2 December 2015, Macau

CEM has been organizing the Macau Outstanding Senior Citizens Award since 2012 to recognize the contributions made by the elders, with the aim to encourage elders to actively participate in public welfare activities and make contributions to society and set a good example for the next generation. This year CEM held the event again together with the co-organizers of Macau Federation of Trade Unions, General Residents Association of Macau, Women’s General Association of Macau, the Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, Caritas Macau, Macau Special Olympics and Fuhong Society of Macau. The fourth edition of “Macau Outstanding Senior Citizens Award” presentation ceremony was held at StarWorld Hotel on 2 December to award prizes to the elected elders.

Honorable guests attending the Ceremony included Lam Heong Sang, Vice President of Legislative Assembly; Wu Changfan, Deputy Director of Social Affairs Department of China Liaison Office; Lou Sam Cheong, Deputy Director of the Office for the Development of Energy Sector; Lo Sok Ha, Division Chief of Elderly Service of Social Welfare Bureau; Mak Soi Kun, José Pereira Coutinho, Leong Veng Chai and Wong Kit Cheng, members of Legislative Assembly; Vong Kok Seng, President of CEM Customer Liaison Committee; Lei Pui Lam, Vice President of the Chinese Educators Association of Macau; Lam Wan Mei, Director of Seniors Academy of Macau Polytechnic Institute; Sin Chi Yeung, Chairman of Macau Elder Sports Association; Chiang Chong Sek, Director of Macau Federation of Trade Unions; Lam Un Mui, Director of Women’s General Association of Macau; Au Ka Fai, Deputy Director of General Residents Association of Macau; Paul Pun Chi Ming, Secretary-General of Caritas Macau; Monie Cheang Mei Chan, Special Education Support Service Manager of Macau Special Olympics; Jennifer Chau, Secretary-General of Fuhong Society of Macau; Rita Santos, Chairman of Macau Civil Servant’s Association; Bernie Leong, Chairman of CEM Executive Committee; Shi Yulin, Executive Director of CEM; Benjamin Yue and Iun Iok Meng, Principal Advisor and Advisor to CEM Executive Committee. Among the guests, Lo Sok Ha, Lei Pui Lam, Lam Wan Mei, Sin Chi Yeung and Iun Iok Meng are the members of the judging panel of the Award. During his speech, Bernie Leong praised the winning elders for their vitality and activeness in taking up volunteer work to care for others. He added that elders over the age of eighty still continue learning and pursuit their dreams. They generously share their knowledge and experience with others and make contributions to the society, thereby becoming a source of positive energy for the society. Leong also encouraged the winners to retain such motivation and passion to continue making contributions in different sectors. In addition, he expressed his gratitude to the hard work of professional judgers, who took time out of their busy schedules to select ten outstanding senior citizens.

In addition to receiving a trophy and MOP5,000 cash prize, the ten winners of the “Macau Outstanding Senior Citizens Award” were invited to share their valuable life experiences. Meanwhile, multi-talented elders also presented performances such as singing, Qigong and Tai Chi Fan, adding to joyful atmosphere to the award presentation ceremony. CEM always cares for the society, particularly the living of senior citizens. Since 2000, CEM’s voluntary technical staff have been utilizing their skills to provide free safety checks and replace substandard plugs for elder citizens living alone, in a bid to safeguard their electrical safety and promote energy conservation. Recently, CEM helped elder citizens replace their lightings with LED lights for energy saving. Till now there have been 350 elders benefited from this scheme. In addition, CEM has been holding annual lunch gathering in front of Pak Tai Temple since 2004 to treat and thank 300 elders from Taipa and Coloane for their contributions to the society. In 2015, CEM launched the “CEM Ambassadors 1+1 Elderly Program” for the first time, which pairs one CEM Ambassador with one elderly. Through regular telephone calls and home visits, the program aims to help solitary elders to relieve their loneliness and let them feel being loved and cared.

The ten winners of “Senior Citizens” and the nomination units are Ng Sao Fong (Macau Special Olympics), Ho Fong Sim (Luk Ieong Day Care Centre for the Elderly), Wu Kuok Nin (Macau Federation of Literary and Art Circles), Iong Keng Hou (Fuhong Society of Macau), Cheung Wai Hing (Caritas Macau), Leong Soi Heong (Macau Trade Unions of Glassbeads Embroidery, Plastics and Hardware), Chan Ling Wah (Seniors Academy of Macau Polytechnic Institute), Tou Lai Peng (Women’s General Association of Macau Elderly Centre) , Siu Sut Iok (Caritas Macau) and Tam Wai Peng (Centro de Convivio da Obras das Maes).