Entry for February 03, 2008 Remembering Nguyen Si Hong Hanh Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:35:30 -0600 "Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the soul of your faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen." The Philippine Educational Theater Association announces with deep regrets the passing of our beloved friend, artist from VietnamNGUYEN SI HONG HANH(June 23, 1980 – November 12, 2006)who met her untimely demise in a car accident last November 12, 2006 in Se Khut at Nakornratchasima Province, Thailand. Hanh, together with two Thai artists, Karnpicha-cha Pongkullapat (Nok) & Chertsak Pratumsisakorn (Chert), were traveling on their way to attend a charity event in Nakornratchasima Province. Their car skidded and Hanh died instantly from severe head injury. Her remains were cremated at the Temple of Thepsirin in Bangkok last November 14, 2006. Her ashes were brought back to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last November 15, 2006.We enjoin all her friends to pray for the peace of her soul. . Nguyen Si Hong Hanh is in Bangkok on her way to Indonesia to attend the Women's Playwrights International Conference to assist and translate for her aunt, Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc. She was supposed to stay in Bangkok for more than a week to witness the Bangkok Theatre Festival and help translate for the members of the Youth Theater group from Hanoi who were scheduled to perform at the Bangkok Theatre Festival back to back with Thailand’s Crescent Moon, B-Floor, & Bangplay Educational Theatre group.Hanh is an artist based in Ho Chi Minh City. She was a participant to PETA’s 2nd Mekong Performing Arts Laboratory held last August- September 2006 in Hanoi, Vietnam. How we shall remember Hanh... My last day in Hanoi was spent with Hanh and me walking through practically all of the shopping areas in the city. She was my translator, navigator and negotiator. We talked about her plans... the band she was going to be performing with, hip hop, R and B, the trips she would be taking... I asked a lot of questions about her "Ao Dai." If I remember it right, she said her aunt had given it to her and it was old style so it wasn't the fitted type. I told her that it was beautiful and she looked great in it. She wore it with such beauty and elegance... this is how i shall remember her, gracefully walking across the stage with her grey silk "Ao Dai" flowing gently around her... paalam... ---Maribel Legarda I spent a lot of time with Hanh on Saturday night (November 11) and watched the "Stereo Man" and "Purgatory" with her. We had a good chat about going to Indonesia and we had hopes to see each other there. She talked about how much she liked Thailand---her friends, the theatre festival and how she would like to be in it to observe and to take away as many good experiences as possible. I had wonderful moment, quietly while sitting down behind the lighting board at the blue-walled open theatre. We had a good chat and talked about some suggestions, gave some greetings, hugged, and had a peaceful time together. ---Pornrat Damrhung . I shall remember Hanh as the Laboratory participant who cried so hard during the last day of our workshop. She cried because she knows that after the Laboratory, life will never go on as usual...I shall remember Hanh as the nurturing host who took care of me during my stay in Ho Chi Minh City this early November. I've traveled the city many times but this time she made me experience Ho Chi Minh in a different (almost strange) way from a different perspective...I shall remember Hanh as the young Vietnamese artist eager and so excited to see and learn new things from outside. All set and brave enough to plunge and dive into every opportunity that opens up to her... music, her trip to Bangkok and Indonesia, the UNESCO project and her project with Kingsy Lok.I shall remember Hanh as the beloved friend of many of us from the Laboratory who always hangs out, extends a helping hand, and gets along with almost everybody.I shall remember Hanh as the daughter of a loving and courageous mother whose strength taught us how to survive unimaginable pain brought by her death.I shall remember Hanh as Hanh... not just a Laboratory participant, not just a host, not just an artist, not just a friend, not just a daughter... but a mentor whose death will forever teach us and remind us how we should live our lives. Hanh had the best days of her life. ---Lea L. Espallardo