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Published on October 6, 2007

 I've been sitting bored in front of the square box for so long, it usually doesn't matter what's on as long as I have other activities to distract me. That changed after I saw "Jor Jai" on Channel 5 on Thursday night.

I'm no fan of the programme but I tuned in because General Sonthi Boonyaratglin was a guest that night. I didn't switch the channel, just in case there was an interesting remark. Just before each break, there were clips of an alien-looking being and an elderly couple on a beach. At first glance I thought the strange-looking creature was the work of a special effects make-up artist or something. But as I followed the show, it turned out to be an unfortunately disfigured child - bald, no eyebrows or eyelashes, no hands or feet. Her name was Nong Om and she suffered from a fatal skin disease.

Nong Om's grandparents were the feature that night in the "Song Kwam Suk" ("Sending Happiness") part of the show. Each week the show's production team follows an assignment to deliver happiness to a person (or persons) selected by viewers.

It was Nong Om's wish to see her grandparents enjoy a break from taking full-time care of her, something that they couldn't afford to do on their own. The elderly couple was taken on a trip to Hua Hin. It was touching to think how Nong Om - despite her condition - wanted, at least once in her lifetime, to see her grandparents enjoy themselves.

Her wish was fulfilled.

During the show, everyone cried - her grandfather, her grandmother, the hosts and viewers including myself. But they were tears of appreciation and happiness. Towards the end, the grandma told her grandchild: "I'll never desert you, even though I don't have any money."

The host summed up the show well, as she told the audiences that she felt content as a giver, and the feeling of making someone happy was priceless.

Although this is by no means a brand-new thing - to help disabled people or underprivileged kids - it is no easy task to do it in good taste. Some programmes overlook the sensitivity as they try to "commodify" people. Sad but true, most such programmes do not offer anything new apart from reaffirming that there are many underprivileged or unfortunate people out there. Sometimes they try so hard that it looks pretentious. Another programme I watched recently featured a Down's Syndrome boy who was a comedian. The famous emcee spoiled the effect by wanting to emphasise the boy's special talents.

Unlike most shows, "Jor Jai" has managed to overcome these shortcomings. Whoever created the "Song Kwam Suk" section and wrote the script should win a prize for their humanity. The show has succeeded in lifting the spirits of its viewers as well as its guests.

I wondered if it was only me who was moved by the show? So afterwards, I went looking for public opinion on the Pantip community website. And how glad I was to find that many people had complimented the programme. Here, viewers could also find out how to help the guests of the show financially.

Who says morality is degrading in Thailand?

I followed the link on Pantip to view the previous week's programme. It warned: "Have your hankie ready". It featured two boys suffering from a genetic disease that makes their physical conditions worsen as they age. They were both at the pre-teen age but were only as tall as a young child. The older boy could not walk, had lost his eyesight and had difficulty hearing.

The programme fulfilled their wishes: the younger boy wanted to go to an amusement park and the older brother wanted to go to a temple. So they went to both places.

It was the older boy's heartfelt words that were enough to make anyone cry. He told the host that he was so happy to see his younger brother having a good time at the amusement park. At one point, he said: "I don't want my young brother to suffer like me." I was crying as I listened, and on screen the host was in tears, as well.

You might have shared with me the opinion that TV just contributes to violence and social vices. But there is always an exception and "Jor Jai" proves that TV can be turned into a constructive medium if enough effort is put in. This is the kind of show I'd love my daughter to see.

"Happiness is not always being on the receiving end, but the greater happiness is found when you make someone happy and you feel that happiness in return."

Veena Thoopkrajae

The Nation