TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung City Government held a Father’s Day event on Friday to honor 26 exemplary fathers for their dedication to their families and contributions to society, CNA reported.
In Taiwan, Father's Day is celebrated on Aug. 8 because the date sounds like the Mandarin word for dad (“baba”).
The event, held at the city’s Cultural Center, began with a performance by a youth orchestra comprised of individuals with autism. Following the show, the children of the honored fathers presented flowers to their dads to express their gratitude.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) attended the event and presented plaques inscribed with “Model Father” to the awardees. He said that nowadays both parents often work and the roles of fathers and mothers increasingly overlap.
He also noted that future Father’s Day honors may also include women, reflecting the city’s commitment to gender equality. The city government will continue to expand family support programs to help parents ease the challenges of raising children, Chen added.
The most senior honoree this year was 96-year-old Tseng Kun-chuan (曾坤泉), who built his career from the ground up and helped his siblings improve their living conditions. He has also been involved in local development and community service for many years.
Lin Chin-hsing (林進興), 70, has devoted his retirement to caring for his 95-year-old mother and his ailing wife. He also adopted the child of a neighboring couple with physical and mental disabilities.
Yao Shui-fu (姚水福), also 70, was recognized for his social contributions. Though not Indigenous, Yao has lived in an Indigenous village in Kaohsiung’s Jiaxian District for many years.
In 2009, a typhoon claimed the lives of eight of Yao’s family members. Despite this, he played a key role in post-disaster reconstruction and continues to promote Indigenous culture in the community.
The youngest recipient, 58-year-old Lo Sheng-feng (羅勝豐), cares for his child with intellectual disabilities and has been an advocate for special education and disability awareness.
