It has become a funeral saga. Even after the cremation, drama continues over the division of the ashes of "Neng Mengjai." Unexpectedly, it turned into a social issue because the ashes of the famous comedian remained at the temple 5-6 days after the cremation, causing serious controversy since they were kept in a box.
Recently, "JJ Yuwachat," the second ex-wife and mother of "Nong Penny," together with close friend "Mangpor Cholticha," opened up for the first time on the Talk Zab Show on One 31 channel after reaching an agreement to divide the ashes into two parts and having them scattered at sea. They also addressed public questions about the division of comedian Neng Mengjai's estate.
How do you feel now, having experienced not only the loss but also various dramas?
JJ said, "Now I can smile a bit because we did everything we could. We took his ashes to scatter at sea."
Mangpor said, "As a friend, I feel relieved because the ashes have been scattered. But I still worry about my niece, Nong Penny, who is only 13. After the funeral, she remains very sad and rarely talks to anyone."
Did you know beforehand that he was ill?
JJ replied, "I had seen it on TV and even talked to Mangpor saying Neng looked thinner and wondered if he was sick. But I didn’t ask him directly because I was busy working. I only found out he was ill 4-5 days before he passed. Once I knew, I first gave him encouragement because the important thing for his illness was a good spirit. I sent him a message to encourage him, but he didn’t reply, probably busy with work."
And you learned the news again on the day he passed away?
JJ said, "I woke up on the 19th after finishing work in Bangkok and planned to return to Phitsanulok to pick up my child and then bring her to Bangkok to see her father during the school break. But when I woke up, someone messaged me saying Neng had died. It was heart-wrenching that I couldn’t help him (voice trembling). The hardest part was that I didn’t dare to tell my child her father had passed. I called Penny’s grandmother to ask how to tell her. I planned to tell her to visit her father and quickly pack her things. I was afraid she’d be hurt. But Penny messaged me saying she saw on the news that her father had died."
Was there something during your conversation with Penny that choked you up?
JJ said, "She hung up on me and then messaged back, 'Please don’t take my father away yet. I want to hug him one last time.' When she arrived at the temple, she told her father, 'I’m sorry, Dad.' Because he had sent a message saying, 'Call me sometimes,' but as a teenager, she was busy with friends and didn’t call him. That was his last message. She felt very guilty and wanted to apologize. When she got to the temple, I could tell she was trying to hold back tears."
Looking back, because Neng once told his daughter, 'Be strong, don’t be weak. You must be a strong woman,' you could see she wouldn’t sob openly but her eyes were red. When she had a chance to ask for forgiveness from her father, she said, 'I’m sorry I didn’t call you back.'
Mangpor said, "When we heard the news, we arrived at the temple around 3 p.m. and waited for my niece."
How was your relationship like when you were husband and wife?
JJ said, "We were married for 17 years, having dated since university and separated only 4 years ago."
But some people questioned, saying, 'After they separated, why is she doing this? What does she want?'
Mangpor said, "We saw that but didn’t care much because we knew why our friend was there. We let people talk. After the funeral, drama happened with posts saying, 'The funeral is over, stop pretending.' We were confused about who they meant until someone told us the edited post had a note saying 'second ex-wife,' which was our friend. So we had to defend her."
Did it feel like a knockout punch?
Mangpor said, "We knew our friend had good intentions. I posted to explain things point by point. That day, someone announced on the microphone, 'Interview JJ,' but our friend slipped out of the hall."
JJ said, "I think it’s not my place. I came to bring my child to pay respects and to help with the final forgiveness ceremony."
But some said to Mangpor, "It’s not your business. Why are you posting?"
Mangpor said, "We’ve been friends for over 10 years. I want to ask back, if you had someone you loved, like JJ who is alone (hugging), and that day when I posted, I didn’t even consult her. I wanted her to stay quiet. I just wanted people who were there to explain. Also, the other side posted things we didn’t understand, like why I had to sit next to the daughter all the time for the cameras. We were confused. She’s only 13 and it’s her child."
How did you feel seeing Mangpor defend you?
JJ said, "I was surprised and messaged her. I didn’t expect her to defend me so much. Honestly, I intended to overlook it because I knew why I came."
Peggy said, "The journalists were harsh that day. I watched as they interviewed the current and former wife, standing stiffly. It’s understandable that it’s hard to accept, but you have to understand she is the mother of the child. They were together a long time; the present is the present, and no one can erase that."
I heard that at the funeral, JJ tried to avoid sitting in the VIP seats?
JJ said, "I sat quietly in a corner for guests, finding my own space and doing whatever I could to help."
Baipor said, "We saw JJ walking around welcoming guests. Many were from the comedy industry and knew JJ already."
On the day of the cremation, I heard Penny cried very hard?
JJ said, "It was the hardest crying I’ve ever seen from her. I stood watching from afar. She was with Guitar (her older sister), looking at their father’s face one last time. She was very sad. As a mother, I felt tight in my chest and encouraged my child not to dwell on it. I told her her father was at peace and to remember he loved her very much."
Mangpor said, "I also encouraged her, telling her her father was no longer in pain and was at peace. I told her to take good care of herself and her mother."
JJ added, "Recently, she’s been with friends but sometimes gets sad, looking at photo albums from when she was little, secretly alone."
When did you learn about the latest drama over the ashes?
JJ said, "Yuri, Ball’s wife, called me asking if I knew where Neng’s ashes were. I said where, and she said at the temple, though it had been 7-8 days. Yuri happened to be at the temple making merit because she received luck from Neng. We cried, feeling sorry for him."
Yuri told us to go to the temple and take the ashes to perform religious rites properly. I dropped everything and posted to clients because it was unbearable. I cried and felt sorry for Neng. If I could help, I was willing. I planned to drive to Bangkok to retrieve the ashes and conduct the ceremony in Phitsanulok."
Previously, we had talked with Neng’s sister, agreeing to respect the current wife managing things, while we would just make merit using photos and his name."
Mangpor said, "My family is of Chinese descent, and when leaving ashes at the temple, we must agree on where to keep them properly labeled with names."
What is the latest update on the ashes?
JJ said, "They have now been divided. One part was taken for the traditional ceremony and scattering at sea for peace of mind. The other part was given to the current wife. The teeth were kept for the children. Guitar wanted to keep some of her father’s bones in a locket as a keepsake. When opened, you could see teeth, which are very small, and many thought this was what Neng wanted his children to keep."
Looking back at the day we retrieved the ashes, I went but didn’t want to get out of the car to avoid further drama. I wanted Neng to go peacefully and for this to end as soon as possible."
Was there a rainbow during the sea scattering?
Mangpor said, "The photo of the rainbow was taken by my boyfriend on the boat, perhaps symbolizing he went peacefully. There was also a clip where you could hear a 'yay yay' sound. I thought that was Neng’s voice."
What is the status of the estate division?
JJ said, "As I said from the start, I didn’t come to the funeral for anything but to forgive and bring my child to pay respects. We never discussed dividing the inheritance because I have no stake in it."
I still insist that on the funeral day, when I knocked on the coffin, I told him that I came to forgive and didn’t want anything from his own funeral. If I can help, it’s just to help him get more work so he can earn money to support the child."
Recently, Ball Chernyim volunteered to support our child’s education through university?
JJ said, "That touched me deeply. He called me from the start, saying to keep working and not stress. The money earned should be saved for the child’s pocket money, while he and Yuri will handle tuition until graduation. He said whoever Neng loved, he loves too. I want to thank Ball and Yuri for taking care of Neng, me, and the children from youth to now (hands in prayer)."
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