This year's Asian Festival charity bazaar, organized by the Asian Ladies Friendship Society, will be held April 27. Benchapa Krairiksh, wife of the ambassador of Thailand to Japan, says she is "honored and delighted to serve as chairperson of the festival in the year 2000."

Principally the festival raises funds for welfare and disaster relief in the Asian region, "but also," Benchapa pointed out, "it gives plenty of opportunities to work together for charitable causes with the 24 Asian member countries, and to get to know each other."

In her eagerness to know others, and with her energy and friendliness, Benchapa is an ideal festival chairwoman. She is also a prototype first lady of Thailand here, though "Madam Ambassadress," she says, is not a title she ever expected.