Former TTV Culture Co's general manager Yao Wen-chih (
Prior to being tapped for the Cabinet post, Yao was also the head of Indigenous TV -- one of TTV's subsidiaries, which is slated to be launched on July 1.
"I am quite proud of the establishment of the new TV station for my fellow Aboriginal people and I will keep working hard for them even after I leave the station," Yao said.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
To encourage his fellow employees at the station, Yao said that he urged everybody to name themselves in an Aboriginal language. He calls himself "Pasuya."
"`Pasuya' is a name from the Tsou tribe (
The Tsou tribe is one of 12 indigenous tribes with a population of approximately 7,000. Most Tsou people live in Alishan, Chiayi County's most famous scenic attraction, Kaohsiung County and Nantou County.
During his first meeting with reporters at the GIO on Wednesday, Yao said that his first priority at the GIO will be to gather more resources and contribute them to the nation's movie industry.
"It is still early for me to give any details of my `plans' since I have not officially begun to work here. But, re-igniting Taiwan's movie industry is definitely my priority," Yao said.
He said approximately 20 movies are made per year here.
"One hundred movies a year will be my goal for now. But that will require a lot of work, for sure," Yao said.
Not everyone has been happy with Yao's appointment. On Friday, People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chiu Yi (
"It is my understanding that Yao stepped down as the deputy secretary-general of the Kaohsiung City Government because he allegedly accepted bribes from local businessmen," Chiu said. "Is this the person you chose to be your new GIO minister?"
However, Hsieh fully endorsed Yao, saying he was the right person for the post.
The premier said that Yao left the city government because he was planning to study abroad. He said the alleged bribery case had been investigated and Yao's innocence confirmed.
"Yao has been working with me for years and he knows me well. With his background and work experience, I think he is the perfect choice for the GIO post," Hsieh told Chiu.
Born on Dec. 4, 1965 in Hsinchu, Yao is no stranger to journalism and politics because he has devoted himself to both professions since he graduated from college in 1988.
Yao holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Fu-jen Catholic University and a masters in politics from National Chengchi University, which he received in 1993.
In 1989, Yao began his first job as a reporter for the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper). After 12 months, he took a sabbatical and then returned to the newspaper as a copy editor in 1992 and stayed for another two years.
In 1994, Yao decided to help Hsieh, who was then a DPP lawmaker, by working for him as a legislative aide. That was the beginning of their working relationship, which is believed to be the prime reason behind his getting the GIO job.
One year later, the DPP chose Peng Ming-min (
After the election loss, Hsieh continued his legislative career and Yao worked as Hsieh's chief aide in his Kaohsiung office until 1998.
Hsieh became Kaohsiung mayor in 1998 and Yao became spokesman for the Kaohsiung City Government, a job he held until 2000, when he was promoted to be deputy secretary-general of the city government.
In 2003, Yao left the Kaohsiung City Government with the plan to pursue a doctorate degree abroad. However, he ended up joining the TTV as a general manager for its Culture Co last year.
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
Costa Rica sent a group of intelligence officials to Taiwan for a short-term training program, the first time the Central American country has done so since the countries ended official diplomatic relations in 2007, a Costa Rican media outlet reported last week. Five officials from the Costa Rican Directorate of Intelligence and Security last month spent 23 days in Taipei undergoing a series of training sessions focused on national security, La Nacion reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. The Costa Rican government has not confirmed the report. The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica protested the news, saying in a statement issued the same
RSS