President Ma Ying-jeou met with the recipients of the 13th Love of Lives medals and their families at the Presidential Office on the morning of May 28. The president expressed his greatest admiration for the winners of the medals, who have shown a commitment to pushing the limits, exhibiting a love for life, and maximizing the value of life. At the same time, the president also expressed his hopes that the people of Taiwan will express a passion in life and embrace the world with love, thus creating the possibility for countless miracles.
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the founding of the Chou Ta-kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation. The president said he himself is an enthusiastic volunteer for the organization. Chou Chin-hua and Guo Ying-lan, the founders of the foundation and parents of Chou Ta-kuan (1987-1997), have helped to spread love and compassion all over the world through the combined efforts of over 300,000 volunteers worldwide. The Love of Lives medal has become a focus of attention in many countries, and some have dubbed it the "Nobel Prize for Life," he said.
President Ma said that in addition to Taiwan, this year's winners come from Canada, Australia, Singapore, Japan, the United States, and mainland China, symbolizing that love for life knows no boundaries. The actions of these individuals demonstrate the value of "being upbeat with oneself, and uplifting to others," he noted. The efforts of these people constitute an important force in promoting the advancement of society, the president said.
The president introduced the achievements of each of this year's winners. Janine Maxwell, from Canada, was originally a prominent member of the business community before establishing an organization dedicated to assisting orphans in Africa. Meillian Hwang of the United States suffers from cerebral palsy, but that has not prevented her from living a colorful life. She has shown unparalleled perseverance in obtaining a Ph.D. in Art. Shoko Toyota of Japan, who suffers from hereditary rheumatoid arthritis, is only 96 centimeters tall. She is much like Taiwan's Liu Hsia (1942-2003, founder of Eden Social Welfare Foundation), who suffered from the same condition, and who had always maintained an optimistic attitude despite the challenges she faced. Dr. Doris Brougham, a Christian missionary who has preached the gospel in Taiwan for the past 60 years, has made big contributions to education and public welfare in Taiwan and has assisted many underprivileged groups. She is more qualified than just about anyone to be called a Taiwanese. Dr. Li Ming, 89 years old and the respected "granny Li" for more than 100,000 alumni of Ling Tung University and Ling Tung High School, is a legendary figure in the history of vocational education in Taiwan. Liu Kuei-hsi, a lady from mainland China who has fought four kinds of cancer, insists on fighting for the welfare of the disadvantaged. Gregory Burns, from Singapore, is a "superman of life." Struck with polio as a child, he has worked through many challenges and frustrations to win four gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics and the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. Wang Xiao-yu, from Australia, has overcome autism to obtain a pilot's license, and works to help the disadvantaged. Meanwhile, winners of the award from Taiwan include Shih Ching-wen, who has shown the world how to succeed in life despite being blind; Dr. Hu Chi-tan was the first to discover that the main cause for liver cancer metastasis was the activation of the "snail gene"; Huang Ming-chen, who has visited all of Taiwan's prisons and guided prisoners with compassion; Dr. Chen Yueh-chiu, who has overcome cancer; Li Chiu-liang, who has promoted organic foods; and Liu Li-hung, who is known as the angel that passes along love. All of the individuals, the president said, are outstanding examples of people who demonstrate that life is priceless and that there is love among mankind.
President Ma commented that while Chou Ta-kuan passed away 13 years ago, he left many wonderful poems behind. President Ma recited one entitled Plant a Tree:
Since that Spring when my right leg grew a tumor,
we planted a tree every day.
In hospitals we planted trees of health,
in churches we planted trees of love,
in schools we planted trees of hope.
One day,
We will also plant ourselves as a tree,
generations planting on and on….
will grow and become forests of health,
will grow and become forests of love,
will grow and become forests of hope.
The president said that Chou Ta-kuan's heart embraced high aspirations. Each year the foundation holds a series of public welfare activities focusing on the love of life. He said that this poem Plant a Tree puts into practice Chou's philosophies, enabling love to grow in Taiwan and around the world.
President Ma stressed that the people of Taiwan embody the core values of integrity, kindness, diligence, honesty, enterprising spirit, and tolerance in exhibiting an ethnic Chinese culture with Taiwan characteristics. This has enabled us to continue to stand firm in our principles in our immigrant society. He said that the story of Ms. Chen Shu-chu, a philanthropist who lives in Taitung and sells vegetables, has been reported widely and has attracted quite a bit of international attention. In fact, he said, the recipients of the award in attendance today also exhibit the values that Ms. Chen has demonstrated. President Ma expressed his appreciation to the Chou Ta-kuan Foundation and other public welfare and charitable organizations in Taiwan for creating Taiwan's "miracle of love." He said he hopes that the deeds of these people will help to provide an inspiration and positive force, enabling love to impact Taiwan and to spread throughout the world.
The winners of the award and their families were accompanied by Chou Ta-kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation founder Chou Chin-hua to the Presidential Office to meet President Ma. Also in attendance was Presidential Deputy Secretary-General Lai Feng-wei.