Lakhorn Niyeay Khmer Oldies - Kompong Thom Chumrum Chet By フイ メアス Huy Meas and Staff at National Radio in Phnom Penh

Frankly speaking, Lakhorn Niyeay used to be the most popular type of entertainment before Pol Pot Regime in Cambodia which destroyed everything including life of most radio host and artists. Among them, Huy Meas (フイ　メアス or ហួយ មាស រាជធីតាវោហារមាស សំឡេងរនាតឯក ) was so famous with the strong tiny sweet voice as you could listen to her voice in this Lakhorn Niyeay Khmer - Kompong Thom Chumrum Chet (コンポントム　の心).

At the beginning of this special radio story, you will hear the sweet female voice, known as Neary Phal (Huy Meas). This story covers the life of the rural girl in Kompong Thom Province having a brother as a soldier, Nora. Neary Phal sings very softly that is the sweetest voice from our oldies singer. She is considered to get the golden voice by our older people in her generation. In this story, she expresses the shyness to a man living in her house, but traditionally not allow him to get into her room. Why? Because a man is mostly naughty to woo the girl naturally and that's why the man is not permitted to get into the room or with the girl alone. This could lead to something matters in our society. It does happen as Neay Eysal tries to take advantages of a girl; however, Neary Phal representing the Khmer girl who must protect her dignity following the culture. Next, Neary Phal awakes her youngest brother, Nory, to help her cleaning the house. With this part, the author wants everyone to be hard-working and not to sleep so late since it's the waste of time and the Khmer tradition to prepare the house before Khmer New Year Day. You see! Her parents go to the pagoda since the dawn showing the older people in Cambodia always go to pagoda for our cultural practices. Later, a friend of Nora coming from Phnom Penh with him, Keo Sothea, is so polite to talk more about our hospitality. The author wants to reflect about how each child should be educated about the good manner to welcome the guest! One part on the top of Phnom Sontuk revealing the true conversation between Sothea and Neary Phal about the reality in Khmer society from that generations to present. I do love this story and how our oldies artists perform with the best talent that no one could cover now! I do wish to have such kind of Huy Meas's voice! She is so talent! This Lakhorn Niyeay is so educational to all Khmer people that is worth to be valued and preserved!

In short, this story is the best one for all generations to learn about life preparation in term of our tradition and culture. Similarly, those oldies artists including Huy Meas is so talent to leave us the best records to listen. We, Cambodian, must preserve the best entertainment reflecting the core value of our society.

By: POK Panhavuth

Happy New Year 2015 in Cambodia

Happy New Year 2015 is the most common word used in conversation and Facebook wish around the world.  Not different from the other countries, Cambodia in the era of the globalization is now a part of the world season celebration for new year, Christmas Eve and Day and Halloween since the young generation seems to adapt to those celebration as the happy time with friends and family. It does make the day special for everyone in Cambodia now to countdown on the night of the old year end and the new year start.

During this occasion, the good decoration is done throughout Phnom Penh to warmly welcome the Year 2015. The Independent Monument Park was lighted with the different color to make city more attractive. People from different countries and locals seem to enjoy walking in the evening chatting, walking, jogging, taking photo and riding bicycles. Many vehicles travel near the park creating an image of the busy and crowded city.

Countdown night is very popular in Cambodia as well. Many people having the party wait for the time to come for countdown towards new year. There were fireworks on the sky to loudly announce the coming new year. People went to Dreamland, Riverside and Diamond Island (Koh Pich City).

Finally, I do wish everyone good luck, successful, wealthy, healthy and may your wish comes true very soon. "Happy New Year 2015! Happy New Year World!"

By: POK Panhavuth (Steung Khiev) 

What is Steung Khiev, iRSSS Cool and Steung Khiev Cool?

Historically, Steung Khiev refers to one of a river in the northwest of Cambodia, Sangker River in Battambang Province. During the glorious era of Cambodia in 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, many famous artists came from the nearby villages along Steung Khiev that was composed in several songs of our oldies. Those artists are Ros Sereysothea, Huy Meas, Pen Ran, Pen Ram, Sinn Sisamouth (used to live there during his childhood), Im Song Seum, Mao Sareth.... Therefore, top ten 2 YouTube Channel for our oldies were created such as Steung Khiev Cool and iRSSS Cool with the meaning as below.

First, Steung Khiev is the first name to put for one of YouTube Channel in early 2012 to promote our oldies songs as the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCro3gcnDIjIGcDvPwac1kkQ. Then Steung Khiev Cool (SK Cool) addressing https://www.youtube.com/user/coolsteungkhiev was created as a new channel to reupload those oldies song collection from various sources. There are playlists containing oldies song from Ros Sereysothea, Sinn Sisamouth.... When you visit the link above, you will find the view photo cover for the paddy field from Battambang taken from the top of Sampov Mountain. This is to demonstrate about soul of very sweet singers from Steung Khiev area; Cool refers to the modernization of our oldies to be online available for everyone to listen at anytime and anywhere. That's why this YouTube Channel was Steung Khiev Cool (Steung Khiev + Cool).

Second, iRSSS Cool is also created to promote the oldies song that you may find the same videos as Steung Khiev Cool. iRSSS Cool does have another meaning and purposes. iRSSS refers to internet + Ros Sereysothea + Sinn Sisamouth while Cool refers to the modernization of our oldies for everyone to listen at anytime and anywhere. You may find the icon for this channel in shortcut as iR only. The website address  is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxOJ2OLHsT-rzrKAZZCUYAA. In this channel, you may find new songs upload and collection hits of our top ten oldies songs.

In short, it is just the ideas to share our oldies song by let you see the face of singers inside the videos as they're singing in front of you. I do hope everyone enjoy our oldies songs with this 2 special YouTube Channel and subscribe to get the alert for new upload. Good luck and Happy New Year 2015. "It's crazy enough for not to start doing what you're thinking and dreaming! Never to think about failure, just start it!"

By: Pok Panhavuth (Steung Khiev)

Don't Think I've Forgotten - Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll

It has been 4 decades we lost our soul of the past Rock and Roll while most artists vanished just after April 17, 1975; few artists survived until today. Most Cambodian people loving oldies song will never forget the musical treasure of the nation, especially modern Rock and Roll of the past. It is so special to listen to those oldies Rock and Roll songs of the singers such as Ros Sereysothea, Sinn Sisamouth, Pen Ran, Huy Meas, Dara Chomchan, Draka Band....

Even though it seems to be less attention from related ministry in Cambodia, all Cambodian and foreigners are doing their best to recover those oldies songs to life again. Let's do it together to preserve our best oldies and let's our singer live forever even they're not here.

Comparing to today modern music, our oldies is still better in term of musical composition, clear lyrics, good voice singers and the soul of national music. Anyway, we still encourage our young generation to continue their effort to bring our oldies and new music to live without much copying from foreign country, especially those bordering countries. We have to protect our soul of national music and not only think only about the profit. Obviously, singing and music composing practices should be done to promote our national soul for music again. Do not ever forgotten our own precious music even there are plenty of sweet music from those foreign countries.

"Preserving your own value by not copying the complete set from foreign assets! We do have our own value if you're really looking back to the past!"

By: Pok Panhavuth (Steung Khiev)

Lyric of "Retiens La Nuit" - Johnny Hallyday

Retiens la nuit pour nous deux jusqu' la fin du monde.
Retiens la nuit pour nos coeurs dans sa course vagabonde.
Serre-moi fort contre ton corps, il faut qu' l'heure des folies
Le grand amour raye le jour et nous fasse oublier la vie.
Retiens la nuit, avec toi, elle parait si belle.
Retiens la nuit, mon amour, qu'elle devienne ternelle.
Pour le bonheur de nos deux coeurs arrte le temps et les heures,
Je t'en supplie l'infini, retiens la nuit.
Ne me demande pas d'o me vient ma tristesse,
Ne me demande rien, tu ne comprendrais pas,
En dcouvrant l'amour je frle la dtresse,
En croyant au bonheur, la peur entre en mes joies.
Retiens la nuit pour nous deux jusqu' la fin du monde.
Retiens la nuit pour nos coeurs dans sa course vagabonde.
Serre-moi fort contre ton corps, il faut qu' l'heure des folies
Le grand amour raye le jour et nous fasse oublier la vie.
Retiens la nuit, avec toi, elle parait si belle.
Retiens la nuit, mon amour, qu'elle devienne ternelle.
Pour le bonheur de nos deux coeurs arrte le temps et les heures,
Je t'en supplie l'infini, retiens la nuit,
Je t'en supplie l'infini, retiens la nuit.

Lesson Learned from Conference on National Social Enterprise of Cambodia 2014 at CKCC

Success and Failure with The Reflection for Improved Future

On October 25th, 2014 there is a conference on National Social Enterprise 2014 at Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center (CKCC) in Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). The conference is supported by Royal University of Phnom Penh, University of Western Sydney, FRIENDS International and ICS Creating Change.

Starting at 8:00AM, the registration was done smoothly for the incoming attendee listing or holding conference ticket registered online through http://evenbrite.com. The introduction began at 9:00AM by Dr. Nguon Chanrith, Dean Faculty of Development Studies RUPP was to focus on his faculty regarding business planning and management, field trip to different enterprises and community and drawing the attention of the audience on past failure and success of social enterprise within this conference.

Next, CEO of ACLEDA Bank Plc, Dr. In Channy, was the key honored guest speaker to mention about his experience and the process of transforming ACLEDA from NGOs to be the first rank bank in Cambodia having branches in Laos and Myanmar and playing model role as the social enterprise. Anyway, the most important point in his speech in Khmer is the challenges and commitment in the process of transformation. Those challenges is the staff itself dividing to two groups during the discussion for transformation. Only 2% decided not to joined while the left still doubted about process as they said about the ownership of NGOs to contribute to the social work. However, Dr. In Channy convinced them logically only that the private enterprises could be sustainable and financially supportive with ownership to help society while NGOs is funded for short period of time not last longer, especially the Law on Financing in 1997 not allowed NGOs to lending and must register as the private enterprise if want to. The other main challenges is the Non-performing loan (NPL) really high 5.6% and the low trust of Cambodian towards the domestic products and services. In respond to this challenges, Dr. IN Channy and his colleagues committed to excellence by ruling the staffs not to get too close personally in any form rewards from customers even water for especially credit officer and to respect each other as the teacher sharing, learning and growing together including customers due the excellent service and the respect for all status without discrimination is the key to win the trust from domestic customers. "Do not blame customer even paying loan late, speak politely!", He said. Stressing on the key joint venture, the bank needs to be transparent (Say NO to corruption!) for investment partner to trust you including DFI (Development Finncial Investment) like IFC and other larger commercial banks like SMBC (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation), Bank Populaire from France, etc.

Later, there is a debate between different actors from sector on the topic "Are NGOs right to run a business? NGOs Vs. Social Enterprise!" The conclusion from both Pros group is that NGOs fund is limited or sometimes no fund at all that requires it to run a business to get the fund as well as to be the training center like the restaurants of Friends International. The transformation to social enterprises is the future prospects. If funding and running by third party or running as the separated entity will be really risky. Risky refers to the loss (Where is the fund to support the loss?) or the ignorance from third party to stop supporting NGOs. On the other hand, the Cons group concluds that NGOs should transfrom to social enterprise if it wants to run the business for funding. NGOs is to help people in term of ethics and not to use those people without salary. Social enterprise is also could help people with corporate social responsibility. If NGOs run a business, it violates the ethics for non-profit and help people. At last, both groups have their own reasons towards this topic. No one is right or wrong and it may depend which situation you're in.

Other activities including coffee break, buffet lunch time, speed networking (make new connecttion with others interested in Solcent in a fun way), social enterprise fair, small parallel sessions including presentations regarding matters  and innovation in social enterprise from Cambodia, Thailand and South Korea and movie screening ("Who cares": it doesn't matter if you work in education, finance, human right, health, environmental affair, or another field altogether; it doesn't matter if you work in private and public or social sector. If you see problems as opportunities, you have what it takes to be a change makers, a social entrepreneur.  To learn more about this fascinating path, which is as much as career as it is a vacation, as much about giving a sense of purpose to your life as it is about having a positive impact on society!).

Special quotes for youth, " You want to be the part of problem or the part of solution?"

By: Pok Panhavuth

Cambodia’s Football in Development Progress

Sport has been really popular in Cambodia since French Colonial. Later, Phnom Penh National Olympic was built with a capacity of 48,529 to promote sport development during Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime and Cambodian attended many sport competitions bringing back many medals. Unfortunately, sport was completely destroyed in Pol Pot Regime. Cambodia has become increasingly involved in sports over the last 30 years after recovering from zero point. There are many popular sports like football, Sepak Takraw, Bokator (Labok Kator), Khmer Kickboxing (Pradal Serey), Khmer traditional wrestling, Volleyball, Taekwondo, and basketball. Among these sports, football is getting more interests from teenager and middle-aged people in both private and public sector. Regarding to football, The Cambodian Football Federation is the governing body in Cambodia controlling the Cambodian national football team. This federation was founded in 1933 which has been a member of FIFA since 1953 and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since 1957. There are so many football matches locally everywhere in the evening as well as in the weekend. For example, football teams among the same bank or from inter-bank compete with each other for Financial Challenge Cup including Cambodian and foreigners. Moreover, more Cambodian overseas makes their presence in Cambodia to better local team and to challenge for the medals to promote Cambodia internationally; Mr. Chhunly Pagenburg (born 10 November 1986) is a German football striker of Cambodian descent and the highest paid athlete (along with Thun Sophea) from Cambodia making USD30,000 in 2011. On October 2013, he made two appearances for Cambodia U-23 to play against Svay Rieng and Phnom Penh Crown, but he wasn't eligible to play for Cambodia U-23 at Sea Game 2013 because of overage. He made his senior international debut on 19 November 2013 in a friendly match against Guam. He will be playing for Cambodia national football team at 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup (22 November to 20 December 2014), the tenth edition of the ASEAN Football Championship Southeast Asia co-hosted by Singapore and Vietnam. In short, football will be stepping stone for the better sport development in Cambodia. “Football makes life harder, but more enjoyable!”

By: Steung Khiev

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhunly_Pagenburg