Actress Bongkot "Tak" Khongmalai insists she is having no second thoughts about her decision to donate a kidney to her ailing mother, who is undergoing dialysis treatment four times a week.
Netizens are praising her selfless decision, which she announced last week. Tak is likely to undergo the three million baht operation early next month, after an upcoming trip to Paris with her husband, billionaire Dtac founder Boonchai Bencharongkul.
Bongkot ‘Tak’ Khongmalai, right, and her ailing mother.
Tak said Mr Boonchai supports her decision to help her mother, Thanapa "Lek" Kongmalai, 61.
"Every daughter has a duty to give something back. If my giving up one kidney can help prolong mum’s life, I am happy to do it. It could give her another 20 years," Tak said.
"Every dialysis session lasts three hours, and her condition is only likely to get worse, with more frequent visits to the hospital.
"Initially, Mum asked me to have a look at the queue of patients waiting for a donor kidney. It’s long ... even after five years, many are still waiting.
"Buying an organ is illegal, and getting it done overseas uncertain, as they won't vouch for your life. I mulled over donating one of my kidneys for about six months, and when mum’s condition started to worsen, consulted my husband.
"The doctor said the chances of mum's body accepting the kidney are high," she added.
Hailing her daughter as the grateful type, Mrs Thanapa said Tak had even offered to pay for the operation herself.
"We went to see the doctor for an initial check-up. He said we have different blood groups. Tak was disappointed, and asked if there was a way around it. The doctor said never mind, our tissues can still fuse together because we are related. Tak was delighted," she said.
Tak said she is likely to make a full recovery within weeks.
I got nothin' left
A musician accused of robbing a bank in Min Buri says the government’s crackdown on nightspots left him without work, forcing him to steal to pay the bills.
Somyos Supalakwatjana.
Police last week took suspect Somyos Supalakwatjana, 29, before the media after arresting him in Pattaya following the theft.
Somyos, a messenger and musician, admitted stealing 360,000 baht from the Thanachart Bank late last month.
He said he was forced to steal from the bank’s Navamin 9 Hospital branch on Aug 28 as he owed money to friends, and the crackdown on nightspot opening hours had left him out of work.
Somyos works nights as a musician in the Bearing and Bang Kapi areas.
"Before, I was playing five days a week, but there is less work around now, because the government has ordered pubs to shut earlier," he said.
"My late-night gigs were cancelled, which left me with little money," he added, predicting robberies are likely to increase as more musicians and waiting staff are thrown out of work by the nightspot blitz.
Earlier, media images showed the heavily tattooed Somyos helping police reconstruct the robbery, in which, wearing a black jacket, surgical mask and glasses, he holds up a cashier with a BB gun.
He managed to evade police at the bank, but dropped a pile of papers which pointed to his identity and likely whereabouts in Pattaya, where police later nabbed him.
Police say they nabbed Somyos as he was checking out of a hotel. They say he had bought a digital camera and was about to splash out on a "big bike" with the robbery proceeds when they caught up with him.
Officers say the suspect admitted he earlier robbed Thanachart Bank’s Soi Onnut 52 branch and escaped with 62,000 baht in cash on July 17. He chose that bank to rob because it has no security guards.
If that's what it takes
Actor and author Sean Jindachot says a social media post drawing wide praise, in which he gives advice to young men about how to treat their female companions, was inspired by a recent visit to his mum.
Sean Jindachot and his mother.
Sean, who rose to fame in the television series Lae Ratee, and branched out into writing with a collection of his thoughts in Present Perfect last year, said he was surprised at his fans' reaction to his musings.
"I never thought they would make the news. Those who like what I have to say are free to take the advice and try it out themselves," he said.
Sean took to Instagram recently to advise men on how to look after young women on a date. While simple, the message has appealed to women who admire men with the attentive touch.
"In a social media age, it is good to know the age of chivalry is not dead.
"I want Sean to be the father of my children!" one enthusiast wrote.
Sean said the post was inspired by a recent day out with his mother, his first visit in a month as he has been busy with work. In the post, he is pictured with his mum.
"I just wanted to let my fan club know we had caught up for a meal. I also wanted to write about the importance of honouring and caring for those we love," he said.
Parts of Sean’s post to young men on how to look after their young female dates goes as follows:
"Don't get carried away with the smart phone. Don't drive too fast. Don't walk too far ahead of her; try to stay together. Ask often what she wants to do next.
"You will have to carry everything, no matter whose stuff it is. When she wants to do anything, don't hurry her, as that's what makes her happy.
"If she is shopping and she asks which item she should choose, don't think too long or give too wordy an answer. Show interest, even if she doesn't take your advice (ever heard the saying that women are always right?)
"Be attentive, even if you are not good at the topic, and make sure to finish off with a funny story, so she knows you are someone who will always make her smile.
"When you go to a movie, even if she says she doesn't want popcorn or a drink, make sure you buy some anyway, because your hands will get to touch hers.
"And most importantly, take a photo when you go out together, so you can show her just how delighted you are to have her by your side."
Ain't gonna look the other way
Director and actress Sinjai "Nok" Plengpanich, known for her anti-Thaksin views, is preparing to take legal action against a red shirt critic who has attributed a fake quote to her.
Sinjai ‘Nok’ Plengpanich.
On Facebook, a red shirt supporter has penned a sarcastic post, claiming she makes soaps only for "smart people" in the cities, not low-class types from the Northeast.
Writing on his Facebook "Redfriends Thailand", Tanawit Kalanthokpan took aim at Nok, who supported the whistle-blowing protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government before it was thrown out of office in the 2014 coup.
He penned a sarcastic quote which he attributes to Nok, where she looks down on the red shirts’ supporters from the provinces.
"The shows that I make are for people with knowledge, some class. They are not suitable for people from the lower classes, especially folks from Isan and the red shirts. From an actress who supports the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, and the junta — Sinjai Plengpanich."
The post appeared on Aug 24, and was shared more than 800 times.
Nok has said little about politics lately, though stirred debate last year when she lashed out at the three-fingered salute championed by critics of the junta.
Contacted by reporters, she said she had seen the red shirt post, and was now gathering evidence to take legal action.
She declined to comment further as she wants the law to take its course.
