More than a hundred members of the Filipino-Taiwanese community participated in a public awareness run on May 11 to support Taiwan’s bid to join the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva from May 19 to 27.
Organized by the Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines (TAP), the event, titled “Run Together: Taiwan for WHA,” took place at Ayala Triangle Gardens during Makati City’s car-free Sunday program.
Participants ran, walked and distributed wristbands and information about Taiwan’s WHA campaign, engaging with over 20,000 local residents.
Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines Wallace Minn-Gan Chow led the event, joined by his wife, deputy representatives Michael Lee and Dustin Yang and several community leaders.
Chow emphasized Taiwan’s world-class healthcare system and universal health coverage.
He highlighted Taiwan’s strong track record in managing public health crises, from SARS to COVID-19, and noted that the international platform Numbeo has ranked Taiwan’s healthcare system as the best in the world for seven consecutive years.
Chow also criticized China’s continued misrepresentation of United Nations Resolution 2758, which excludes Taiwan from participating in the World Health Organization (WHO), calling such exclusion unjust and politically motivated.
He urged the global community to support Taiwan’s meaningful inclusion in the WHO and WHA, stressing that Taiwan is ready and able to contribute to global public health efforts.
Tom Lin, president of TAP, reiterated that WHO, as the leading institution on international public health, should not allow political interference to hinder its mission.
“Taiwan has so much to contribute, and its voice must be heard. Through this morning run, we aim to show the world that Taiwan matters, and the world is better with Taiwan fully engaged.” Lin said.
The initiative was led by Shirleen Hsieh, an International Youth Goodwill Ambassador awarded by Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), together with TAP vice president Jia Hsieh.
OCAC commissioners Ya-Hui Huang, Jaime Tan and Fu-Lung Chiang; Executive Yuan Policy adviser Andrew Liang; OCAC senior advisers Shih-Mo Huang and Allan Lin; Po-Chih Chuang, director of the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines; and deputy director Chung-Wei Liang, along with numerous OCAC honorary officers and TAP board members, also participated in the event.
In a separate event, hundreds more gathered in Caloocan City on May 3 for the “Taiwan Can Help” charity walk.
Organized by the Taiwanese Association of the Philippines, participants carried banners reading “Leaving No One Behind” and “Taiwan Can Help,” highlighting Taiwan’s role in humanitarian efforts and public health advancements.
“This marks the second year of our Taiwan Can Help campaign. Taiwan stands ready to assist the global community and deserves to be included under the principle of leaving no one behind,” said Tomas Pai, president of the Taiwanese Association of the Philippines.
Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and Philippine Representative to Taiwan, emphasized Taiwan’s strong healthcare system and its capacity to contribute to global health solutions.
“The world needs partners like Taiwan—innovative, capable, and committed. If Taiwan is allowed to participate in the WHA, it can offer even more to the international community, including the Philippines,” she said.
