by Xinhua writers Geng Lingnan, Lin Shuting
BANGKOK, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The spirit embodied in the name of Poh Teck Tung Foundation has become an iconic symbol of Chinese communities in Thailand, an overseas Chinese community leader has said.
Xu Guanghui, vice chairman of the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, traced the prestigious charitable institution's origins and century-long humanitarian relief work in a recent interview with Xinhua in Bangkok.
In the 1900s, cholera ravaged Thailand, leaving countless bodies unattended. Moved by the tragedy, Chinese merchant Zheng Zhiyong teamed up with about a dozen fellow Chinese to retrieve unclaimed corpses for burial. The group registered as an official foundation in the 1930s, formally named the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
Xu said there are dual connotations behind the phrase "Poh Teck," or "Bao De," meaning repaying kindness in Chinese.
"'Poh Teck' first embodies gratitude to Thailand, our host homeland, that enables overseas Chinese to thrive. Secondly, it is a tribute to our ancestral homeland, where our culture and heritage originate. The foundation's name retains its original Chinese pronunciation, so descendants will never forget their roots," Xu explained.
The foundation's core mission is to relieve suffering, protect lives and assist the needy without discrimination of race or wealth, Xu said. "Whenever people turn to us in distress, we will always lend a helping hand. This founding aspiration has never wavered for more than a century," he added.
Over the years, the foundation has earned recognition and support from Thai society, Xu said. It has become a common consensus among Thais that they will call the foundation for help in car crashes, fires and other incidents, with rescuers usually arriving at the scene within minutes.
All operational funds of the foundation come from donations by individuals at home and abroad, Xu noted. "Not a cent of donated funds is retained for internal use; every penny goes toward rescue operations and livelihood assistance. This has remained our unwavering commitment for a century."
The storyline of China's hit film Dear You mirrors the real experiences of countless overseas Chinese over the last century, Xu said. "No matter how tough their own lives were, older generations of overseas Chinese would send money home via 'qiaopi' to support their families as soon as they earned money, rather than indulging themselves first," he added.
Xu recounted the story of an elderly overseas Chinese man surnamed Zhu. As a teenager, Zhu sailed on a red-headed junk ship to Thailand, only to be robbed by pirates en route and left with nothing but underwear. On his first night in a foreign land, a bowl of hot congee from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation warmed his weary heart. He initially made a living hauling rice sacks in Bangkok's Chinatown. Through hard work and endurance, he eventually founded a large textile enterprise and became a steady donor to the foundation.
Overseas Chinese families often bring their children to participate in charitable activities, setting an example and teaching them the value of giving, Xu recalled.
"When I was young, I followed my grandfather to do charitable work at the foundation. I never imagined I would grow up to serve as its vice chairman, a blessing stemming from the good deeds of our forebears," he said, "Today, most donors and volunteers are descendants of Chinese immigrants, whose ancestors once received assistance from the foundation, with the seed of kindness deeply planted in their hearts."
The longing for the motherland conveyed in "qiaopi" and the unconditional relief delivered by the Poh Teck Tung Foundation both embody the defining spirit of overseas Chinese: hard work, devotion to homeland, and a philanthropic mindset, Xu said.
"This philanthropic spirit rooted in Chinese culture will be passed down from generation to generation in both China and Thailand, continuously infusing momentum into friendship between the two countries," he emphasized. ■