The opening ceremony for the “15th Filial Piety Culture Promotion” was held on Saturday, aiming to strengthen community cohesion and ensure the culture of respecting and caring for the elderly remains deeply rooted in the city.
The one-day event, organised by the Respect Seniors General Association of Macao (RSGA), was held at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, featuring a rich programme including artistic performances, commendation ceremonies, convenience services, and complimentary health check-up experiences.
RSGA President Chan Lei Kei noted in a speech during the event that Macau has become an ageing society, adding that senior citizens serve as witnesses and contributors to the city’s development, representing a valuable asset to Macau.
Chan added that over the past year, his association has maintained a continuous service footprint, achieving remarkable milestones. It hosted over 110 events, including senior care services, cultural performances, and community outreach programmes, and conducted more than 80 interest classes* (興趣班), serving over 120,000 local senior citizens. Through these activities and services, the spirit of respecting and loving the elderly has reached neighbourhoods, households, and individual hearts, he said.
Chan said that the event generated strong promotion across the citywide community through synchronized online and offline campaigns, adding that by promoting filial piety at hotspots across various districts, launching interactive public check-in activities, and sharing authentic stories of filial piety, the event aimed to spread the positive values of “respect, filial piety, and gratitude” throughout Macau, fostering a spirit of compassion across society.
Chan underscored that his association continues to inspire the younger generation to pass on the traditional virtue of filial piety, set examples of respect for parents, and deepen intergenerational communication, aiming to make respecting, bringing joy to, and empowering the elderly a societal norm in Macau, thereby continuously strengthening community cohesion.
*In the context of Macau, Hong Kong, and the Chinese mainland China, the term “interest classes” refers to extracurricular, leisure, or recreational courses designed for personal enrichment rather than formal academic qualification or exam preparation. For senior citizens, these are non-formal, continuing-education workshops offered by community centres or non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Respect Senior General Association of Macao (RSGA) President Chan Lei Kei (second from left) and other attendees pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony for the “15th Filial Piety Culture Promotion” at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion on Saturday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
