The Kuomintang Meishi Western Branch held the 15th “Mother’s Love Appreciation Conference” at the Nanwan Qiao Education Center on May 10th (last Saturday), where it honored eight mothers who have quietly dedicated themselves to their families and communities. The atmosphere at the event was heartwarming and touching. The honored mothers included Wang Rongmei, Zhou Yanchun, Ju Naishou, Chen Peilan, Chen Furong, He Zhengcheng, Chen Ling, and Cai Xinling.
The event attracted over two hundred participants, with distinguished guests in attendance including Deputy Director Zhu Yongchang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Secretary Xu Caifeng of the Nanwan Qiao Education Center, as well as community leaders Lu Yuzhen, Lin Meilian, Mao Xiaoling, Chen Jianfen, Zhong Weijun, Wang Wei, Zheng Guangzhi, Chen Song, Cheng Wanli and their spouses, along with Paul Tsai and his spouse from United Sheetmetal, Inc, all coming together to join in this heartwarming celebration.
The program included karaoke, guzheng performance, singing and dancing, and drum performances, creating a lively and heartwarming atmosphere. Following this, accompanied by a master of ceremonies, the eight loving mothers walked slowly through a flower arch and onto the stage to receive their recognition, with family and friends offering flowers in tribute. Zhu Yongchang, Xu Caifeng, and committee member Song Zhen personally presented awards and joined everyone in cutting a cake to celebrate Mother’s Day.
In his speech, Zhu Yongchang emphasized the importance of Mother’s Day as a globally cherished holiday, highlighting the indispensable role mothers play in families and education, with Chinese culture valuing motherly love as a core value. He urged everyone to cherish the hard work and love of mothers, commending the branch for their longstanding tradition of honoring loving mothers, promoting filial piety, which holds profound significance. He even sang a song with Song Zhen, “Mother, You Are Truly Great,” adding a poignant touch to the atmosphere.
Representing the Nanwan Qiao Education Center, Xu Caifeng delivered a speech on behalf of Director Zhuang Yashu, extending warm Mother’s Day wishes to all present. She also took the opportunity to promote Taiwan government’s gender equality policies, encouraging shared household responsibilities and the practice of gender equality, emphasizing that household chores should be shared without distinction of gender. She also introduced the convenient functions and uses of the “iBridge Card” to attendees.
Committee member Song Zhen of the Meishi Western Branch mentioned that in its 55-year history, the branch has been organizing the “Mother’s Love Appreciation Conference” for 15 consecutive years, where eight representative mothers are recommended by various organizations each year to pass on the traditional Chinese value of filial piety and acknowledge the contributions of mothers to families, education, and communities.
One of the recognized mothers, President Wang Rongmei of the Lions Club in San Francisco, values family and Chinese traditional culture, actively engages in charity work, and is always willing to help others. She expressed that the greatest significance of the event is to teach children how to express love and gratitude to their mothers, hoping that love can extend from families to communities, making society a warmer place. She humbly mentioned that many who quietly dedicate themselves also deserve recognition, and she hopes to gather more loving force in the future to contribute to society and community together.
The youngest honored mother, Cai Xinling, is a teacher in the TCML Google Adult Advanced Class, who enthusiastically serves the overseas Chinese community and parents, especially single parents. She shared that as a single mother, she has been raising her daughter alone for nine years, making this recognition exceptionally meaningful.
She thanked her daughter, relatives, and the community for their support, and as a holder of a doctoral degree in education, she encouraged her daughter and more single-parent families to bravely move forward. “This honor belongs to every one of us who quietly contributes. I will continue to turn love into action, give back to society, and let more people feel warmth and hope.”