The campaign underlines the company’s efforts to bring better quality living to a broader society as it raises public awareness of the threat from “sudden cardiac arrest’, or SCA, which can claim lives regardless of gender and age. The company will also join a campaign to pass on basic life support knowledge to the public to create awareness of the importance to take proper and immediate action to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Statistics show that SCA is the third leading cause of death (after cancer and accidents) and accounts for 54,000 deaths annually in Thailand – that’s 6 deaths per hour on average.

Installation has already started and AP is encouraging society to turn small sections of space into a lifeline for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. AP has also donated AEDs to Ban Bang Khae Social Welfare Development Centre, Sathorn Pier and Thonburi Civil Defence Volunteers Centre to benefit the public during sudden cardiac arrest emergencies.

“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to people of any gender and age without any advance warning. It is vitally important that SAC victims receive immediate help during this life-and-death situation. AP attaches great importance to creating value in the smallest of spaces to improve and enhance the quality of life. We have allocated 0.1 square metre as a life-saving area in our condominium projects. We receive basic data support from our partner Mitsubishi Estate Group of Japan where AEDs are standard life-saving equipment that can be found in crowded areas such as public spaces and residential areas. Altogether Japan boasts over 600,000 AEDs – the most in the world,” says Vittakarn Chandavimol, Chief Business Group – Condominiums, AP (Thailand) PCL.

“AP currently has almost 40 completely built condominium projects that are under the management of Smart Service and Management. For new condominiums slated for completion in 2017 onwards, we have allocated the space for the life-saving equipment,” he adds.

All the 40 AED-installed condominium projects will be supervised by 300 officers from Smart Service and Management. All have been trained in basic life support by Thai Secom Security and the Thai Resuscitation Council of the Heart Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage. Each condominium complex will have officers on duty 24 hours a day to help residents who might suffer sudden cardiac arrest

“Our study has found that since sudden cardiac arrest often occurs outside the hospital, it will be difficult for the patient to reach the hospital within 4 minutes, the time it takes to promptly save an SAC victim. Therefore, to reduce death from sudden cardiac arrest, the general public should be trained in life-saving techniques to allow them to provide immediate first aid. Ideally, AED equipment should be installed at points readily accessible to all,” says Pol Maj Gen Dr Sopon Krisanarungsan, Chairman of the Resuscitation Foundation and Advisor to the Thai Resuscitation Council.

“I admire AP (Thailand) for playing a part in contributing to the quality of life for people in Thailand with its initiative of installing AED equipment in its projects. It makes people aware of the unseen threat that is close to them. If everyone has basic life support knowledge, and knows where to ask for help, deaths can be dramatically reduced. The specialized agency, namely the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (EMIT) can be reached via the number 1669 and help reduce losses,” adds Pol Maj Gen Dr Sopon.

For more information on the campaign, go to www.SmallestSpaceToSaveLives.com.

The “Central The 1 Credit Card x4” campaign was launched recently by Atis Ruchirawat, managing director of General Card Services.

“Many credit card companies have special promotions that make it more beneficial for consumers to use credit cards rather than cash. In addition to special promotions, there are also discounts and point redemptions that allow users to redeem prizes or get cash back. More importantly, they can pay in installments,” Atis says.

“Central The 1 Credit Card offers up to 10-per-cent discount and up to 4 x The 1 Card points when spending at businesses under the Central Group umbrella. Card members should know about these benefits so that they do not miss out on the privileges they deserve. To make the best use of your credit card, you must have financial discipline and know your limit. Do not spend too much or end up in debt. Credit card is merely a tool that facilitates your spending.”

Young celebrities including Thitawat and Thanchanok Watcharothai, sisters Ploypayap and Pimpayap Srikarnchana, and Changnoi and Vista Kunjara Na Ayudhya were at the launch and talked about their personal experiences.

Business couple Thitawat and Thanchanok travel a lot, both around Thailand and overseas. “We don’t carry a lot of cash with us – it’s more convenient to use a credit card because it’s safe and we can earn points with our spending. We usually exchange our points for mileage towards plane tickets. Using a credit card also helps us keep track of our spending because we can see our statement every month,” they explained.

Sisters Ploypayap and Pimpayap also prefer not to carry about a lot of cash. “Making payments using a credit card is convenient and we can earn points. Some shops also offer special discounts for credit card buys.”

Changnoi and Vista add that they are always out and about on weekends as they have to take daughters Era and Aiyarin to extracurricular classes. “We also eat out a lot.  Sometimes we learn about new restaurants from the credit card’s newsletter. Some restaurants offer special discounts when using the credit card. Sometimes we also buy toys and clothes for the kids, so we spend quite a lot on weekends. Having a credit card really suits our lifestyle.”

To find out more about Central The 1 Credit Card, visit www.centralthe1card.com

The brainchild of renowned Swiss designer Yves Behar, this innovation promises to be the beginning of future TVs. Embracing the concept of “Art when it’s off, TV when it’s on”, it not only looks like a photo frame but when switched off, acts like one too by providing the perfect surround for any picture its user chooses to use. Whether a painting by a world-class artist or a photo from a personal collection, the Frame will reflect the TV owner’s character.

Turning a personal space into a gallery, this innovative and artistic TV has already won the Best of Innovations Award from CES 2017.

“Our surveys show that consumers now spend just 4 hours a day watching TV. This means TV is nothing but a black screen for about 20 hours. Consumers usually look for an appealing TV design in the hope that their set will blend well into their home. If possible, they also hope that their TV will serve as a functional part of their living space even when it is off. In response to consumers who have become more refined in their taste and living, Samsung has combined technology with design to deliver the latest lifestyle TV,” said Wanna Swuddigul, vice president chief marketing officer of Thai Samsung Electronics Co.

To showcase the beauty of this TV, Samsung recently held “The Frame Gallery” at Siam Paragon where guests were invited to browse and admire pictures by world-class artists. Among them were artist Somnuek “Kru Parn” Klangnok, Veekrit Palarit, a well-known interior designer and the owner of furniture brand Hay, and actors Puri and Alicia Hirunprueck.

The journey begins with a 30-minute orange cream body scrub designed to rejuvenate the skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple and refreshed. The fresh zesty scent of orange evokes happy moments and brings pleasant thoughts to mind. It creates a calm feeling and works as a mood lifter while the orange cream scrub works wonders on tired dry skin and leaves an amazing fragrance.

Next up is a 90-minute aroma massage using essential clove and orange oils to ease stress, revive tired muscles and awaken the senses to leave you feeling re-energised.

Clove oil was used extensively in ancient Indian and Chinese civilisations because of its soothing antibacterial qualities. Its use spread to other parts of the word with applications for treating a variety of health disorders including asthma, headaches and stress. Clove and orange oils are rich in vitamins A and C and minerals such as potassium, sodium and calcium.

The treatment is priced at Bt4,200-plus and will be available from October 1 to December 31.

Book your treatment at (02) 687 9000 or email spa@okurabangkok.com.

WITH JUST a few months to go until the hi-tech spending bonanza of the Christmas season, Berlin’s IFA trade fair is the place to spot the trends that will mark high streets this year. Here are a few of them.

A passage of OLED (organic lightemitting diode) screens at the Internationale Funkaustellung (IFA) consumerelectronics fair in Berlin is utterly photogenic. /EPA-EFE

ULTRA-HD TV SETS

The IFA aisles are wallpapered with OLED screens this year. The technology dispenses with a backlight as each pixel illuminates itself – making for a very sharp image with strong contrasts, even in moving images. And the ultra-thin displays can be made transparent or even flexible.

The images buyers will be screening are also getting an upgrade, as the ultra-high-definition 4K standard becomes more widespread with sets starting at around 2,000 euros (Bt79,000).

More video is being filmed in the high-resolution format that makes owning such a display worthwhile, with manufacturers betting public interest will follow.

And more and more TVs boast connections to internet video-on-demand services or applications, like Sharp’s latest models with an Android interface.

The LG V30 mobile phone boosts the display size to 5.7 inches. /EPA-EFE

CHATTY PHONES

Manufacturers are still vying |to cram as much screen as possible into their smartphones, like LG’s LGV30 with its “borderless” 5.7-inch display.

But the action can be found in the guts of the devices, where firms are racing to offer the most intelligent voice-activated digital assistants alongside typical upgrades to storage space or cameras.

This chatty artificial intelligence looks set to implant phones even more deeply into daily life, controlling connected gadgets around the home.

Samsung said it would strengthen its work with the Open Connectivity Foundation, aiming to help its voice assistant Bixby to talk more easily to other manufacturers’ products. And Chinese giant Huawei said it would join the vocal race with a chip known as Kirin to be built into upcoming phones.

VR glasses from Philips can be used as part of babymonitoring systems. /AFP

WATCH LIST

Could 2017 be smartwatches’ turn to be a hit with the general public after years being seen as a gimmick? Consultancy Gartner expects more the 67 million of them to be sold this year, more than doubling the 30 million shifted in 2015.

At IFA, makers of hi-tech “wearables” are vaunting their water resistance to appeal to fitness |fanatics.

Fitbit is offering a large-faced watch with a plastic strap that’s waterproof down to 50 metres, while Samsung tempts potential buyers of its Gear Fit Pro 2 with an offline version of Spotify aimed at runners. The business version can be used to control Powerpoint presentations.

Not neglecting accessories to the accessories, the Korean firm also has colourful ear-bud headphones with simple touch controls.

A tablet is sued to operate an “IQ800” tumble dryer during a demonstration of Siemens’ smartcontrolled household appliances. /AFP

BOT BUTLER DID IT

This year has seen tech titans Google and Amazon join the battle over intelligent personal assistants – voice-controlled AI helpers built into speakers that sit in the user’s home, organising online shopping or domestic chores.

And the IFA is a showcase for connected home devices that allow people to control appliances and manage energy usage via a smartphone or tablet.

Tying in to Amazon’s Alexa assistant, Siemens’ “home connect” offers interior views of the fridge at home, one-hour delivery of needed groceries, or the ability to turn on the oven from afar – all from the driver’s seat of the user’s car.

Once dinner guests are gone and the crockery is cleared away, a scanner can judge how dirty the tablecloth is and programme a custom wash into the washing machine.

“Robots are arriving in your house, and they’re going to know a lot about you,” jokes IFA co-organiser Roland Stehle.

RESTROOMS WITH sophisticated interior designs and functionality have been introduced in Narita Airport. These “design restrooms” for both men and women provide users with enough space to store their suitcases in each stall and a wider space for doing makeup. And the interior designs of the existing restrooms have been given a brighter look.

In time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Narita International Airport Corp, the operator of the airport, plans to introduce electronic warm-water bidet toilets with heated seats in 147 restrooms for travellers. They will also include flashing lights for emergencies and voice guidance devices.

NAA plans to renovate 11 especially busy restrooms into design restrooms.

Two of the design restrooms opened in Terminal 2 on August 9, in the international arrival lobby and the duty free and shopping area in the departure lobby.

The design restroom in the arrival lobby has stalls that are large enough for travellers to bring their baggage carts in. Some of the stalls are especially designed for children.

Japan’s Narita Airport will have rennovated restrooms for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. /Japan News-Yomiuri 

The stalls in the departure lobby have space for people to bring in products they bought there.

According to NAA, the renovation of the restrooms in Terminal 2 is expected to be completed by September 2018, while work in Terminal 1 and 3 building is to be finished by March 2020.

Airports are not the only places where toilet facilities are being improved.

At some construction sites in Chiba Prefecture, the prefectural government has decided to cover the costs of installing temporary toilets with Western-style seats or flushing functions in order attract women and young people to work in the construction industry. The targets of the assistance system are construction projects ordered by the prefecture whose planned costs exceed 20 million yen (Bt6.09 million). The system applies to construction projects for which bidding is held from August 21.

According to the prefectural government, Japanese-style box-type temporary toilets without a flushing function have normally been used. They are shared by men and women and have a bad smell.

The comfortable temporary toilets were required by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry to meet 11 conditions, including having Western-style seats and flush function, a function preventing back-flow of smell, and a sink with a mirror and a lighting device. The ministry has introduced such toilets in principle at the sites of construction projects that the ministry ordered since October last year.

The prefectural government plans to pay up to 45,000 yen toward each comfortable temporary toilet when a contractor who has accepted an order installs them. If the contractor installs them separately for men and women, the prefectural government covers the costs for up to two toilets at a construction site.

DESPITE THE werewolf growling in a cage while a wizard casts spells to try to calm the beast down, today is just a normal day at Brazil’s magic school.

The werewolf is an actor in costume and the spells presumably wouldn’t work in the face of a real mythical beast. But anyone entering the Magic and Witchcraft School near Sao Paulo must leave disbelief at the castle gate.

Although inspired by the world of the “Harry Potter” books and films created by JK Rowling, where lucky children go to study at the magical school Hogwarts, the Brazilian version says its curriculum has a definite local flavour.

From its founding in 2015, “the idea was to adapt, not to copy exactly, the feel of Hogwarts”, says Vanessa Godoy, 27, who is behind the idea for the school in Campos do Jordao, about 180 kilometres from Sao Paulo.

The magic school brings Harry Potter’s world to life in a parallel reality for fans of the wizarding world. /AFP

Clients at the school – which operates for occasional four-day sessions – are all fans of the Harry Potter series.

But since copyright laws limit what Godoy and her fellow wizards can do, they wave the creative magic wand and use Brazilian folklore to fill the gaps.

“We have our own stories. We get into a lot of the mythology because Brazil is a very magical country,” she says.

Hogwarts-style classes are offered in Potions and Elixirs, Witchcraft and History of Magic, and of course there are dances, contests and a tournament based on quidditch, the high-paced game played on flying broomsticks in Rowling’s novels.

Students of the School of Magic and Witchcraft have tea in a castle in the mountain city of Campos do Jordao, some 180 km from Sao Paulo, Brazil. /AFP

But there are also things you’d only learn in Brazil, like the use of hairs from an indigenous mythical character known for protecting forests and scales from a siren if you want to activate a magic wand.

Learning these supposed secrets is not cheap: the four-day session at the castle – a real castle which normally is used as a hotel – costs 2,650 reais (Bt28,200)

Clients range in age from five to 65 years old, though the majority is around 25. They’re judges, models, teachers, nurses and students, but all sharing a passion for the Potter phenomenon.

“When we enter the castle, it’s as if the world outside no longer exists,” says Zerzil Ferreira, a 29-year-old doctor.

“We abandon the ‘Muggle’ world and immerse ourselves in the magical world and it’s all real,” he says, referring to the people in the books who are not part of the wizarding world.

Going to the course fulfilled “a childhood dream to become part of the magical universe,” he adds.

About 100 people took part in the most recent course, all divided into Hogwarts-style houses named Tigers, Serpents, Squirrels and Eagles, with points kept during the various contests and a champion house crowned at the end.

Students of the School of Magic and Witchcraft prepare for an exam in the castle’s great hall./AFP

The Quidditch-type game is the most popular.

The sport in theory requires real flying broomsticks, but the terrestrial version developed by fans in the United States instead has competitors running around chasing several balls while holding a broomstick between their legs.

Staff at the school – all of them actors – really seem spellbound, since they must stay in their roles 24 hours a day, but students take it seriously too.

“To be here, you need to enter into the character. You are a student and you are learning to be a wizard. You need to respect the teachers and rules. This makes the experience more real,” says Renie Santos, 22, who created the popular YouTube channel Expresso de Hogwarts.

“The students give a lot. A big part of the sense of immersion is thanks to them,” Godoy agrees.

That dedication becomes clear during the module on dealing with sirens, which the professor for Care of Magical Creatures warns are apt to seduce – and then devour – the over-curious.

Students then meet Nyx, who swims in the castle swimming pool, and are enchanted. Despite the warnings, one wants to invite her to a dance, the other wants to swim with her and one woman asks for a kiss.

Luckily no one actually gets devoured. But the four days are over and it’s time for the temporary magicians to re-enter the real world.

As always, the proceeds will go to the foundation, which has been the fund-raising centre of the Faculty of Medicine for 48 years. The hospital provides healthcare to more than two million patients each year.

This year, the foundation has worked with ML Chirathorn “Kru Toh” Chiraprawat, Somnuek “Kru Parn” Klangnok, Pattreeda “Pang” and Nualtong “Nual” Prasarnthong, who pass on the concept of Giving by putting their own signature drawings on cute LINE Stickers and souvenir sets for the Giving and Happiness collection.

Punsiree Kunakornpaiboonsiri, managing director of Ramathibodi Foundation, reveals that apart from generous support from the artists who have a large number of fans throughout the country, the foundation wants to communicate with LINE users and the new generation through the app by launching four sticker sets based on their drawings. By sending the stickers, which are priced at Bt60 a set, everyone can pass on the concept of ‘Endless Giving’. The proceeds from sales will go to support the building of Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute (CNMI), Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University in Samut Prakan.

Other souvenirs in the collection include t-shirts, caps, scarves, bags, and umbrellas.

For more information visit www.ramafoundation.or.th. The LINE stickers can be downloaded today on both iOS and Android platforms. Donations can also be made to Siam Commercial Bank, Ramathibodi branch, current account no. 026-3-05216-3 and Bangkok Bank, Her Majesty’s Medical Center branch (Ramathibodi hospital), current account no. 090-2-50015-5.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 smartphone has a bigger display at 6.3 inches and it’s Super Amoled with 2,960×1,440-pixel resolution. You also get an S Pen stylus, dual-lens camera with dual OIS and 2x optical zoom, a 64bit octacore 10nm processor, six gigabytes of RAM and 64GB of storage. Count on a superfast LTE Cat 19 4G connection. The suggested retail price is Bt33,900.

How’s this for a TV set?

The 77-inch 77G7T from LG is the latest OLED 4K TV. The OLED panel is perfect black and the set looks sleek with its Picture on Glass design, the back cover made of crystal glass. The soundbar stand puts out 80 watts of power. You can enjoy the Dolby Atmos theatresound system featured in some Netflix movies, as well as Dolby Vision, HDR 10 and HLG HDR for sharper display. The going rate is Bt599,990.

Latest iMac looking good

With the new 27-inch iMac computer, you get gorgeous 27-inch Retina 5K resolution with 5,120×2,880 pixels and high brightness of 500 nits. An Intel Core i5 quad core processor running at 3.5GHZ is backed up by 8GB of 2400MHz DDR 4 memory and two terabytes on the hard drive. A Radeon Pro 580 GPU provides the graphics horsepower with 8GB of VRAM memory. There are four USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt 3 ports (USBC), plus a Gigabit Ethernet port. It’s in shops for Bt82,900.

Speaker does it all

Sony’s powerful MHCV50D Bluetooth speaker has Bass Boost, as if being part of the Extra Bass series weren’t enough. High-Resolution Bluetooth connection in LDAC protocol is doable. You’ll freak at the DJ effects and karaoke sounds, and there’s a guitar input too. It can play DVD movies and CD audio. You’ll need a mere Bt9,990.

Take this on a trip

Panasonic’s 20.3-megapixel Lumix DCTZ90 camera is ideal for travellers with 30x optical zoom (24720mmequivalent focal length). You can shoot 4k video and rotate the display 180 degrees for selfies. Ultra-high-speed focusing allows for crisp fast-action photos at five frames per second. With Wi-Fi built in, it costs Bt16,990.

Retirement communities have been part and parcel of life in the West for decades, with facilities varying from the modest to the super luxurious depending on the means of the elderly residents. Thailand, like many other parts of Asia, has traditionally cared for its old as part of the extended family but with that protective social fabric now so stretched that it has worn thin, similar facilities have started to pop up in Thailand, though they remain few and far between.

With the number of elderly Thais set to jump to 13 million – or one fifth of the population – in four years time, healthcare groups are urging senior citizens to use their golden years to live life to the fullest.

“Thailand will shift into a fully-fledged ageing society by 2020 as the number of people older than 60 reaches more than 20 per cent,” says Dr Boon Vanasin, chairman of the Thonburi Healthcare Group, which manages the upmarket condominium complex for retirees Jin Wellbeing County in Pathum Thani.

“Elderly people need special care: 70 per cent experience depression. Some of them may perceive their lives to be less valuable, putting them at risk of depression and social isolation. Where they live with family members, they are often left alone in the house as the younger generation goes out to work. The luckier ones have hobbies such as playing music or reading books and that helps to pass the time. But most of all they need someone to talk to. That’s why Jin Wellbeing County aims to answer both physical and mental needs.

“In planning Jin Wellbeing County, we asked potential resi¬dents what they would do if they lived in the community. The answers were received varied. One person said he would take up music again after more than 20 years. Another welcomed the opportunity to read more books. And yet another was interested in seeing movies.

Jin Wellbeing County is the first residential project in Thailand to offer a full range of lifestyle and healthcare services for elderly people through a full range of facilities and services designed to meet specific needs of seniors wanting to live a dynamic life.

To illustrate the success of such an approach, the healthcare group has selected eight iconic figures – all of them over 60 – and asked them to serve as role models in its newly launched “Golden Spirit Gallery” campaign.

The campaign is being implemented in two parts. The first is an exclusive photo exhibition that shows the eight icons – Chek Thanasiri, Wanida Puangsunthorn, Suchao Pongwilai, Patravadi Mejudhon, Paothong Thongchua, Panarat Bunnag, Pusit “Pa Tuek” Pattanaprakarn and Paula Westerfield – demonstrating how they live their lives with golden spirit.

The exhibition, which has as its theme “The pursuit of golden spirit in retirement”, aims to inspire other retirees to realise that there are so many opportunities open to them after turning 60.

Panarat Bunnag enjoys a self-sufficient life.

Panarat, 67, the first runnerup in the 1970 Miss Thailand pageant and winner of the Miss Photogenic and Thai Chitralada Costume titles, is happy with her selfsufficient life.

“I’ve discovered real happiness. At my age I don’t feel like I should be labelled by society as a childminder for my grandchildren. I have three children aged 46, 44 and 24. The youngest, despite graduating from Chulalongkorn University’s fine and applied arts faculty, has turned her attention to agriculture, specifically organic farming. Today I work as a chef at our restaurant, Farm to Table, preparing dishes from the vegetables we grow. When you reach 60, you have every right to find happiness in your life. I told my daughter that she had to let me retire from being a mother so I could be selfsufficient and share my happiness with others.

Paula Westerfield enjoys every moment spent with her seven grandchildren.

Westerfield, 64, agrees. “My mother is Japanese and my father was American. He died of cancer at the age of 41 and never had the chance to see his grandchildren. I worked hard all my life and paid for it with my health. I wanted to live long enough to see my own grandchildren. In fact, I have never retired. Working keeps me energetic and happy. And by leading a healthy lifestyle, my biggest dream has come true and we now have seven beautiful grandchildren,” she says.

Suchao Pongwilai makes his childhood dream of long-distance cycling come true.

Suchao, 72, quit his acting career and hasn’t regretted it for a moment. He now has time to pursue his favourite hobby: cycling.

“As a child I always wanted to ride a bike. I started cycling seriously seven years ago and have worked up to 50 kilometres a day. On September 17, I’ll join other cyclists in riding from Chiang Mai to Lamphun to visit my friend, Inson Wongsam, a national artist in visual arts (sculpture). And I’d like to fulfil another childhood dream early next year – cycling 700 kilometres from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.”

Pusit Pattanaprakarn still works to a tight schedule.

Pusit beams with pride at being the oldest fashion icon in Thailand. Now 65, he maintains a busy schedule, modelling and serving as a presenter at several events.

“I would like to inspire other elderly people to dress up in order to look smart,” he says.

Chek Thanasin keeps healthy with a vegan diet and exercise.

Dr Chek Thanasiri, the first doctor in Thailand to focus on naturopathy, expects to live until he’s 120.

“I’m now 92 and sickness free because I exercise regularly. I have been a member of sport clubs for 61 years. Scientists believe that the limit to the human life span is 110 years but an elderly woman in Chiang Mai reached 122 years and an old Muslim man in Pattani didn’t die until he has 120. Everybody should take care of their health. It’s easy enough to do – don’t eat meat, only vegetables, and in small amounts. To those who disagree with me, I say look at Major General Chamlong Srimuang. He’s well over 70 and has eaten just one meal a day of vegetables and nuts for most of his life. General Saiyud Kerdphol eats only fruit. And both are still healthy.”

Paothong Thongchua intends working until the day he dies.

Paothong Thongchua, 61, is a lecturer at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and has been teaching at Chitralada School for 27 years.

“I am happy to work. I once told HRH Princess Sirindhorn of my intention to retire but changed my mind. Now I intend to work until I die.”

Wanida Puangsunthorn still works with passion.

National artist Wanida Puangsunthorn also feels that teaching keeps her young.

“I’ll turn 81 on December 5 and am still teaching at Silpakorn University’s architecture faculty despite being more than 20 years past retirement age. I love my career and work with passion. I also do design work for several temples and check on the construction. When I am doing what I love, I’m not stressed. It’s stress that causes health problems,” she says.

Patravadi Mejudhon dedicates her time to her school.

Another national artist Patravadi Mejudhon, 69, is known and admired for her role in performing arts and today runs the Patravadi School Hua Hin, which she set up when she was 60 aiming to use performance arts to help students develop self-responsibility, creativity and confidence.

“I have always had a very good life. My father was a clever scholar and honest civil servant, as my mother, who graduated in law, was a fighter who made a good living. I studied with good teachers throughout my whole life. I lived my life to the fullest when I was young. When I was getting old, I had good teachers to teach me the way to think. As we age, I think we should be useful to society rather than waiting aimlessly for death. All Thai people have good teachers such as the Buddha and His Majesty the late King. We should follow their example and be good teachers to others.”

The second part of the campaign is a photo contest for which members of the public are invited to submit photos of seniors living their lives with golden spirit. The images, along with the story behind them, must be uploaded to Facebook.com/jinwellbeing before October 15. The best entries will be rewarded with prizes totalling Bt300,000.