Claire Wu, the first Taiwanese Cherry Blossom Princess in the 76-year history of the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival, invited cherry blossom princesses from various states to experience Taiwanese culture at the Cultural Center of TECRO.
華府櫻花節76年來首位台灣櫻花公主吳柏萱邀請各州櫻花公主到華府僑教中心體驗台灣文化
華府櫻花節遊行登場，50個充滿青春活力的各州櫻花公主及日本櫻花皇后，從美國各州及日本飛到華府，以文化大使的力量展開交流，76年來首位台灣櫻花公主吳柏萱（Claire Wu）邀請各州櫻花公主到我國僑委會華府僑教中心，學習和體驗台灣文化、了解台灣的現狀、感受台僑熱情，成功建立台、日、美之國民外交。
華府最具春天氣息的櫻花節遊行於4月15日登場，是華府最負盛名的文化饗宴。千禧世代台頑郎基金會及台灣櫻花小姐吳柏萱，邀請美國50州櫻花小姐到僑教中心，展開台灣文化之旅。僑教中心主任郭大文歡迎並肯定，有越來越多女性在各領域展現強大實力和影響力。
櫻花公主活動推手、曾獲日本天皇榮譽奬貴院昭子女士表示，支持台灣在自由民主的進步，是世界所應追求的目標。MGY/Taiwan Fun基金會董事長、櫻花公主Claire Wu的爸爸吳俊德表達對活動的支持，並感謝美國、日本和立陶宛等國捐贈疫苗給台灣，提供寶貴援助。
華府台灣學校家長會會長黃真帶領大家學習基本台語，例如「吃飽沒」、「大家好」等常用語句，強調台語有不少詞彙和西班牙語、葡萄牙語、荷蘭語類似，展現台灣文化乘載國際多元的歷史淵源與融合度，同時講解台灣重要的地理位置、半導體產業、環保表現等，加深對台灣的了解。
吳柏萱則播放自己剪輯的vlog，生動展示台灣的多元文化，讓人們更加深入地了解台灣這個美麗的島嶼，例如動人的日月潭愛情傳說。
資深二胡演奏家Andy Lin 與陳正倫表演台灣民謠望春風，FASCA文化大使侯立宸表演台灣扯鈴，活動也精心安排多項手工娛樂活動，包括台灣布袋戲、書寫漢字和畫扇、擲筊占卜及扯鈴等，讓各州公主體驗台灣文化的豐富趣味。
賓客也品嚐台灣美食代表之一的「鹽酥雞便當」及精美的三層粉紅色蛋糕，展現台、日、美三國之間長久友誼。美國櫻花小姐主辦單位NCSS表示，櫻花小姐們深入體驗台灣文化的不同面向，從傳統文化到現代文化，讓各州公主大開眼界且愛上台灣，認為台灣是亞洲最值得拜訪的國家，未來希望有機會到台灣。
自由時報報導 (2023-04-15)
Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival's First Taiwanese Princess in 76 Years, Claire Wu, Establishes Taiwan-Japan-US Civilian Diplomacy
華府櫻花節76年來首位台灣櫻花公主 吳柏萱建立台日美國民外交
Cherry blossom princesses from various states experienced Taiwanese culture, such as Taiwan Hand Puppetry at the Culture Center of TECRO
各州櫻花公主到台灣文教中心體驗台灣文化 - 布袋戲
The Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival parade kicked off, featuring 50 vibrant young Cherry Blossom Princesses from various US states and a Japanese Cherry Blossom Queen who flew in to engage in exchanges as cultural ambassadors. Claire Wu (吳柏萱), the first Taiwanese Cherry Blossom Princess in 76 years, invited the other princesses to the Overseas Community Affairs Council's (OCAC) Culture Center in Gaithersburg, MD to study and experience Taiwanese culture, understand Taiwan's current situation, and feel the warmth of the Taiwanese community, successfully establishing civilian diplomacy between Taiwan, Japan, and the US.
The parade, the most springtime-themed event in Washington and its most famous cultural feast, took place on April 15th. The Millennium Taiwanese American Foundation and Miss Taiwan Cherry Blossom, Claire Wu, invited the 50 US State Princesses to the Culture Center for a Taiwanese cultural tour. Guo Dawen, Director of the Culture Center, welcomed and affirmed that more and more women are demonstrating strong strength and influence in various fields.
Akiko Kishi, a promoter of the Cherry Blossom Princess event and a recipient of an Honor Award from the Japanese Emperor, expressed support for Taiwan's progress in freedom and democracy, stating it is a goal the world should pursue. Claire Wu's father, Wu Jiun-Der, chairman of the MGY/Taiwan Fun Foundation, expressed support for the event and thanked the US, Japan, Lithuania, and other countries for donating vaccines to Taiwan and providing valuable assistance.
Huang Chen, president of the Washington DC Taiwanese School Parents Association, led everyone in learning basic Taiwanese, such as "Have you eaten?" and "Hello everyone," emphasizing that many Taiwanese words are similar to Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch, showcasing the international and diverse historical origins and integration of Taiwanese culture. She also explained Taiwan's important geographical location, semiconductor industry, environmental performance, and more to deepen their understanding of Taiwan.
Claire Wu played a vlog she edited, vividly displaying Taiwan's diverse culture and giving people a deeper look into this beautiful island, including the moving love legend of Sun Moon Lake.
Senior erhu players Andy Lin and Chen Jen-Lun performed the Taiwanese folk song "Longing for Spring Wind," and FASCA cultural ambassador Hou Lee performed Taiwanese diabolo. The event also carefully arranged several hands-on entertainment activities, including Taiwanese hand puppetry (Pili), writing Chinese characters and painting fans, Jiaobei (crescent moon block) divination, and diabolo, allowing the princesses from each state to experience the rich fun of Taiwanese culture.
Guests also tasted one of Taiwan's representative foods, a "salt and pepper chicken bento" (Yansuji), and exquisite three-tiered pink cakes, demonstrating the long-standing friendship between Taiwan, Japan, and the US. The US Cherry Blossom Miss America organizer, NCSS, stated that the princesses experienced different facets of Taiwanese culture in depth, from traditional to modern, which opened their eyes and made them love Taiwan, believing it to be the most worthwhile Asian country to visit. They hope to have the opportunity to visit Taiwan in the future.
LTN News (2023-04-15)
