A rare joyous and colourful atmosphere descended on the normally grim-looking Government House on Tuesday when dozens of female officials dressed themselves up in their traditional Thai costumes instead of their dull uniforms to welcome their heart-throb darlings from the Channel 3 TV’s mega-hit Bupphaesannivas (Love Destiny) drama series.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who was often seen wearing a stern-looking face and unsmiling in confrontation with the news hounds was totally a different man on Tuesday.
He was in a joyous mood, cracking jokes with the main characters from the drama series. He even half-jokingly asked the officials gathering to welcome the visitors. “Don’t you have anything to do?”
The prime minister also took his visitors for a tour of the cabinet’s meeting room on the 5th floor of the Government House without the presence of members of the media who were not allowed to join the tour.
Normally a busy man, the prime minister spent about one hour and 15 minutes with the visitors.
Three pairs of main characters paid a visit on the prime minister at the Government House. They included Thanawat “Pope” Wattanaphuti who played Khun Sutthisarnvaja in the series, Ranee “Bella” Kampen who played role as Maeying Karakade, Louis Scott who played the role of Constantine Phaulkon or Okluang Surasongkram, Sunisa Angilina Nanna who played Thao Thong Geepma or Mae Mali, Parama “Panjan” Im-orathaia who played the role of Khun Ruangratchapakdee and Kannarat “Maprang” Wongkachornkrai who played the role of Maeying Chanvard.
The prime minister told his special visitors that he had not watched the drama series, but was told about them and he felt impressed with the show, saying that it helped preserve Thai culture representing continuation of the work of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej – that is Thaism.
He, however, said that he preferred to watch foreign documentaries such as food and art programmes and would like Thai producers to do similar programmes to present about the good things about this country such as its innovations and artistic crafts.
He suggested producers to position female characters in drama series in a way that would educate Thai women to preserve good Thai tradition and to behave properly.
As far as the government is concerned, the prime minister said the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tourism and Sports should introduce lessons from history and about Monarchy to be included in school textbooks so that the students can learn about them, not just for the purpose of passing the examination, but as guidance of how to live their lives.
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