In western terms, Champ would be called a social crusader.  He has a proclivity for making social justice and equality his primary concerns in life. Champ has shown himself keen to affect change in both the local area and at national level, by drawing attention to issues of importance.  He has worked with a number of groups and organisations who recommend methods of altering what is currently being done, to improve the general well-being of groups in society.  Champ is definitely a crusader and a people’s champion, but without the white steed or the sword. He is quiet, persistent and effective in his advocacy and activism, even though his family has not always been at ease with his undertakings. At the very basis, all of Champ’s involvement springs from his Buddhism and his profound beliefs in reincarnation and Karma.

Champ has a deep connection with the local area since his mother was born and raised in Hua Hin.  He himself has lived here since he finished high school, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and Tourism at Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin. Being a Tourism Authority of Thailand registered Tourist Guide, Champ has chosen Hua Hin as the place to undertake his life’s work for two major reasons: this is a Royal city, where the late beloved King has his Palace and worked very hard for the people of Thailand, and this is his mother’s home, and he is a  dutiful son, with a strong desire to ensure she has a good life under his care.

Champ grew up with a younger sister. His mother worked for the Provincial Electricity Authority and his father worked in a number of different jobs, wherever there was work to be had.  His paternal grandfather was an electrician, his grandmother a home-maker.  On his mother’s side of the family, many were government employees or teachers.  Often Thai children are raised by relatives as their parents work elsewhere and Champ was no exception. He would have preferred to be with his mother, always. The simple act of recounting his reunion with a mother he barely remembered, yet loved deeply, was a very emotional experience for Champ, who shows obvious regret for the years together that were lost to them both.

Champ did well academically while at school, especially in English and Mathematics and particularly enjoyed sporting pursuits.  However, his favourite time was still the lunch break. He now realises he should have paid more attention in History classes so he has a better appreciation of mistakes which were made in the past, to inform his future decision making. As a rather shy child, Champ was scared of the water, so it was a big step for him to be trained by an Australian swimming teacher and graduate as a lifeguard, earning him a six-pack on the way. Champ became a supervisor at Vana Nava Water Park, overcoming his fears to prove his capability in the water and his capacity to assist patrons in strife.

An early job for Champ was as a waiter at the Marriott hotel in Chonburi but it didn’t satisfy his desire to actually help people.  One job which did meet that need was his 5-year long tenure with the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, PPAT, under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Mother Srinagarindra, where he managed a drop-in centre in Soi Bintabaht. The centre aimed to meet the complex social and medical needs of women who worked in the sex industry and to build connections and mutual respect between these women and the local medical and municipal authorities, as well as providing for other needs such as equipment and education about communicable diseases including HIV.

Champ is optimistic about the future.  He sees the development of technology and the innovation happening around him as positives which will allow for the change and development of the human mind, and our lifestyles. Champ sees the ready transfer of information through social media as necessary in our competitive world, while at the same time a tool in helping people to make sound decisions, when used well. He wants the whole world to come to understand that we all have to take personal responsibility for doing the right thing, and is ever hopeful of seeing people doing good things and being less selfish as a natural part of their approach to the world. Champ is not a preacher or a moraliser though.  He admits he is personally a flawed being, although he acknowledges the primacy of the 5 precepts of Buddhism. He is guided by them, but has not always, and probably will not always, follow them as closely as he would like.  He doesn’t drink alcohol, except on his birthday but he has killed an animal to see what it was like, and consequently knows regret and guilt personally.  Champ will not waste his time chastising people, he leads by example, and is often rewarded with compliments about the way he always steps up to help those less fortunate that himself. Champ knows he needs to pay closer attention to his own needs than he usually does.  But he realises he “was born for a better life, and is able to change himself, but not the world”.

A current and on-going project Champ has been involved in over the last 4 years is with anti-corruption. He was saddened to see that Thailand scored only 36/100 as its global anticorruption score. Champ is optimistic that one day the local area will be corruption free, but acknowledges that this is not a short-term endeavour, as it requires a change in people’s expectations, and so is best targeted at the youth of our area.  Hua Hin is the pilot city of this project, using the STRONG model, and success here will then see a national uptake. To have legal authority to instigate change, the anticorruption project must be led by a municipally- appointed Chair, but Champ is the leader of the public contingent, passionate to share his firm belief in upholding laws, rules and regulation and not allowing the flow of cash and other forms of bribery to circumvent what is right and just. Champ’s role now includes coaching and mentoring of team members so they too can be effective in the outreach program. He has learnt not to use forceful language to try to influence others, but that it is best to limit one’s expectations and encourage, rather than enforce, to foster lasting change.

Another of Champs’s volunteer jobs, and a further passion, is lecturing, both in person and online with the Willpower Institute, a not-for-profit organisation founded by Master Teacher Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo to help people of all backgrounds learn how to meditate, develop and enhance their minds to improve their mental well-being, free of charge. With enough people The Master Teacher's ultimate goal is achieving world peace through meditation, and Champ is happy to work towards that worthy aim. The living person Champ most admires is a monk, because of the simplicity of the life they lead.  Like many Thai men, Champ took the opportunity to spend 3 months of his life as a monk.
Champ also takes pride in being a part of the 904 VorPorRor, the Royal Volunteer Spirit Program, whose motto is “We Do Good Deeds with Our Hearts”. Inspired by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s intention to encourage all his subjects to do good deeds, the program aims to bring about a bonding of the four major institutions of the country: Nation, Religion, Monarchy and People.

All of Champ’s worthy endeavours spring from Champ’s desire to “learn to do “now” better.” Happiness is a state of mind, according to Champ, and cannot be derived from money, possessions or position.  To help others to be happier, Champ lets them talk, vent if necessary, then offers ideas without judgement.

Champ personally is always happy, unless he annoys himself by sleeping in.  Contrary to what you might believe having read of all his different “jobs”, Champ does have a personal life, with a lot to look forward to. He has a beautiful 5-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, and a new partner with whom he adds a further child to the family in April, 2024. With his mother, who he wishes would worry about him less and relax more, these people take up a lot of space in the gallery of his phone.  For Champ, the purpose of earning money is to use it, not to accumulate it for end of life. However, he takes all of his responsibilities so seriously that others comment that he was somehow born old. Even Champ’s friends might be surprised to know that it is only in the past year that he has internalised the fact that he cannot change everyone and everything, and that people have to want to change, from within.  

Champ enjoyed his stays in Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand because of its cooler weather and beautiful temples, but Hua Hin remains his favourite location for its long stretches of beach and all the Thai and foreign friends he has made, and of course its great food choices.  However, anyone who has met this relaxed, constant joker will know he is not picky with food.  He likes all and everything; tasty as it is, food is just nutrients for your body.  Champ is also a master, doing a rather exceptional job of nourishing his mind and his spirit as well.