Two nonagenarians became the oldest junior-high school graduates in the nation last week after they were awarded honorary diplomas for embodying the spirit of the saying: “It is never too late to learn.”
On Friday last week, Liu Chang-jung (劉昌榮), 96, and Huang Chi-ming (黃啟明), 91 — together with more than 1,300 young graduates — received their long-awaited diplomas from Greater Kaohsiung Education Bureau Director-General Cheng Hsin-hui (鄭新輝) at a joint ceremony organized by Baolai Junior High School and Yangming Junior High School.
Liu and Huang were also presented with honorary certificates for completing a computer course at Baolai Junior High School, where they had spent the past two years taking lessons together.
Photo: Fang Chih-hsien, Taipei Times
Liu said he had attended school when the nation was under Japanese control, but dropped out to eke out a living peddling camphor oil on the street.
“I have always regretted dropping out of school, so I decided to pick up my textbooks two years ago and start taking computer and Chinese-language courses,” Liu said, adding he was delighted to receive the honorary diploma.
Unlike Liu, Huang was born into a relatively affluent family that owned a massive fish farm in Greater Tainan’s Cigu District (七股).
After his family relocated to Baolai Borough (寶來) in Greater Kaohsiung’s Liouguei District (六龜), Huang founded a hot spring resort across the street from where Baolai Junior High School now stands.
Despite his professional success, Huang said he always had the desire to learn something new, which is why two years ago, he accepted Liu’s suggestion that they sign up for a computer class at the school.
Baolai Junior High principal Tsai Chih-wen (蔡智文) said he was deeply impressed by the two students’ diligence in class.
“The pair was particularly interested in their computer classes, which included lessons in audio and visual effects, as well as in their Chinese-language courses, which afforded them knowledge that could be applied in everyday life,” Tsai said.
Tsai said that while the pair had difficulty typing on a computer keyboard because their mobility had degenerated with age, they had no problem learning how to play videos on a computer or upload photographs.
Applauding Liu and Huang for pursuing their education despite their advanced age, Cheng called on younger students to follow the pair’s example and devote the best years of their lives to learning.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost