A touching viral story has emerged after a two-year-old girl ran up and hugged a stranger, calling her "mom" by mistake, only to shock her real mother when she arrived at the scene and discovered the woman bore a striking resemblance to her.

The incident occurred in Baoding, Hebei Province, China. A 10-year-old boy was playing in the village with his 2-year-old sister when she suddenly ran up and embraced a woman she didn't know, calling her "mom." Confused onlookers watched as even the older brother initially thought the stranger was his mother—until he got closer and noticed something was off. He quickly called his real mother to the scene.

When Ms. Ma, the actual mother, arrived, she was stunned. The stranger (wearing jeans) had facial features and body shape remarkably similar to her own, and was even wearing glasses and dressed in a similar style.

In the video, the little girl stands looking back and forth between the two women for a moment before deciding to run back to her real mother.

Ms. Ma revealed in an interview that she was quite shocked, as she and the stranger had never met before. She later checked with her family and confirmed they had no connection whatsoever.

She joked that she should thank her daughter for introducing her to her "other self," but unfortunately both parties were in a rush at the time and didn't exchange contact information.

After the video went viral, netizens flooded the comments section with reactions. Some joked that "even the real mother got confused by how similar they looked," while others quipped, "If the father came home, he might be really confused." Many viewers found the story to be like discovering "yourself from a parallel universe"—both surprising and heartwarming at the same time.

Around 1914, Prince Damrong Rajanubhap conducted extensive historical and archaeological research in the ancient city of Sukhothai during a period of intense scholarly interest in Thailand's origins, marked by the establishment of the Ancient Society of Thailand, later known as the Archaeological Society. During King Chulalongkorn's reign, royal expeditions explored the northern regions, and King Mongkut authored "Journey to Sukhothai" while serving as Crown Prince and Vice President of the Archaeological Society.

Prince Damrong investigated the Sukhothai Kingdom by comparing various stone inscriptions, particularly the first stele, which mentions the city's guardian spirit dwelling at Khao Luang. The inscription names this spirit "Phra Khaphung Phee" and describes its importance: "At the head of Sukhothai city there is Phra Khaphung Phee, a deity greater than all spirits in this city. Whoever rules Sukhothai and reveres this spirit correctly will keep the city prosperous and good; whoever fails to show proper respect will find the city destroyed."

During the search for sacred objects, Prince Damrong discovered an ancient stone statue of a female deity. Unable to find other deity statues in the Khao Luang range and noting the local reverence for this statue, he concluded it represented Phra Khaphung Phee, an important object of worship for Sukhothai's people.

Local legend connects this statue to "Nang Suang," the mother of Khun Ban Muang and Khun Ramkhamhaeng the Great, and the principal wife of Khun Si Intharaditya, founder of the Sukhothai Kingdom. She was also the grandmother of Khun Pha Muang of the Sri Navanamphu dynasty, who helped restore the kingdom from Khmer control.

The people of Sukhothai enshrined this statue as a city talisman, naming her "Phra Mae Ya," meaning the highest-ranking woman and mother figure of Sukhothai. Today, the original statue is housed in Phra Mae Ya Shrine, with two replica statues positioned at the entrance.

"Phra Mae Ya Sukhothai" is renowned for her power to relieve suffering. During Songkran festivals, residents traditionally paraded her statue, believing it would bring rain, which historically occurred consistently. She is also believed to grant fertility to the childless, protect against illness and misfortune, and bring success in work and careers—acting as a protective mother figure.

When facing difficulties, devotees visit Phra Mae Ya Shrine to pay respects and make offerings of pork, mushrooms, ducks, chickens, flowers, incense, and candles. Lychees are particularly favored offerings. Many replica statues and amulets have been created and are highly revered by the faithful.

GC announced first quarter 2025 operational results with net profit of 3.232 billion baht and total sales revenue of 146.936 billion baht, reflecting continuous production operations managed efficiently through effective raw material and supply chain management despite global economic volatility, energy price fluctuations, and geopolitical tensions. The company's integrated value chain structure provides flexibility in raw material management, production, and supply chain operations while supporting Thailand's industrial sector. GC is advancing its strategic plan to increase raw material flexibility, enhance overall operational efficiency, and transition its portfolio toward high-value, low-carbon businesses, particularly specialty chemicals through allnex and green-bio circular economy initiatives. The allnex subsidiary continues to serve as a key mechanism for stabilizing the company's business portfolio, with its globally diversified production facilities, assets, and supplier networks providing competitive advantages amid geopolitical conflicts. Growth projects in key regions including the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are proceeding on schedule. The company is actively developing low-carbon businesses including bioplastics, recycled plastics, and sustainability solutions to reduce dependence on fossil fuel resources. A significant milestone is the opening of NatureWorks' PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic manufacturing plant in Nakhon Sawan Bio Complex with 75,000 tons annual capacity, utilizing sugarcane as raw material, positioning Thailand as an Asian bioplastic manufacturing hub. CEO Narongsakdi Jiwaganan stated that amid energy crises and fossil fuel volatility, alternative materials are gaining increasing attention not only for environmental reasons but also for long-term supply chain risk reduction. The company's advancement in bioplastics, recycled plastics, and other sustainability solutions demonstrates significant opportunities for growth, differentiation, and support for the transition to low-carbon businesses.

Art and Culture Magazine, May 2569 Edition: The Forest Tradition of Venerable Mun Bhuridatto and Bangkok's Elite Devotees Editor: Art and Culture Editorial Board Published by: Art and Culture, Matichon Publishing House Price: 150 baht

In contemporary Thai society, "forest monks" are not merely ascetics retreating into deep forests, but symbols of spiritual purity. Many forest monks have been revered as "arahants" transcending worldly concerns. Images of forest monks venerated by the royal court, elite classes, and people nationwide—particularly in Bangkok—have become so familiar they seem timeless, as if dating back to the Buddha's era. Yet examining history reveals this phenomenon actually emerged in the early reign of King Rama IX. During his reign, forest monks held no elevated status in Bangkok's centers of power. Devotion to forest monks remained confined to local levels, far removed from becoming focal points for Bangkok's elite. The crucial question emerges: how did forest monks from the Northeast transcend their marginal status?

The Art and Culture magazine presents the article "Path of Faith from the Northeast to Bangkok: The Relationship Between Venerable Mun Bhuridatto's Forest Monk Lineage and Bangkok's Elite (1960s-2010s)," researched by Saplot Angkhapichimedha. This article explores the pivotal historical intersection between the forest monk lineage and Bangkok's upper classes.

The May 2569 edition of Art and Culture also features numerous historical articles from various perspectives, including: "Khong-Chi-Mun Before Bangkok: Networks of Champa Relations" by Rungroach Phiromyanukhul; "Heavenly Beings" by Sansnee Veerasilchai; "Rama's Forest Walk in Rama IV's Reign and the Stories He Edited" by Stananth Krutphichet; "Wat Tha-Wat Karong: The Fatal Bullet Point of 'Mr. Reuk'" by Achirwijchay Anthapun; and "Animal Symbols in Ancient Board Games: Entertainment or Ritual" by Phanu Traiveach.

All these articles can be found exclusively in the May 2569 edition of Art and Culture Magazine.

**Guru Critique of Gurus: Inspiring Reflection** **Zen's Natural Path: Sudden Clarity**

The magazine also recommends "Guru Critique of Gurus" by Osho, published by Freemind Publishing at 285 baht. This book revives influential sages and philosophers—from the Buddha to Jesus, Krishna, poets like Laozi and Rumi, philosophers like Nietzsche and Pythagoras, to modern thinkers like Kahlil Gibran and Gurdjieff. The author presents these figures' wisdom in accessible, thought-provoking ways that inspire reflection.

Also featured: "Zen's Natural Path" by Niroat Jitwisut, exploring Zen Buddhism's enlightenment as direct insight into the true nature of reality.

A 32-year-old Malaysian man has sparked online discussion after posting on Reddit about being left to shoulder the full rental cost of a luxury Singapore condo following his fiancée's infidelity. The man previously lived with his fiancée in a master bedroom unit in the Tampines area before their lease expired. When it came time to renew, his fiancée convinced him to upgrade to a luxury condo near Pasir Ris Mall shopping center. Although he preferred a cheaper two-bedroom flat, he eventually agreed to rent the luxury unit for 3,100 Singapore dollars (roughly 80,000 baht) monthly, acknowledging it was "way over budget."

After living there for approximately six months, he made a crushing discovery: his fiancée had been secretly seeing his best friend for nearly two years and had even brought him to the condo. Following their split, they agreed she would pay 550 Singapore dollars (about 14,000 baht) monthly toward the rent. However, after just a few months, she stopped contributing when she entered a new relationship and removed herself from the lease. To make matters worse, she announced her engagement to someone else during the same week they had originally planned to get married.

Now the man must bear the entire rental burden alone, despite earning only 5,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 130,000 baht) monthly, creating severe financial strain. He has attempted to find a subtenant and negotiate early lease termination but has been unsuccessful due to the high rental cost. He also consulted online communities about Singapore's tenancy laws in search of a solution. Many netizens offered advice, with some suggesting he lower the rent temporarily to attract tenants, while others recommended carefully reviewing the lease agreement's cancellation terms.

Young actor Lee Thanatpong, who continues to deliver content for his fanbase, recently attended the launch of "Lemon Lens," an influencer monitoring and brand performance platform designed to support modern marketers at The Athenee Hotel Bangkok. He opened up about stepping into the influencer world, creating more content for followers, and his choice to decline BL series roles.

Is the new influencer launching with strong engagement? "I just started. I've been using TikTok for a long time, but mainly for relaxation—listening to ASMR, watching pimple-popping videos. Those are so soothing for sleep (laughs). I watched constantly but never thought I'd upload anything myself. Lately, I wanted to try it out. At first, I told everyone this was a real account, but nobody believed me. Eventually, I did a live stream and the engagement just started picking up. I'm mainly focusing on live content now, but not too frequently. I want to create some distance so they miss me before I come back—but they don't seem to miss me (laughs). If it's working, then thanks!"

What else are you working on these days? "I have events constantly, mostly outside Bangkok. I'm glad to go, but it's a shame the media doesn't always come along. We'll be riding together next time. I also have series in the works—waiting to roll cameras and waiting for them to air."

Are you having a busy year? "Every year is busy. I try to do series every year. Many people message saying they miss me, but I'm constantly working. When I'm on set, I don't usually upload updates about filming. With my latest project, we wrapped months ago, but I haven't posted any behind-the-scenes photos because the script was so intense and exhausting. But I promised everyone I'd share more."

How many series will we see this year? "Throughout the year, I kept saying they'd air this year, but recently I found out they're airing next year (laughs). And with the new project that just started filming, I'm already saying that one's also coming next year."

What are the roles like? "As I've gotten older, the roles I receive lean more toward professional characters. For example, in '669 Emergency Line Becomes Love,' I played a rescue worker. When we made the deal, they didn't mention I'd be doing rope work or falling in water—that was quite the challenge. The upcoming project starting in October has me playing a teacher with a complete image change—different speech, walk, hairstyle. Based on the script I've seen, it seems doable. Feel free to reach out. I want to keep playing challenging roles."

Many actors these days have solo singles. Will you be doing one? "I actually mentioned before that I'm working on music. I've made so many tracks that I feel ready to record anytime. I'm more naturally inclined toward the music production side, but for vocals, I need someone to write the right lyrics. Recently, my friend has written several songs for me, and he keeps messaging asking when I'll record (laughs). Will it be T-Pop dance style? No, I need to be true to myself. I'm not naturally comfortable with dancing—I'm not great with my body that way. Music is more my strength."

Have BL boy-love roles been coming your way? "Yes, constantly. But I don't really feel suited for them. I don't think I can pull them off well. I'd rather younger actors or those naturally suited to that genre get those roles. My vibe has always been more versatile. If you put me in a BL series, I probably wouldn't do as well as my peers."

What kind of scripts are being sent to you? "I don't usually read scripts all the way through. Just brief treatments. If I'm not comfortable, I'm worried I'll do a bad job and ruin my career as an actor. After 10 years in the industry, I don't want people saying I played poorly (laughs). I do read them first and give clear reasons when I decline. Sometimes I feel I'm more mature for certain ages. There are many reasons—it's not just about whether it suits me."

It shows that lately...