On Saturday, February 22, 2025, FASCA New York celebrated the International Mother Language Day and participated in the Cultural Harmony event hosted by the City of New York Commission of Human Rights at Public School 12 in Queens.
“On February 21, 1952, students in Bangladesh initiated the Language Movement for the right to speak, learn, and govern in their native language. Since then, International Mother Language Day (IMLD) became a national holiday observed to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. A mother language is the first language that someone speaks.” According to NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.
FASCA members performed SanTaiZi (三太子) dance to Infatuated Rose (癡情玫瑰花) by Under Lover(地下情人), showcasing Taiwan’s heritage and culture. Three FASCA members even joined the dance with traditional Santaizi costumes, a distinct Taiwanese cultural attire, which catches everyone’s attention.
This event was a wonderful opportunity to learn from many different cultures, hear different languages, and watch performances by different ethnic groups, including groups representing Ecuador, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Philippines, Korean, and many more.
The City of New York presented a certificate of appreciation to FASCA and the Association of New Jersey Chinese School for FASCA’s contribution in the Cultural Harmony. "The performance was amazing! FASCA members are very dedicated to this event. It is such an honor to see this and to promote Taiwan to New Yorkers through SanTaiZi and our mother language", said Ms. Patsy Fang Chen(方秀蓉), an appointed commissioner representing the Overseas Community Affairs Council in Taiwan, who had tears of joy when watching FASCA performing SanTaiZi dance to Taiwanese music--our native tongue.
All the FASCA members who performed received a standing ovations from the audience. “We want to give special thanks to Ms. Flora Ferng(馮郁雯), Lead Advisor at NYC Commission on Human Rights, Nelson Tai(戴松昌), Chairman of ANJCS, and Patsy Fang Chen, Artistic Director of the CYCNY Youth Orchestra. We also want to thank our counselors Flora Tang(湯馥雲) and David Kwan(鄺迺智) for planning this meaningful event, and our board members President Jayden Wu, Second Vice President Calvin Lee, Secretary Edison Lee, and Treasurer Wesley Chang, for their tireless assistance in making everything possible”, said Edison Lee, Secretary of FASCA New York Chapter.
