The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Guan Yu Shrine yesterday (Oct 6). Presiding over the event was Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob, who also serves as Chairman of the Foundation’s Land Purchasing Committee.
Mr Rewat praised the success of the fundraising campaign, which received generous support from local benefactors under the theme ‘9 Dragons, 9 Eras for Progress’.
The donations, totalling over B2.1mn, will go toward acquiring land to expand the shrine and preserve its cultural and spiritual role in the community.
The Guan Yu Shrine is among the main Chinese shrines on the island that take part in the annual Phuket Vegetarian festival.
The event was attended by key figures including Chokchai Ongsantiphap, Head of the Guan Yu Shrine Ritual Department; Mrs Uwanna Thirasattiyawong, Foundation President; and Chomchanok Kupthongkhun, the land owner.
During the ceremony, a symbolic model of the land title deed was presented to the foundation by Rungnapa Phutkaew, President of the Phuket Provincial Lawyers Council.
Among the 10 major benefactors contributing to the land purchase were the Owattana family, the Guan Yu Long Drum Group of Baan Nabon, Phonphinan Rueangroj, Siriwat Sitchchalapak, Ms Niramon and Mr Chatchai Intachan, Chalong Mayor Samran Jindapol, Ekaphak Chalongratkit, of Pumpkin Corporation Co Ltd, Chokchai Ongsantiphat and his children, the families of Mr Tong and Mrs Paekkiw Tanthawiwong, and the Areerob family.
Following the press conference, the foundation’s board members and attending media joined in paying homage to the deity Guan Yu and took part in the Moon Worship Ceremony (Jong Qiu Festival).
Mr Rewat concluded by inviting the public to continue supporting the shrine’s development.
“We invite all devotees to join in donating funds to contribute to the land purchase for the Guan Yu Foundation of Baan Nabon, to continue the faith and serve as a spiritual centre for the community,” he said.