Italian Taiwanese priest honored for contribution to cultural exchanges

Italian Taiwanese priest honored for contribution to cultural exchanges

2023-03-29

Catholic priest Gian Carlo Michelini is the newest recipient of the prestigious honor, the Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy. The priest has lived in Taiwan for six decades, and he’s the founder of the iconic Lan Yang Dancers in Yilan County. On Wednesday, Michelini was decorated by Italy’s representative in Taiwan, on behalf of the Italian president.

Gian Carlo Michelini
Priest
I have lived here for 60 years. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Taiwan. Our goal is to take Taiwan’s culture to every country, so that more countries love Taiwan.

Davide Giglio
Italian representative to Taiwan
You have really brought together Italy and Taiwan, at so many levels that, it’s a small token of appreciation. I think it’s important to give to you in recognition of your service.

Michelini came to Taiwan at the age of 29. Soon after, he founded the dance troupe in Yilan’s Luodong Township. The group has since toured all over the world and even became the first troupe to dance before the pope. Michelini also helped to create the Yilan International Children’s Folklore and Folkgame Festival. In 2017, he made history by becoming the first foreign national to get Taiwan citizenship through his cultural and artistic contributions.

創"蘭陽舞蹈團"深耕宜蘭神父秘克琳獲頒爵士勳章

2023-03-29

宜蘭羅東的在地舞團「蘭陽舞蹈團」，將台灣文化透過舞蹈藝術傳遞到國際，創始人是來自義大利的秘克琳神父，他在台灣深耕一甲子，曾經帶著舞團到世界各國巡演，對台義文化交流的貢獻，受到肯定，榮獲義大利總統頒發的爵士勳章。

[[神父秘克琳]]
“我住在這裡60年了，藉這個機會謝謝台灣。把台灣的文化，帶到每個國家，讓很多國家愛台灣。”

[[義大利經貿文化推廣辦事處代表紀大為]]
“秘克琳神父致力於拉近台灣和義大利的距離，在這麼多的級別當中，這是表示感謝的小小象徵，但我覺得這很重要，把這個頒發給你，感謝你的服務。”

秘克琳神父29歲來台，在宜蘭羅東成立蘭陽舞蹈團，帶著舞團出國巡演，甚至成為全球第一支在教宗面前獻舞的團體。在宜蘭縣1996年開辦童玩節時，他也是重要推手，透過人脈，大力邀請外國團體來台表演，2017年，他也正式取得台灣籍，是第一位以文化藝術貢獻取得身分證的外籍人士。

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Tsai sets off on 10-day tour of Central American allies

President Tsai Ing-wen has set off on a 10-day tour of Central American allies, with high-profile stopovers in New York and Los Angeles. Tensions are expected to flare in New York City, as pro-China groups gear up to protest the visit. But Taiwan’s expat community is preparing to fight back and to roll out the red carpet for the president.

President Tsai Ing-wen led a group of officials in a ceremony at the National Revolutionary Martyr’s shrine. She left the venue accompanied by National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo and Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung.

After three years with no trips abroad, the president boarded a plane at midday, kicking off a 10-day visit to Taiwan’s Central American allies.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
As a democracy, Taiwan is resolutely committed to defending the values of freedom and democracy. We will continue being a force for good in the international community, feeding virtuous cycles and strengthening the resilience of global democracies. Taiwan is a key force in the global economy and will continue pursuing prosperity together with its allies. In the world, Taiwan is Taiwan. Making Taiwan go international and bringing the world to Taiwan is an important goal for our administration. External forces will not shake our determination to go global. We are collected and confident. We will not give in or provoke others.

Tsai’s trip includes a transit in New York. Last time she was in New York in 2019, the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification organized protests in the city. This time around, the organization held a press conference in Chinatown to decry Tsai’s visit.

CCPPNR member
Tsai Ing-wen sneaks into the U.S., destroying the development of cross-strait peace. We resolutely oppose any form of Taiwan independence.

Chuang Chen-hui
DPP US East Coast Chapter
I think they are trying to make use of this opportunity, as nobody from Taiwan has come in the past few years due to COVID. So it’s a chance for them to act. The U.S. is paying a lot of attention to this visit by President Tsai Ing-wen. This was originally just a matter for the Manhattan precinct, but now even police from the 109th precinct, from Flushing, have been contacted. I asked them, and they said that their headquarters were watching the situation closely.

The New York Police Department will be on guard for potential scuffles. The Overseas Community Affairs Council also has an ace up its sleeve.

Yang Cheng-jung
Overseas Community Affairs Council
Some people will bring megaphones. So if they bump into large groups of protesters making a lot of noise, they will have a way to fight back. Overseas compatriots from many cities are really looking forward to the visit. There will be a bus coming up from Washington, D.C. and many people will be driving six to seven hours from Pittsburgh expressly to take part in the banquet.

With Tsai on her way to the U.S., preparations from both supporters and detractors are in full swing.

2023-03-29

Ma says ‘we Chinese’ at Nanjing Massacre memorial

Meanwhile in China, Former President Ma Ying-jeou is on the third day of his closely watched Chinese tour. He made a stop at the Nanjing Massacre memorial hall, to pay tribute to the victims. The former president was visibly emotional after his visit, telling reporters that, quote, "Chinese people" on both sides of the strait must learn from the past and bravely resist foreign aggression.

On the third day of his China tour, former President Ma Ying-jeou made a stop at the Nanjing Massacre memorial hall, to lay a flower for the victims.

Clad in a black tie and holding a white flower, Ma was grave as he observed a moment of silence. Standing beside him was Chen Yuanfeng, deputy director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, with whom he exchanged only brief pleasantries. After laying his flower for the victims, Ma entered the memorial hall. Taiwanese media were barred from filming, but when he emerged, it was clear that the historical materials on display had made a deep emotional impact.

Chinese reporter
Mr. Ma, what struck you the most about your visit to the memorial today?

Ma Ying-jeou
Former president
I have never been as so profoundly affected as I was today. We Chinese must learn from this war of resistance against Japan. As Chinese people, regardless of which side of the strait we’re on, we must bravely resist foreign aggression. During the course of our fight against the Japanese, we suffered tremendous humiliations.

Ma twice referred to himself as Chinese in his remarks, and he was addressed as “Mr. Ma” by Chinese media. Notably, local officials made a point of restricting media questioning.

Chinese official
These four reporters will ask questions. No one else, all right?

Chinese reporter
Foreign media predict that the two sides of the strait may engage in conflict, and that they may reunify through force. What do you think the two sides of the strait should do?

Ma Ying-jeou
Former president
The two sides should strive to avoid war and to seek peace.

He’s long touted his Taiwan upbringing, but on this China tour, Ma has yet to mention the word “Taiwan.” His China-leaning rhetoric has drawn scrutiny back home, with critics weighing the implications.

2023-03-29

Art exhibition in Taipei explores war preparation

Taiwanese artist Chang Ling is currently holding a solo exhibition in Taipei that explores war-related topics like emergency response measures, daily necessities and survival through a series of paintings and installations. Our very own Stephany Yang spoke to Chang to find out more about his works.

Walk into the exhibition and you will see a series of paintings and installations. This oil painting is titled "War Preparation - Unreached Ruins 2." It is Chang
’s interpretation of what war may look like. He drew fighter jets, buildings that have been bombed, and ruins.

Chang Ling
Artist
What this work is expressing is an unreached ruin. That is to say, ruins usually exist because of something that has already happened. Something became ruined because of an event that occurred. But within an unreached imagination, it is not about recording the history of the past, rather it is an imagining of a foreseeable future. I drew fighter planes flying by, some buildings that have been bombed, and groups of people dancing among the ruins.

There is also a series of works by Chang called “Pseudo Arrogance.” The project comprises old black-and-white photos that Chang collected over 20 years ago, showcasing what everyday life was like in Taiwan in the 1940s. Some of the photos were found in old military dependents’ homes, and some were passed down by his own family. The works explore colonization.

Chang Ling
Artist
I have been collecting these old photos for several years. Many of them were collected after people threw them away. I took old photos, which were probably from the 1930s and 1940s, and then drew on top of them. After drawing, I would shoot the photo again, then zoom in on it. On top of a historical overlap, my subjective copy is on top of the historical photos of the past, thus forming a multi-layered and more complex expression of ideas.

Chang studied in France in 1996 and developed a high interest in economics, politics, culture, and public affairs. After returning to Taiwan in 2005, he began creating various works that explore his home, Taiwan. In his latest solo exhibition in Taipei, Chang created paintings and installations to examine the challenges of war, and to delve into topics such as war preparation, emergency responses, daily necessities and supplies, and survival.

Chang Ling
Artist
What I want to express through this exhibition is that there is a sense of urgency in the world today, due to geopolitical tensions that may cause various countries to face imminent crises. What kind of crisis will Taiwan face? This is a very important question to address. I think that as an artist, it is my social responsibility to express these things through an exhibition.

The exhibition will be on at the MoCa Studio in Taipei until May 7.

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Polish YouTuber Anna shows off the everyday beauty of life in Taiwan

Today we meet Anna, a Polish resident of Taiwan, who is showing the world what everyday life in Taiwan is like. Her popular YouTube channel features ubiquitous Taiwanese sights like convenience stores, grocery markets and breakfast shops. She’s been living in Taiwan for 15 years, and is raising her family here. She says she has no plans to return to Europe anymore. But her first contact with Taiwan was when she was just 5 years old.

With nothing but an ordinary cellphone and a pair of Bluetooth headphones, Anna can produce a YouTube video anywhere.

Anna’s channel features videos from all over the country, on topics ranging from cultural differences between Poland and Taiwan, to the minutiae of daily life or major events.

From taking her parents on a tour of Taiwanese breakfast diners…

…to enjoying the most authentic stir-fry restaurants…

… and grocery shopping at traditional markets.

It’s not an exaggeration to say Anna is an alternative tourist ambassador for Taiwan. In front of her lens, the quotidian routines of Taiwanese people become a fascinating novelty. And many viewers wonder how her Chinese can be so fluent.

Anna
Polish YouTuber
I studied Chinese at university. I was always very interested in learning Chinese. I was thinking about whether I wanted to go back to Europe to be a teacher. But living in Taiwan is very nice, so I decided to start running this channel based on Taiwanese topics.

Anna came to Taiwan 15 years ago. Her link with the country began when she was just a child, with a weather report.

Anna
Polish youtuber
When I was small, I was watching the weather forecast with my grandpa, and the last place in the report was Taipei. I told my grandpa “I am Taiwanese!” He thought it was just childish prattle, he didn’t think anything of it. I never thought I would really achieve this kind of dream!

But now her childhood assertion is true! She’s raising her family in Taiwan, with the full support of her parents.

Anna
Polish youtuber
Every month my dad sends me a spreadsheet showing me how well my channel performed this month. He sends me that table, it’s so touching.

Now that Anna is settled in Taiwan, her story with the country still has many chapters waiting to be written.

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Czech speaker signs 11 MOUs for deeper ties with Taiwan

The speaker of the Czech Parliament’s lower house, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, has wrapped up her five-day stay in Taiwan. Just before her departure, she signed 11 memorandums of understanding to pave the way for closer collaboration with Taiwan. She also signed a parliamentary friendship pact with Legislative Speaker You Si-kun. Speaking at the foreign ministry, the Czech speaker hailed her visit as a success, and said her country would continue to pursue deeper ties with Taiwan.

Czech Speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun stand side by side. Taiwan and the Czech Republic on Wednesday signed a friendship cooperation agreement between their parliaments in a display of unity between democracies.

Marketa Pekarova Adamova
Czech speaker
Although this trip to Taiwan, our Taiwan mission, so to speak has been fruitful, the fight for universal values such as freedom, democracy and human rights does not end here, and will never end. I also firmly believe that we will both continue to strive to defend our shared values and to deepen our bilateral relationship.

You Si-kun
Legislative speaker
Putin and Xi declared that they were driving changes not seen in 100 years, in a challenge to the current world order. This agreement shows the concrete steps we are taking to counter the axis of evil.

The Czech speaker said that her five-day visit to Taiwan had been very fruitful. All in all, Taiwan and the Czech Republic signed 11 memorandums of understanding to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Pekarova Adamova explained that she had carefully chosen her attire for the event to reflect the colors of the flags of her own country and Taiwan.

Marketa Pekarova Adamova
Czech speaker
I chose red, because I know that’s the main color of the flag of Taiwan. Czechia’s flag also has red. And also, for people in Taiwan, red is the color of happiness and success. Direct flights with Prague will start operating in July, so people can come to the Czech Republic and do some shopping.

The Czech speaker promoted a new direct flight between her country and Taiwan. She again voiced hope for closer bilateral exchanges in the future, stressing that the Czech Republic stood firmly with Taiwan.

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Italy’s representative to Taiwan talks design ties

For the first time, Taiwan and Italy have jointly organized an exhibition in Taiwan to showcase Italy’s latest award-winning designs. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the Italian Representative to Taiwan Davide Giglio to learn more about the latest design exchanges between Taiwan and Italy.

The Italian Compasso d’Oro Design Award was established in 1954. It is the oldest and most prestigious in the design industry. So far, there are only 379 works that have won this top honor.

Now some of those award-winning masterpieces are on show at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. The exhibition will be held till April 5. It was organized by the Italian Economic Trade and Cultural Promotion Office, the Italian Industrial Design Association, and the Taiwan Design Research Institute.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Aside from the exhibition, they are also showcasing Italian books at the "Not Just Library." The library was once a public bathhouse built in 1937.

Davide Giglio
Italian representative to Taiwan
Last year in December, the Taiwan Research Institute and the Italian Association of Industrial Design signed a memorandum to promote exchanges and create a platform for partnership and cooperation. Taiwan has a famous award which is the Golden Pin Design Award. Italy has the Compasso d’Oro. The two associations are working together and inviting eachother to create opportunities to exchange visits and also exchange experiences in the field of design. We want to create objects together in Italy and Taiwan that are functional and that are sustainable. I think that is a challenge that everybody in the design world is interested in meeting.

The Italian Representative to Taiwan Davide Giglio says both Taiwan and Italy are among the largest manufacturing countries in the world. Taiwan is a leader in semiconductors, while Italy is a leader in the automotive sector. Therefore, he sees great potential in cooperation between the two countries.

Davide Giglio
Italian representative to Taiwan
Italy is very strong in the automobile sector. Taiwan is also developing a line of production. There are companies in Taiwan such as Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn). They have entered into joint ventures with Italian companies. They are starting to produce electric vehicles. The design is made by Italian companies. This is an area where there is clearly a success story between Italy and Taiwan. In areas such as robotics for instance, Italy and Taiwan are also developing fast. We can can find other opportunitites to cooperate. Biotechnology and electric mobility. I think these are all areas where Taiwan and Italy can all do together.

Giglio says that Taiwan and Italy’s relationship has been flourishing despite the pandemic. He sees lots of potential for more cooperation.

Davide Giglio
Italian representative to Taiwan
Italy has a tradition in that it has an artisan, history, and universities that are catered toward design culture. But, with Taiwan, I think we have a lot to do. It is robust. It is $5.6 billion. It is a very balanced exchange. There is no deficit on both sides. They are very equal. It is a healthy relationship that we have with Taiwan. It keeps growing. Not only in traditional sectors such as machines or chemicals or fashion. But also agri-food, and recently also pharmaceuticals. Taiwan is of course very strong in ICT. Taiwan exports a lot to Italy. I think it is a very healthy relationship and balanced trade relationship and it has been growing also during COVID. It looks very promising also in the coming years.

The annual Milan Design Week is the largest annual design event in the world. It will take place in Milan from April 17 to 23. Davide Giglio invites everyone to visit if they happen to be in Italy during that time.

2023-03-29