Contributor:
Naomi Fontanos
APCOM
Since the Covid-19 pandemic time,
we have been more attuned to our own mental health needs, and the wellbeing of our staff.
Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing,
and APCOM started a monthly wellbeing activity for our staff usually taking place
on the last Friday of the month.
We are proud to have been able to continue the staff wellbeing activity since the pandemic time,
with the activities led, coordinated and organized by our own staff.
And we are proud to continue making an effort to prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of our staff,
raising awareness of mental health and how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.
Our staff candidly shares with you their reflections from the monthly wellbeing activity,
the bonding time with colleagues, ensuring that our staff has the time to rest,
recharge, and recenter.
One of my favorite quotes is “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be in your revolution.” While she has not actually said this, the quote is often attributed to the anarchist and feminist Emma Goldman. The idea is: a revolution cannot be joyless. It cannot be oppressive and instead should embrace the freedom to express oneself, even through something as seemingly simple as dance. This rejection of a rigid revolutionary movement and celebration of personal liberation was embodied by our wellbeing activity entitled, APCOM on Beat. On 25 July 2025, Friday, the APCOM team trooped to the Just Dance Studio, Minimall Lasalle Avenue, in the Bangna area of Bangkok.
For two hours from 2:00 o’ clock to 4:00 o’ clock in the afternoon, we were allowed to follow our dance instructor, Max Suksiamkul, who taught us what he calls a K Pop dance for the first hour and freestyle dancing in the next. For the K Pop dance, Max taught us around 6-7 eights that we practiced for about forty-five (45) minutes. Everyone in the APCOM team followed Max’s lead.
I could see our Communications Officer, Bobo Phongphungngam, happily dancing. I also noticed a lot of vigorous movements from our Finance Officers, P’ Sek Aunjittham, SomSom Sookjai, and Raph Tevar. Our own Executive Director, Midnight Pooknkasetwattana was trying his best to follow Max. Our Accounting and Administrative Officer P’ Air Worarakwiroj was also exerting herself. Best of all, our Senior Communications Officer, Vaness Kongsakul could follow each step that Max taught us and was enjoying himself thoroughly. It was so nice to see our office mates grooving to and dancing to the K Pop tune like there was no tomorrow. Our SOGIESC Inclusion and Corporate Engagement Officer, Jim Krutthai and our Senior Programmes and Operations Support Officer, P’ A Keiangpa were busy taking photos and videos of everyone.
Max would also provide recaps of the steps when necessary. After teaching us, Max then divided the large group into two and asked us to dance on our own for the last fifteen (15) minutes of the hour. The first group was composed of Midnight, Raph, P’ Air and Vaness. The second group was composed of Bobo, me (Naomi), SomSom, P’ Sek and Numan. It was such a happy grouping and everyone danced hard and tried to recreate Max’s dance. Everyone was quite happy with their performance. The next hour was spent just following Max lead us through freestyle dancing. It was easier than the K Pop dance for sure but also entailed energy and concentration. I was truly sweating and tired after this part.
For the next two hours from 4:00 o’clock to 6:00 o’ clock, the APCOM team enjoyed some food and drinks at a nearby GetFresh. I ordered a drink called Banana Strawberry. It was quite refreshing. Some of our team mates also ordered something to eat. It was a good way to end the day of dancing. For this activity, I truly thought that APCOM was on beat, moving and dancing as one and enjoying ourselves as one. It was a truly great experience for everyone that some people plan to continue dancing in the future (and starting their own revolutions).
