2026/5/18
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day may be several months apart on the calendar, but a parent’s love for their family can never be divided.
On May 9, Director General Jason Ma and Mrs. Anne Yang attended the highly meaningful "Parents' Day Celebration" at the invitation of the Joint Chinese University Alumni Association of Southern California.
During the ceremony, DG Ma touchingly shared the hidden longing carried by every diplomat. Spending most of their lives moving between different countries, it is incredibly difficult for diplomats to be with their parents on holidays like this. He noted that many senior community members, who ventured abroad to build a new life years ago, undoubtedly experienced this same feeling of missing their parents back home. All the mothers, fathers, and grandparents honored today are the most solid anchors for overseas Taiwanese families.
Amidst the sentiment, DG Ma couldn't help but sigh playfully. He shared that despite being a Director General, his ranking in his family of four is probably 6th or 7th: "Perhaps slightly above the , but definitely below the tissue paper." Therefore, he thinks "Parents' Day" is a brilliant invention, as it finally allows him to ride his wife Anne’s coattails and actually get to celebrate a holiday. This heartfelt confession not only brought joyous laughter to the honored mothers but also resonated deeply with many men in the audience, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers of, "That's exactly like me!"
From the century-long, selfless dedication of centenarian Ms. Zeng Qiuping to the hard work of every parent supporting a family in a foreign land, the stories were deeply moving. The event was also graced by VIPs including U.S. Representative Judy Chu, California Assemblymember Mike Fong, and National Policy Advisor Yee Phong (Alan) Thian.
TECO in Los Angeles wishes all parents around the world a Happy Parents’ Day! May you be blessed with joy, health, and peace.
