ไทย
Bangkok, September 27, 2025 – The elegance of Peranakan culture took center stage as the Phuket community hosted the charity event “Kebaya: The Beauty of UNESCO Heritage” at Thewarat Sapharom Hall, Phyathai Palace, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok. The event was graciously presided over by General His Serene Highness Prince Chalermsuk Yukol, who attended as the guest of honor.
Organized to celebrate the inscription of the kebaya on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and to raise funds for social causes, the event supported three beneficiaries: the Petchrat–Suwattana Foundation, the construction of a radiotherapy building at Vachira Phuket Hospital, and scholarships for Plukpanya Municipal School under royal patronage.
Distinguished guests in attendance included Mrs. Yuthika Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Director-General of the Department of Cultural Promotion; Ms. Kittiporn Jaiboon, Intangible Cultural Heritage Expert and Acting Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office; Mr. Chakrit Sitthirit, Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Listing Division; along with their working committee. Also, present were Mr. Sophon Suwannarat, Governor of Phuket Province, and Mrs. Busadee Suwannarat, President of the Phuket Red Cross Chapter.
During the ceremony, Mrs. Yuthika presented a formal report on the objectives of the event and offered the official program booklet and souvenirs to the presiding guest. His Serene Highness then presented commemorative tokens to 30 sponsors and made charitable contributions to beneficiary organizations.
The cultural program featured a performing arts piece titled “The Origin of Kebaya” and a fashion show “Kebaya: The Beauty of UNESCO Heritage.” The kebaya, a traditional Peranakan attire, embodies generations of cultural heritage shared across Southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the wider Malay Archipelago. On December 4, 2024, during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICS-ICH) in Asunción, Paraguay, “Kebaya: knowledge, skills, traditions and practices” was officially inscribed on UNESCO’s prestigious Representative List.
Today, the kebaya remains a cherished symbol of cultural identity, often worn at weddings, religious ceremonies, and traditional festivals, continuing to reflect the enduring legacy and elegance of Peranakan heritage.
News/Photos – NBT Phuket
