2023-08-01
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"Father is like a mountain!" Mayor Shiow-Yen Lu said that the father is the breadwinner in the family, responsible for supporting the family and raising and educating the children. If the children perform well, the father is proud of them, and when the children suffer setbacks, the father should also be by their side to enlighten them. The father is the most reliable mountain in the eyes of children. "The mayor will do every gesture you ask me to do!" Mayor Lu said with a smile. She took pictures with model fathers throughout the afternoon. Whether it was to make a gesture of finger love or funny actions, she would do. The mayor hopes everyone will leave a photo that will last a lifetime.
Mayor Lu said that the city government would select and praise model fathers every year when Father's Day is approaching. This year, a total of 700 fathers in 625 villages of Taichung City won the award, which is not easy to get this honor. Moreover, after coordination, 29 districts carried out the commendation events because some model fathers are older to avoid the fatigue of traveling. Today, nearly 400 model fathers came to the city hall to accept the mayor's commendation, and many entire family members presented. Each village was responsible for this selection work. The district offices evaluated and selected the model fathers and then reported to the city government. The mayor also expressed gratitude to the chiefs of the villages in the districts for their presence in accompanying the model father to receive the award.
The Social Affairs Bureau indicated that among the model fathers, 67-year-old Xue-Meng Wu in the West District lost his hearing because of illness when he was young. However, he embarked on a road of artistic creation in an age without professional special education. He has won several awards in domestic painting and calligraphy competitions, held personal Chinese ink wash creation exhibitions, and spared no effort in teaching sign language. Mr. Wu was honored with the "Best Host Award" in the 34th Golden Bell Awards for educational and cultural programs, making him the first hearing-challenged person to receive this prestigious award.
The Social Affairs Bureau further pointed out that Jin-Tang Yan, a 76-year-old from Daan District, followed his father’s footsteps in carpentry after graduating from elementary school to support his family. Later, he turned to mechanical production and obtained a patent for the invention of the electric fan speed controller. His research and development of food constant temperature drying technology has also established a good reputation in the industry. Father Yan is usually enthusiastic about public welfare, and his neighbors respect him. He also passes on his dedication and drive to his children.
Father Peng-Yi Lin, 73, resides in the South District. For decades, he has been involved in the sale and purchase of heavy machinery parts and has dedicated himself to charity services. During his tenure as the chairman of the temple, he donated ambulances and organized many public welfare activities to help vulnerable families. In 2019, he was a representative of admirable people and exemplary deeds. He has deeply influenced his children and also made their contributions to society.
The Social Affairs Bureau explained that it has set up many publicity booths at the event site today. These booths include the emergency rescue system for the elderly living alone in the Senior Citizens Welfare Division, the prevention and treatment of domestic violence and sexual abuse, child protection and sexual harassment in Taichung City Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center, the priority procurement of products from welfare institutions or sheltered workshops for people with physical and mental disabilities by the Persons’ with disabilities Welfare Division, the voluntary service of the Civil Organizations Division, the environmentally sustainable development of the Planning Division, the social participation and clean government promotion of the Civil Service Ethics Office, and the parent-child breakthrough activities in the parent-child centers of Shigang and Heping Districts. These booths aim to help the participating model fathers and citizens better understand the services provided by the Social Bureau.
According to the Social Affairs Bureau, the city government is actively promoting the expansion of public child care services, with a focus on increasing the number of public child care and parent-child centers, parent-child centers, and increasing maternity pensions to reduce the burden on families. Besides, it provides the best-used care card for longevity in the country, subsidizes seniors' health insurance, expands the number of senior academies, and establishes community care centers to promote seniors' health. The bureau hopes the old and young in Taichung will have a better sense of happiness.
City Councilors Shi-Zhou Liu, Ai-Shan Chiu, Ting-Wei Luo, Wen-Jie Lee, Yu-Rong Chen, Pei-Han Lin, Ya-Hui Chen, Social Affairs Bureau Director Ching-Chih Liao, Civil Affairs Bureau Director Shi-Wei Wu, City Councilors He-Shu Jiang, Zhen-Xian Chen, Wen-Zheng Chen's Service Team and many district chiefs all participated in today's grand event.
