PHILANTHROPIST and sportsman Alvin Tai Lian is the Philippines’ Head of Delegation to the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei City, Taiwan from Aug. 19 to 30 next year.
The announcement came during a simple ceremony at the Legend Seafood restaurant in Pasay City, attended by Taiwan Minister Samson T.L. Chang of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Manila and Angel Ngu, president of Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries Inc.
“We are extremely happy and grateful that Mr. Tai Lian has accepted our invitation for him be the country’s HoD in next year’s Taipei Universiade,” said David Ong, the president of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, the sole local university sports organization that is recognized by the prestigious International University Sports Federation, the governing body in university sports around the world.
“Alvin is a well-loved figure in the Philippine sports community who has dedicated much of his time in uplifting sports in the country at the university level. The FESSAP is very appreciative of Tai Lian’s support of FESSAP activities and programs and looks forward to working with him again as we prepare for the Taipei Universiade.”
Also attending the event were members of the Executive Committee of the FESSAP, led by its Executive Vice President Robert Milton Calo, Vice President Christian Tan, Deputy Secretary General retired Col. Ariel Querubin, Auditor Engineer Jedel Agron, and Board Secretary Ngayee Rodas.
The FISU is the sanctioning world body that organizes biennially the Summer Universiade, Winter Universiade and other World University Championships in the different disciplines.
The Taipei Universiade will mark the fourth straight time that the FESSAP will be sending a delegation of topnotch university athletes and team officials to the world-class competitions.
Tai Lian is currently Chairman of the FESSAP Board and the president of Asia Pacific University Sports Union. He is a taichi advocate and instructor who believes that a healthy body and mind can only bring good health to a taichi practitioner.
As a taichi instructor, Tai Lian is known to have taught the young and the elderly the healthy benefits of taichi during his frequent early morning visits to the national park in Luneta along Roxas Boulevard, City of Manila.
Other than being an active sportsman, Tai Lian is known to be a generous philanthropist and a successful businessman in the Chinese-Filipino community.
