On December 14th, the Taiwan Cultural and Sports Association of Northern California held a Thanksgiving banquet and inauguration ceremony for the new president, Lin Hongda, at the South Bay Overseas Chinese Educational Center. The association announced that next year’s Children’s Festival will take place on August 23 at Cupertino Memorial Park in Cupertino.
The event attracted nearly two hundred guests, including Director Lai Ming-chi and his wife Yun Wenzhen from the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco, Director Zhuang Yashu of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Educational Center, Education Group Leader Guo Huizhen, Mayor Zhao Liangfang of Cupertino, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commissioners Li Hanwen, Li Wenxiong, Wei Dezhen, and many other community leaders.
Outgoing association president Zhang Zhiyang expressed that the success of the Children’s Festival was not the result of one person’s efforts but a collective achievement. He thanked all the volunteers who dedicated their time to the festival and paid respect to past presidents and predecessors. He expressed his hope that through the Children’s Festival, Taiwan will be seen by more countries, promote cultural connections, and invite more people to join as volunteers.
Director Lai Ming-chi thanked everyone for their hard work over the years for the Children’s Festival and mentioned that the San Francisco Children’s Festival ranks highly in terms of scale and participation numbers, showcasing the success of Taiwan’s public diplomacy.
Director Zhuang Yashu stated that the International Children’s Festival is a significant event in the Golden Gate Bay Area, attracting twenty thousand participants this year and showcasing the charm of Taiwan’s traditional and technological aspects. She thanked the members of the cultural and sports association for their hard work in successfully marketing Taiwan.
After a speech by the association’s Chief Advisor Fu Hongyu, the handover ceremony for the association’s president took place. Director Zhuang Yashu read out congratulatory and thank-you notes from the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commissioner of the Republic of China, Hsu Chia-ching, and both outgoing and incoming presidents were honored.
The newly appointed president, Lin Hongda, stated that next year’s Children’s Festival will incorporate more Taiwanese culture, invite more international groups to participate, and continue showcasing Taiwanese cuisine and children’s play features. He called on all sectors to join the volunteer team, collectively promoting Taiwanese culture and demonstrating soft power to let the world see Taiwan.
The event featured a variety of activities, including painter Lu Youming’s art exhibition, businesses showcasing coffee and beauty products, and offering free cotton candy, attracting many children and participants to stop and enjoy. The event included ceremonies presenting volunteer appreciation certificates and sponsor thank-you notes, as well as a cake-cutting celebration segment. Exciting performances included Yun Wenzhen’s heartfelt singing of “Remember,” Wing Chun performances, Thunder Dance Show, “Taiwan Brave” leading a dance, and the highly anticipated raffle draw. The atmosphere was lively throughout the event, with the outstanding performances winning rounds of applause from the audience.