Taiwan Roots (TRMPC) Without Borders - Taiwan's first CoNGO member

The first time I went to Dr Liu's 'Taiwan Roots' office in Xindian -  New Taipei some three years ago, these mobile clinics caught my attention.  I later found out the story of Taiwan Root 台灣路竹會 began with remote (by the standard 25 years ago) indigenous villages in the mountains.

What prompted me to write this post is very simple - My plan to join a couple of more voluntary missions with

Taiwan Root during 2020 has officially and decisively been cancelled due to pandemic covid19. And an opportunity does not seem likely until well into 2021 and who knows ... 

I therefore thought I ought to keep notes of the special experiences I had, in an organised manner for my own records at the least, and not attempting to bank on an unforeseeable 'next'.

T

aiwan Root 台灣路竹會 (since 1995) 

http://www.taiwanroot.org

路竹 in Chinese means 'road bamboo', Dr Liu explained in ‘Readers' Digest' of 1999 January issue "Simply because during mountain visits of indigenous communities, it was bamboos we saw along the way"

25 years on, Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps continues to care for patients worldwide (Source TRMPC)

Since 1995, TRMPC, a private, non-government and non-profit organization, has brought short-term medical clinics to Taiwan mountainous regions and underdeveloped countries around the world. 

During Kosovo war in 1999, Taiwan Root was the only medical team from Asia offering voluntary medical services in the refugee camp in Macedonia. The mission from a small island country of an obscure identity drew attentions to international medias.

In 2003, TRMPC joined CoNGO “the Conference of Non-governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations”as the only Taiwanese NGO. 

In 2018 December and  2019 September TRMPC took on challenges and witnessed devastation at Zaatari refugee camp in Jordon, flooded in men and women of all ages, not uncommon with damaged limbs and children with hearing impairment as a result of constant and heavy bombing. 

SOURCE TRMPC NEWS (https://www.storm.mg/article/877179)

Breaking – President Bihi Appoints a Somaliland Representative to Taiwan

(June 29 2020 Somaliland Chronicle)

My experiences with TRMPC (The Philippines and Palau)

2019-10-06~13 The Philippines (including Paco Manila, General Santos City) 

'Mabuhay'! Arriving at the Manila airport. 'Mabuhay' a word meaning 'welcome' in several Taiwanese indigenous languages. Soon approached and warmly welcomed by a Rotary team Dr Liu has built up good connections with over decades and who looked after us and made arrangement for our stops, accommodations, everything needed. 

We spent some days in one of the more run down area outside Manila working with good local medical backups. It was hot, sweaty and chaotic. But for me, a first timer, undeniably rewarding. 

I also managed to deal with Brook Shields (an American actress and model) at this stop. 😉

We were arranged to hop over to one of the most affluent region in the country General Santos City and stayed at hotels owned by "PacMan" (Manny Pacquiao. Filipino professional boxer who has won twelve major world titles - turned- senator of the Philippines). 

A special invitation to 'Double-tenth' national day celebration while bused-in straight from a day's service, at an upscale hotel in the city. 

Our last stop was at Paco Citizen Academy (a Chinese school) situated in a high populated area. 

Paco was known as Dilao because of the Amaryllis plants that were once plentiful in this district. Dilao or dilaw is a Tagalog (Austronesian) word for the color yellow.  

Palau 11/01~09

This time I was promoted to 'Green 1' - green indicates Asia mission, 1 indicates the number I participated prior to the date.

Hotel staff named 'Nientai' (forget-Taiwan-not), the only Palau born Taiwanese in Palau I was told. 

An educational and interesting visit to 'Technical Mission of ROC (Taiwan)' where I presented a copy of 'A Culinary History of Taipei' co-authored with Steven Crook and enjoyed healthy noni drink and fruits picked and prepared from their farm. 

Meeting Palau Ministry of Health and Belau National Hospital Director, arranged by Embassy General Secretary Steven Kang and Taiwan Medical Program coordinator in Palau. 

'Shin Kong Hospital' established the medical referral service for Palau in 2014 and has been playing an instrumental role since Taiwan and Palau established formal diplomatic relations on December 29, 1999.

President Tsai presided over a ceremony for the donation of medical equipment by the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital ("Shin Kong Hospital") to the Palau Ministry of Health in 2019 March. 

SOURCE

Our missions took place mostly in comfortable modern community centers, supplied with local medical assistants most of whom spent time and benefited from Taiwan's education in medicine at some point of their career. 

In one of centers, we worked in a large room with a 'brer' (traditional fishermen bamboo canoe, pride of every Palauan men) and vintage photos featuring Palau history.

Chatting with laid-back locals, I also discovered it was not at all uncommon one Paluan knew someone who had Taiwan experience, either for leisure or for study. And in fact, seems, they came in regular and frequent flights and all had a good time. 

A local, with no exception, taking frequent betelnut breaks while waiting to be seen. Many of them told me it's their 'Bing-lang' bag - pronounced in Taiwanese.

A most impressive location during this trip was situated next to 'Kaigun Sho' in Airai, where we traveled to by a 'Shin Kong Hospital' boat. 

A WWII bombed-out shell building used as a communication center by the Japanese. Kai means Navy, Sho means station, office. 

A lovely lady whose father was Japanese. Apparently she was on Japanese travel shows about Palau where she spoke out about her  decision to stay because Palau is home in her heart. 

Until next time - Thank you for the experiences and fond memories!

~From Taiwan~