Renowned philanthropic vendor Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊), who sold vegetables at the Central Market in Taitung for more than half a century, has retired and moved to Kaohsiung, Taitung County Commissioner Justin Huang (黃健庭) said yesterday.
“I am less worried now that she has made this decision,” Huang said by telephone. “It is not a surprise that she retired.”
Huang said Chen, 67, fell ill before the Lunar New Year holiday and told him that she was considering retiring when he visited her.
Photo: CNA
“I encouraged her to retire, so that she could take a good long rest,” Huang said, adding that she now lives in Kaohsiung.
Chen Chia-ming (陳洽銘), her younger brother, also confirmed news of her retirement.
“She called me a few days ago, telling me she was going to retire and asking me to take over her vegetable stand,” Chen Chia-ming said. “I’m sorting it out and will hand it over to my son after May.”
“Since falling ill from appendicitis in early February, she has been resting at a temple in Kaohsiung,” Chen Chia-ming said. “She was rushed to hospital and had an emergency operation.”
“Although her life was saved, she has yet to fully recover and that is why her vegetable stand has been closed since then,” he added.
Chen Shu-chu became a household name across the nation after her good deeds were brought to light by local and foreign media.
She was honored as one of the 100 most influential figures by Time magazine in 2010 for contributing more than NT$10 million (US$343,077 at the current exchange rate) to different charitable causes.
In the same year, she was also named one of the 48 heroes of philanthropy by Forbes Asia.
In 2012, Chen Shu-chu was one of six winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for helping the poor, receiving a US$50,000 cash prize, which she donated to the Taitung branch of Mackay Memorial Hospital.
Chen Shu-chu’s mother died during childbirth when she was in elementary school, because the family could not afford to have her give birth in a hospital.
To help her father raise her younger siblings, she started to sell vegetables at the stand he left her at the age of 13.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
RSS