A commemoration event “Phuket Celebrates His Majesty’s 87th Anniversary”, organized by PPAO, opened on the evening of Monday December 1 2014 at Sapan Hin main stage. Secretary-General of The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Sathit Limpongpan, presided over the opening ceremony while President Paiboon gave an opening speech. The event was attended by PPAO officials including Council members, Division heads and staff as well as dignitaries and members of the public.
According to Mr Paiboon, this annual event gives the people of Phuket the chance to celebrate and show loyalty and gratitude to HM on the occasion of his 87th birthday. PPAO has been organizing royal celebrations continually for a number of years. The main component of the event is an exhibition displaying HM’s vision and achievements in the field of agriculture, fishery and livestock.
At the age of 34 and using his own funds, HM set up pilot projects in Chitralada Palace, the King’s residence, to test out his ideas and inventions before designing blueprints for further use by government agencies. He took great interest and paid attention to details to make sure all projects could be used by the people of Thailand. As a result, six Royal Initiative Development Centers were set up in six regions.
The exhibition comprises of still photos, video clips, models and even live animals so the public can experience HM’s self sufficiency concept for real. The display has been given support by Royal Chitralada Agricultural Projects and Fishery Department. Additionally, the Bureau of the Royal Household has provided the photographs of His Majesty the King and Queen taken while on the royal visit to Phuket in 1959. The photos will be prominently displayed throughout the period of the celebration. Furthermore, there is a special homage-paying area provided along with ready-made well-wishing verses designed for members of the public to recite, an activity that will be recorded and showed on a big screen.
Every year many well-wishers came to this event, said the President.
Other entertainments include a band playing HM’s compositions along with a number of singers, food stalls, and OTOP stalls. Of special note is a stall set up by the Post Office offering members of the public their very own self-portrait stamps.
“Phuket Celebrates HM 87th Anniversary” runs through to December 5. On the 5th, which is HM’s birthday, a candlelit ceremony will be staged and presided over by Phuket Governor, concluded President Paiboon.