“Empathy Will Help You in Life” – Sanpiti Passes Forward His Father’s Advice to the New Generation

A story about a father and son went viral after the latest Bangkok local election in late May 2022. After that, the name “Sandee-Sanpiti Sittipphunt” gained popular among Bangkok people. WorkpointTODAY recently connected with the son of the newly-elected Bangkok governor, a recent history graduate, and an admin who has won the hearts of Bangkokians, to discover more about his nature, his ideas, and his family.

A month since your father was elected as a governor. Anything unexpected? 

For starters, I didn’t expect much fanfare and interviews! I didn’t anticipate I was going to be in the news much! The biggest change and transition for me is that I am now in the public eye so I have to be more cautious. 

Your father visited you during the graduation. What does it mean to you? You father said it is a big rock in his life (Top priority) 

For me, it means a lot. When he told me earlier that he couldn’t make it after he won the election, I was very disappointed so I kept begging him to come. He relented anyway and came, which was very supportive and meaningful. For me, I think a good support system in life can go a long way in helping cultivate emotional connections for the future but also reminds you of the things you are grateful for. I am always grateful for whatever I have so for him to be there at a special milestone of my life was so important.

Your graduation. What’s attractive about History? 

History to me is a strange beast. Growing up, I read a lot of history books and artifacts which spiked my interest in the discipline. It’s the only thing I’ve ever known and wanted to study for the longest time. I didn’t give it much consideration to other subjects and I knew that I wanted to study/major in history ever since I was little. 

It took me some serious deliberation to characterize history but for me, I think the best way to capture it is that it is an exploration into truth. It is a subject based on inquiry and critical analysis that frames different perspectives, weaving them together like a spider web to create a kaleidoscope of ideas and themes of humanity. We read and understand history critically, creating our own conceptions of the past, present and the future. History itself is contingent and requires the study of the past in order to understand the present. It is only with the knowledge of the present, we are able to forecast and evaluate the future. History itself is also a double-edged/two-faced subject in that studying the past also invites criticism and much debate as much of history is subjective, open to interpretation. I think what draws me into history is the raw nature of it, to be able to study human nature, the attitudes of people in the past and how we came to be. It isn’t so much entrenched in the remembrance of dates or events or what happened on a specific event. It is rather how it relates to other events and how it influences material human conditions along linear time. It is a critical autopsy of humanity and it breaks down the institutions, systems and processes of how we came to evolve, progress and become modern along timescales. It is to say that history is very complex, yet, diverse in its depth. There is no right or wrong nor there is any morality in it. It is very much a grey area which is quite unique for a subject encompassing humankind. From history, we can see the diversity of peoples in their varying and captivating stories and the systems, processes and institutions that empower them. 

On Seattle, your favorite spot in the city and what makes a city great?

For me, Seattle is a second home in many ways. It is a place with a special meaning in my heart. I fell in love with its vibrancy and diverse culture with various communities and people from all walks of life congregating together to constitute the beating heart of the city. In Seattle, my favorite location has got to be Capitol Hill which is home to the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle and where there is a blend of different assortments of people and groups coming together. There are a lot of great coffee spots and restaurants in the area that are so different in terms of architecture, style and cuisine. I think for me, what makes a city unique is the different palettes of life they have to offer. Not all cities are the same so it is the individuality of it that appeals to me most. I reflect back to what my dad has always emphasized – cities are not urban environments and physical spaces, they are simply people like us: fully alive and active in the development of the human condition. 

Bangkok. What do you like and dislike about it? And one thing you wish Bangkok will change within four years? 

In all honesty, what I appreciate about Bangkok is that every soi and neighborhood is different. Bangkok itself is a complex maze of life in which everywhere we navigate to, there is always a different terrain that might seem unfamiliar but in reality, it is something we have grown accustomed to over the years we have been living here. I like how the city has developed over the intervening years as we’re seeing more opportunities for people to be involved actively in its affairs and participating in the effort towards a greener, wider and communal space. Now there is a feedback loop with Traffy Fondue so the constructive feedback gets received and addressed which I quite commend as for a city to prosper, its people must be involved in the process of urban planning/development.

One thing that irks me about Bangkok is definitely the traffic. It’s a long held sentiment among all Bangkokians and it isn’t something we can resolve overnight. It takes effort to study and analyze the data and patterns of traffic/road infrastructure. The move towards open data and the use of programming as a tool to manage cities is something we’re positioning ourselves towards and it’s a big leap from the past but hopefully, it’s a start. 

One thing I hope will change about Bangkok in the next four years of my dad’s term is that I wish that road safety and infrastructure will improve. I am currently in the United States and seeing a much more streamlined and safety-first approach to ensuring road safety was a bit of a culture shock to me. I would aspire to see that there will be less accidents. It’s quite difficult to change the mentality/attitudes overnight but as long as we put focus on revamping infrastructure and regulating laws, it should set us on the right track.

Talking about love, with LGBTQ movement going on. How do you define love? And what’s your experience and thoughts on LGBTQ movement?

Love itself is a tricky definition. For me, love is what you would extend not only to others but for yourself. You can love yourself if you give yourself enough respect and self-care to improve your physical/mental well-being. You can also love others in different shades – platonically, romantically and physically as well as familial love. My first foray with the LGBT movement was in high school where there wasn’t much education and exposure on the topic and we were still beginning to understand the movement. There wasn’t so much advocacy in the past but now people are beginning to express themselves out of the woodwork which I praise them for doing. We’re still grappling with notions of identity, belonging and inclusion as a society not only in Thailand but across the world. Right now, the LGBTQ+ movement here is still in its embryonic stage but there is so much awareness with the Naruemitr parade and my dad’s open support. It disappoints me that Thai society accepts the idea of LGBTQ+ but there isn’t much being done to legalize it. Recently, the parliament floated and passed the first reading of three separate bills. At the very least, it’s something to work with and there will be room for greater reform in the future. 

For me, my first inroads into LGBTQ+ was having to deal with some friends and family coming out to me. At first, I was puzzled and still unaware. The more I researched and learned from experts and education in both Thailand at my high school, and America, I clamored to do something to push the movement forward. Society should be able to embrace people for who they are and not marginalize them. There is still stigma in Thailand about the movement but as with any movement, people can still change their opinions and we can still have time to eliminate any stereotypes and doubts. 

Thailand is so attractive as a hotbed for the LGBTQ+ community and I want Bangkok to be a global phenomenon to invite people across the world to celebrate diversity, inclusion and to champion love. 

What do you do in your free time? How are these hobbies shape you? 

For me, I like to dabble in some writing of my own. I am currently working on some poetry and a personal project of mine. I am also an avid reader of literature with my favorite genre being romance, mystery and fantasy. I also enjoy cafe-hopping and photography. One of my favorite places in Bangkok to drink coffee is at Karo Coffee Roasters at Soi Pridi 26 as it has become a refuge for me of some sorts. The staff there are very sociable and I count them as trusted friends. Another place I frequent is Roots coffee at Commons Thonglor and Nana Coffee Roasters. For photography, I like roaming Bangkok and capturing snapshots of things that fascinate me.

I am a huge sports fan and will try to watch as many sporting events as possible from NBA, football, baseball, cricket, Formula One and MMA as well as tennis and rugby.

For me, these hobbies have become sewn into my life and routine that I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

I learned from your father 8 years ago that your favorite series is The West Wing. What’s your favorite character in the series and why?

I know the West Wing can’t be accessed in Thailand but to familiarize people with the show, it’s essentially one of the greatest shows ever written. Aaron Sorkin is a visionary with craft and wit. It is about the staff and presidency of a fictional Democratic president in a modern setting in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is sort of an analogy to Bill Clinton’s term as president as the fictional president Bartlett is a moderate Democrat. The show has so many countless storylines but what appealed to me was the dialogue and characters which have become very real to me, human people who are flawed but logical and loyal. 

My favorite character is Toby Ziegeler, the White House Director of Communications. His character is very self-deprecating, sarcastic and combative. I enjoyed his chemistry with the other characters and found him very humorous. What drew me to him was how he acts as a mentor but also as a devil’s advocate for many characters, even President Bartlett. He is the sort of person that is inquisitive and very bold, able to formulate ideas and speeches from scratch which I can’t help but admire. His speeches are very well composed.  

Your father must have taught you a lot of things. What would be the one advice you pass forward to young generations in Thailand? 

I think for this politically active and energetic generation of youth, the paramount thing is to be patient and not rush to conclusions. Evaluate and analyze the facts before making judgements. Better yet, it is okay to be open-minded, non-judgemental and objective. Be free of prejudice and always be willing to help. Empathy is something that goes under appreciated so make use of that because it will help you in life. 

There are waves of Thai young generations moving abroad. What do you think of that? What would you want to address to your generation?

I know there are people that are still anxious and not optimistic for the  future. I think if they want to move out, it is their decision and we should respect that. They want to find better opportunities for themselves and their families. All I can say is that it is best to be patient for the long term and let your determination reward you later. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Politics. What do you think about it? What have you learned and see having a father working as a politician?

For me, I always tell my friends that Thai politics is a minefield and battlefield all in one. Stepping on the wrong ground can be very dangerous. To me, it’s like both a Greek tragedy and comedy all in one. There are some funny moments but there are moments that are very serious and life-changing. What I’ve learned from my dad’s tenure as a politician is that I have to look out for my own interests and that navigating the world of politics is a waiting game to see who cracks under pressure and who comes out on top as the victor. 

What matters most to you?

I am going to put it in the simplest terms – definitely family. Always prioritize family above all. They’re the ones that set me up for success.