish by now. Where is an iPad for me, God?