PASSPORT TO TAIWAN 2008

Passport to Taiwan is aimed to create an environment for both Taiwanese and those without any backgrounds of Taiwan to assimilate and become acquaint with Taiwan and Taiwanese American. Throughout the event, participants can sample delicacies that previously can be only found in Taiwan, observe figurine or calligraphy masters in arts & crafts area, learn about various organizations and government agencies, play childhood games, learn to play traditional toys in the interactive area, create a crane in the kids workshop or get to know more about Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans in the exhibition area.

INFORMATION FOR
PASSPORT TO TAIWAN 2008

INTRODUCTION:

In 1992, President Bush signed Act HR5572, which named May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In 1999, Congress designated the second week in May as Taiwanese American Heritage Week to recognize the contributions of Taiwanese Americans. President Clinton later issued a proclamation to congratulate the Taiwanese American community.

To answer the Congress for its generosity for the designation, Taiwanese American organizations throughout the US started a campaign to organize events to introduce Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans. New York answered this call with "Passport to Taiwan", a festival that comprised of stage performances, delicacies, presentation of organizations/government agencies, arts & crafts, games & interactive area, children’s workshops and art installations from Taiwanese artists in New York City.

Since the initiation of "Passport to Taiwan" festival in 2002, it has become the most important event for the Taiwanese American community in the New York Tri-State area. Tremendous resources have been gathered in order to make the event successful. The festival has since become the largest outdoor Taiwanese event in the entire United States. In New York, the event is viewed as the most organized and entertaining Asian festival and is considered as the largest Mandarin speaking festival in the city.

STAGE PERFORMANCES:

Feature Presentation – Ten Drum Art Percussion

The Ten Drum Arts Percussion Group was formed in March of 2000. Lead by Hsieh Shi, the group has traveled extensively to perform their work.

In 2001 the group performed their 'Ten Thousand Drum' show, with 250 drummers performing together, at the “Oldest Golden City” in Tainan. In June of 2002, Ten-Percussion performed in Sydney, Australia. The group also performed in Korea at the opening of the World Cup soccer finals in May of 2002. The group organizes national drum competition in Taiwan every August. This competition includes several performances by original drum composers.

Up to now, the group has performed more than 300 shows around Taiwan. In additions to the preparation of performances, Hsieh Shi teaches regularly and continually works on his own compositions. The Ten Percussion School has it's own performance hall and art museum with anticipation that the School will continue to grow on to our next generations. The goal of the group and school is to develop and spread knowledge of traditional drumming, percussion music, and worldly culture with hope of one day to be on international stages, and become an internationally recognized group.

About Hsieh-Ten: Hsieh-Ten was born in 1972 in the Kaoshiung. He was educated, thru high school, in Tainan. Then pursued university studies in West Virginia, USA. He learned to play Taoist gongs & drums from his parents, beginning at the age of 3. Hsieh-Ten is very skilled at performing traditional drum compositions, especially on the Teochew's drum, Waken Lion Drum, and on row-drums. He is constantly exploring and researching world percussion-music.

Hsieh-Ten contributes a lot to the teaching of percussion art and music production, and works to impart the art of traditional gong and drum into people’s daily lives.

Eva Kuo & Friends – Info Pending

Hsu-Nami – Our all time favorite!! With its hypnotic Er-hu, wailing guitars and tight breakdowns, The Hsu-nami represents one of the finest attempts at fusing traditional Asian sounds with modern rock forms.

Formed in the fall of 2005, The Hsu-nami is a Progressive rock instrumental band from New Jersey. Their music features a rare contribution fusion of different genres, incorporating the use of an amplified Erhu takes the place of lead vocals. A two-string bowed instrument that is often used in Chinese classical music and folk ensembles.

In their three years together Hsu-nami has play with major acts such as Yellowcard, Chthonic (Taiwan), Nightmare of You, The Parlor Mob, World Leader Pretends, and Jet Lag Gemini. They have also performed for numerous Festivals/Conventions, the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Fest, Passport to Taiwan Fest, Zenkaikon, TandokuCon, Tekkoshocon, Armageddicon. Headlined many clubs such as the Stone Pony, NJ, the Mexicali Blues Cafe, NJ, The Trocadero, PA and the closing nights at CBGB’s in NY.

Sherri & Dancers – Sherri is the hip-hop dance instructor in Taiwan Center. Classes are held once a week to bring students together. They will be in the event to showcase their hardwork.

Tzu-Chi Foundation – They will bring their famous sign language demonstration and Taiwanese style way of drinking tea onto the stage. Both represents elegance and carefulness in the Tzu-Chi way of compassion (More details in the exhibition area).

THEME EXHIBITIONS:

Elegant Taiwan: Beauty of Orchid – In recent years, the international floriculture industries have been in a frenzy of orchid. Especially the 20% growth rate of phalaenopsis, the sales sweeps European, American and the Asian markets. Orchids used to be the collections of enshrinement are now widely applied in the general public. Taiwan is known as the Kingdom of orchids. Taiwan orchids are promoted worldwide and find its way to rising star in the international floriculture markets.

The elegant orchids to be display on the day of the festival share similar path as Taiwanese American immigrants. They were grown in Taiwan, then flown to the US to take roots and be prosperous in its life.

This exhibition is made possible by Raritan Valley Florist.

Paper Cutting Master – Hung Hsin-fu has turned his boyhood obsession into a business, making the assembly of paper sculpture so easy that people just want to make more. Hung held more than 100 paper-art exhibitions around the world, published 14 books, and has been elected one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of 2003 for his achievement and contribution to paper art.

Learning how to fold a crane from his eldest sister at the age of four was Hung's first acquaintance with paper folding. Hung found himself in serious business when kids traded their toys for what he folded. Hung later entered Shih Hsin College's Department of Printing and Photography to maintain his connection with paper.

Hung won a design contest for the 1994 year-of-the-dog Lantern Festival that turned out to be huge business where led to expansion. He also found exhibitions to be a great opportunity to promote the art and meet people. He has held exhibitions in China, Canada, the US, and half a dozen Asian and European countries.

These little paper inventions have realized Hung's childhood dream of becoming an inventor, but he likes to think of himself as a salesman, not of kits and books but the passion of paper art. Judging by this salesman's turnover, there may just be more parents who do not mind that much if their boys spend some hours folding, cutting and pasting.

For more information on Master Hung, please visit: http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=23755&CtNode=128

This exhibition is made possible by the Overseas Compatriots Affairs Commission, Taiwan

Hakka in Taiwan – The Hakka refers those who travel from places to places during the last few centuries. Some of them settled in Taiwan. They provide different aspects to cultures in Taiwan and this area is dedicated to show Hakka in the past, present and future.

Background of Hakka: The Hakka are a subgroup of the Han Chinese. In a series of migrations, the Hakka settled in their present locations in southern China, and then migrated overseas to various nations throughout the world. The Hakka have had a significant influence on the course of history: in particular, they have been a source of revolutionary and political leaders.

Hakka in Taiwan: In Taiwan, Hakka people comprise about 15% of the population and are descended largely from Guangdong: they form the third largest population group on the island. Many Hakka moved to lands high up in the hills or remote mountains to escape political persecution. Many of the Hakka people continue to live in these hilly locations of Taiwan.

Taiwan's Hakka are concentrated in Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and around Chungli in Taoyuan County, and Meinong in Kaohsiung County, and in Pingtong County, with smaller presences in Hualian and Taitung County. In recent decades many Hakka have moved to the largest metropolitan areas, including Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Prominent Hakka: The Hakka have had a significant influence, disproportionate to their small total numbers, on the course of recent history, particularly as a source of revolutionary and political leaders. This continues to be true in modern history, in which some of the most prominent Chinese leaders have been Hakkas. In the 1980s-90s, three political leaders were Hakkas: the People's Republic of China's Deng Xiaoping, Taiwan's Lee Teng-hui and Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew. Deng & Lee Kuan Yew were among four Chinese named as "the 20th Century's 20 Most Influential Asians" by Time magazine.

Main Exhibition: In addition to the introduction to Hakka, this exhibition will feature “Grandma’s Red Flower Fabric”. This type of fabric is considered outdated and out fashioned is making a comeback as they are put onto more product. The shown picture is a mug set featuring the red fabric.

This Exhibition is made possible by the Hakka Association of New York.

Baseball Taiwan: Home of Chien-Ming Wang - From the Little League to the Major League, this is about the story of baseball in Taiwan. Wang pitched 19 wins for the Yankees organization in 2006 ad 2007. He was a little leaguer, played for the national team and he is not the only one. How did this American sport become Taiwan’s national sport? Come find out!

The year 2006 was the centennial anniversary of Taiwan's baseball history.

During the Japanese rule, baseball was first introduced to Taiwan and became deeply implanted the daily lives of Taiwanese people, whilst Japanese had been influenced by the Western in the Meiji Restoration. After World War II, the passion of Taiwan people for baseball remained; it even brought them international glory.

Baseball is introduced into Taiwan through Japanese colonization. The Taiwanese start to recognize this sport by cheering at baseball games. During the Japanese rules, schools triggered baseball fever in the students through physical education. In addition to games between schools, the baseball team from Taiwan's Chiayi Agriculture and Forestry Public School succeeded in taking part in the Koshien Competition in Japan. All Taiwanese and Japanese fans went wild at that time.

After World War II, business languished in Taiwan, but the enthusiasm for baseball flourished. Sponsored by business companies, games between amateur teams continued. Everywhere in Taiwan, there was a mass fervor. With the cold war, unassailable barriers were built between countries. Baseball games, however, continued among Asian nations politically friendly to the United States: Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. These games reveal the athletes' understanding of the international situation.

With the game between Taiwan's Little League Hong-Yeh baseball team and Japan's Little League Kansai baseball team, Taiwan entered into the best days of Little League Baseball. The championships repeatedly won by the Taiwanese Little League teams in Williamsport were emotional high points in a time of declining international politics. From that time, baseball began to be a source of glory to the people of Taiwan.

In the 1980s, continued development of professional baseball teams attained more glory for Taiwan: the World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the Olympics. A great moment in Taiwan's baseball development was the establishment of the Chinese Professional Baseball League which curbed the loss of Taiwan's talented players.

During the years when there was no professional baseball league in Taiwan, talented Taiwanese athletes repeatedly left Taiwan to continue their careers with foreign baseball companies. The efforts of enthusiastic fans resulted in the creation of Taiwan's professional baseball league in 1990, thus entering a new stage in Taiwan's baseball history.

In this 21st century, after one hundred years of baseball experience, Taiwan has realized that cultivation of baseball-related personnel is required to support a national team and to help baseball to develop from a win-lose competition into a diverse and pure sport.

This exhibition will focus on the development of baseball in Taiwan along with a fun game of pitching to echo with Chien-Ming Wang, Taiwan’s top-paid baseball player in the major.

Compassionate Taiwan: Tzu-Chi Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen in the impoverished east coast of Taiwan. The Foundation has been contributing to better social and community services, medical care, education and humanism in Taiwan for nearly 40 years. Master Cheng Yen firmly believes that suffering in this world is caused by material deprivation and spiritual poverty. She felt that "lack of love for others" has been the root of many problems in this world. "To save the world, we must begin by transforming human hearts."

A volunteer-based, spiritual as well as welfare organization, Tzu Chi’s missions focus on giving material aid and inspiring love and humanity in both the givers and receivers. Since its founding, the Foundation has dedicated itself in the field of charity, medicine, education, environmental protection, as well as the promotion of humanistic values and community volunteerism. The humanitarian work is both a means to help those in need, and also a way to open the eyes of the volunteer to the harsher side of life, so that through giving, they may find spiritual happiness and life's true meaning.

A home-grown Taiwanese organization, Tzu Chi volunteers living abroad began setting up overseas chapters in 1985. They use money that they have earned in their country of residence to help the poor and needy in their local communities. Today, Tzu Chi is an international organization with over 5 million supporters and over 30,000 certified commissioners around the globe.

Emergency aid to typhoon-stricken Bangladesh in 1991 marked the beginning of the foundation's international relief efforts. Firmly believing that, "Nothing is more valuable than life, All beings are equal." Tzu Chi demonstrates first hand that They overcome obstacles of time, distance, and politics, to provide relief and hope to victims of war, flood, and drought. As of August 2005, over fifty-seven countries in five continents have received Tzu Chi’s aid.

From the icy Arctic Circle to the sweltering tropics, Tzu Chi volunteers have left their footprints in many faraway lands, risking their lives in epidemics and wars. Their belief in "making the impossible possible" has sustained them in accomplishing many arduous tasks. In addition to material aid, Tzu Chi has also encouraged mutual help among disaster victims and helped them become independent by involving them in rebuilding their own communities. The ultimate goal is to inspire disaster victims to contribute to others in turn when they have the ability to do so, thus creating a global village of Great Love.

This exhibition is made possible by the Tzu-Chi foundation of New York.

BOOTHS

Delicacies:
• Bobble Tea: A Taiwanese invention which has spread all over the world. The larger than usual tapioca and straw creates a different drinking sensation.
• Shaved Ice: Although similar to a snow cone, this popular summer time snack in Taiwan usually comes with many natural flavors such as fruits, beans and condensed milk.
• Bamboo Tamale: Not exactly Mexican, this Taiwanese delight is a combination of sticky rice with meat wrapped around in Bamboo leaves. Vegetarian also available.
• Popcorn Chicken: Kernel Sanders will shut the doors of KFC if he tries this popular street snack. Deeply marinated and sprinkled with pepper, it’s crunchy and salty, not exactly healthy but the taste is irresistible.
• Corn Dog: Hot Dog can be considered as National food of the USA. In Taiwan, people know Hot Dog in the form of Corn Dog. Why? We don’t know either, but the Taiwanese enjoy this festival food very much.
• Aiyu Jelly Drink: These bite sized jelly like snack is popular during summer time in Taiwan. They are generally served with sweeten water and mixed with lemon extracts.
• Peanut Brittle & Ice Cream Wrap – A local specialty from I-Lan, eastern side of Taiwan. One of our popular snack is “Spring Wrap” where variety of ingredients are wrapped in a thin rice shell. We have a sweet style this year where we mixed shaved peanut brittle and wrap together with ice cream. The taste is unexplainably funny but delicious.
• Stir Fried Vermicelli – A common food seen in Taiwan where thin rice noodles are stir fried with pork and vegetables.
• Cold Drinks – Serves variety of bottled drinks from Taiwan including the famous “Ramune”, soda in bottle sealed with a marble.

Cultural Booths

• Fragrant Pouches - In the days before medicine was highly developed, people ground herbs, placed them into cloth bags and wore them in the summer to protect themselves against insects. Originally plain cloth bags were used, but as the custom developed these bags gradually became more ornate and colorful, and decorated with expressive needlework.
• Taiwanese Aboriginals - The Taiwanese Aboriginals are believed to be the descents of the Polynesian islands. Some researches also suggest Taiwan is the origin of Polynesians. There are more than 10 aborigine tribes in Taiwan, each living in different regions. Aboriginal art is diverse, each tribe has its unique traditions and symbols which are expressed through their art.
• Straw Weaving - In traditional agricultural society, people made crafts from different types of straw in their spare time. It is easy to master this art, but straw is no longer so readily available and difficult to preserve. Nowadays, straw made of plastic is used, giving this old art form a new life with more possibilities.

Government Agencies
• FDNY
• Taipei Cultural Center
• Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in New York
o Consular Division
o Press Division
o Investment & Trade Division
o Education Division
o Liaison Division

Organizations/Businesses
• OceanBlue
• Taiwanese American Organizations
• Taiwan Center
• Vegetarian Delight
• E888
• Crystal Window & Door Systems
• Healthfirst
• Little Paw Skateboard