It's yet another devastating tragedy : innocent tourists killed, gunman killed, and in the wake of all these, is left an already struggling economy, which will suffer more from the pull out of tourists from the Chinese communities all over the world. And like that's not even enough, we, as a people, are left to explain how did this tragedy come to be...and yet how can we?


Left with nothing to say, and with grieving hearts, both for teh families who lost, and for our (once again) decaying reputation interms of security, we can only respond with humble hearts...


Siam Pinoy, following on the footsteps of AFT-NRC in Chiang Mai, under the leadership of Roxanne Oddie, will send/bring flowers, this time, to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok.

We have started conversations with several other groups/organizations in Thailand, asking if they wish to join in this effort to show our sympathy to the Chinese. So far, all are responding on a positive note.

And so, depending on the response from theChinese Embassy today, Siam Pinoy, together with other Filipino organizations in Thailand, will either send or bring tehflowers to the Embassy on Friday. Time to be confirmed in the next couple of days.

If you wish to contribute to Siam Pinoy's bouquet, you can do so. All contributions (and expenses) will be published on this thread. Abel Cadias, Madam H and Master J are pledging contributions to a bouquet worth around 1,000baht. If contributions reach more than a thousand, we'll buy more flowers/more than one bouquet.

(NOTE: I've made the necessary correction to Roxanne's family name: it's "Oddie", not "Odie". Apologies to Roxanne and her husband.)

If you have a group/organization and wish to join this effort, please send me a PM.

You can either:

1. Buy your own flowers and meet the group who will go on Friday at a place and time to be confirmed in the next couple of days.

2. Tell us if you wish us to facilitate the buying of the flowers, and what would you like written on the card/ribbon?

Any other ideas on how to make this work, guys, would be very much appreciated.

Siam Pinoy thanks all those organizations that have already responded.

My two Pinoy friends here will contribute 1500 TB. I will send to your account or to MJ's account. Please pm to me the account no. and I will send to you this evening.

Thanks to you madam for initiating this cause....

Actually, it's Roxanne Oddie, President of AFT-NRC, who started the wheels on this effort.

Representing AFT-NRC (Association of Filipinos in Thailand-Northern Region Chapter), she went and presented flowers to the Consulate in Chiang Mai, much to the surprise of the Consul there.

(NOTE: I've made the necessary correction to Roxanne's family name:it's "Oddie", not "Odie")

We are waiting for the Chinese Embassy's Secretary to confirm time of meeting tomorrow. The Chinese Ambassador's schedule is very hectic, and anyway, this kind of activity falls under the Consular Office, so the Chinese Consul General will be meeting the group tomorrow.

More updates later, as they come...

Salamat Boroy, at BP, for the vote of support, and everyone else, kasi hindi ko po nababasa lahat sa SP ngayon. Hectic po ang sched namin ni Master J, at we are both busy working on individual and family projects.

Anyway, Beeps, am just taking up on what Roxanne did in Chiang Mai. Kung hindi ako tinawagan at pinaalam ni Roxanne what she intended to do, I wouldn't have this idea.

For now, all groups we have gotten in touch with pledge every intention to join. I'm going to mention them here initially, pero pag may nakalimutan po ako, pasensiya na. Due recognition and gratitude shall be expressed by Siam Pinoy later. Initial lang po ito.

PLGF (Philippine Ladies Group Foundation) - through Daisy Mendiola, the President, was
first to endorse this effort. Lalaine Ladores, PLG's Secretary is helping
coordinate.

Daisy is presently finding out who among the members, officers and board members
could join in the meeting at the Chinese Embassy on Friday.

AFT (Association of Filipinos in Thailand) - through the President, Cecilia Fookiat, is
on board, and will be at the meeting.

FexPat (Filipino Expats in Thailand) - through the core officers: Hernan Antenor,
President; Lolly Tanigochi, Vice President; and Rufino Seva, Secretary, are
supporting the effort.

Rufino will join the meeting.

UFT (United Filipinos in Thailand) - through the newly elected President, Bing Arias, is
joining this effort.

Bing will represent the UFT at the meeting. We'll ask if other officers will join,
too.

Virginia Sorensen from Pattaya will join the meeting, and shall offer her personal and
her family's sympathy to the victims' families.

ACT (Association of Cordillerans in Thailand) will join the meeting, as expressed by
their Vice President, Oliver Sinong.

Yet to confirm, but Fil Com in Korat, through their newly elected President, Rei Villaluz,as well as OFEST (Organization of Filipino Expats in the South of Thailand), through their President, Phylis May Clomata, are likely to join, too.

There are more...will be back shortly 'coz i still have to make some phone calls...

Any other groups i may have missed to contact, please send me a PM, and I'll make the necessary steps to get in touch.

I have to send the final list of those who will attend the meeting, as well as the final list of groups/organizations who are sending flowers by lunch time tomorrow, and we have to order the flowers for those who wish to do options 2 and 3 by tomorrow morning, so please, let us know ahead of time.

Abel Cadias has pledged support and contribution for this effort, and will be getting in touch with the President of the Filipinos and Friends in Chiang Rai.

Roy Bernardino, Victor Salazar and Florence Melvin Mendoza are contributing 1,500baht altogether to the flowers to be offered by Siam Pinoy.

A heartfelt "thank you" from Siam Pinoy!

The OFEST (Organization of Filipino Expats in the South of Thailand) will be getting in touch with the Chinese Consulate in Songkhla to find out of they could offer flowers there as a gesture of sympathy.

Once given the "yes" by the Consulate, they will proceed the same way as we are doing here in Bangkok.

thanks for this initiative, it's the least we can do. may PM gle ako sa imo Madame H