The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York responded to the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by hosting the “Island Harmony: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration Evening” on the evening of April 30 at the office. Colleagues and family members from the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the United Nations performed traditional Tuvaluan dances. Pingtung County Magistrate, Chou Chun-mi, personally led the Hengchun folk music troupe from Taiwan to perform the folk music drama “Sounds of the Peninsula,” which received thunderous applause.
Director Li Guangzhang of the office welcomed everyone by stating, “Taiwan, amidst the vibrant and diverse center of New York City, has long played an active and significant role, not only enthusiastically sharing Taiwan’s unique culture and traditions but also enriching our common identity.”
Magistrate Chou Chun-mi expressed in his speech that the Pingtung County government has long been dedicated to inheriting and promoting Hengchun folk music. He was delighted to bring the creatively interpreted folk music drama to the United States, hoping to showcase the most penetrating Hengchun folk music to the world.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a festival celebrating the culture of Pacific Island nations. Kepa, a performer of the Tuvaluan traditional dance “Melemele,” explained that the dance depicts the beauty and unique culture, rich traditions, and outstanding people of Tuvalu.
Huang Queyin, a 76-year-old Hengchun folk artist, traveled abroad for the first time. She said the character Ah Chun in the play represents her younger self, “I am very happy to come to New York and perform my story for friends from around the world.” Pan Youran, a seventh-grade student at Manchuria Junior High School, has been learning the moon guitar and folk music for 4 years, practicing for an hour each day. He expressed his excitement about coming to the United States, with the whole school knowing about his trip.
The event was attended by a gathering of guests from allied countries including Saint Vincent, Tuvalu, Guatemala, Palau, Belize, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Saint Christopher, and like-minded nations, along with consular corps and representatives to the United Nations, artistic and cultural figures from Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Asian Society, Korean Association, scholars from Columbia University, and about a hundred media personalities.