Formosa Dream Chasers

On today's episode of Formosa Dream Chasers hosts Mary Anne Sioco and Ching-en Chiou chat with animation director and founder of Aco Creative, Aco Chang (張吾青). A Royal College of Art graduate with a passion for storytelling, Aco has made waves in the animation world, blending her talents in illustration and game art with her creative vision.

Her acclaimed works, such as My Grandmother is an Egg and Bird, have earned accolades and nominations at prestigious film festivals worldwide, including Hot Docs, Flickerfest, and the BFI London Film Festival. From heartfelt narratives to groundbreaking visuals, tune in to learn more about Aco's incredible journey and uncover the creative magic behind her work.

Previously, our hosts Mary Anne and Ching-en chatted with Imelda Ching, a new immigrant entrepreneur who has successfully run her Filipino restaurant in Taipei’s “Little Manila” for 28 years. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, her business not only survived but thrived, thanks to her resilience and the support and measures from Taiwan’s government during that time.

A testament to her determination and community spirit, Imelda shares her mindset and some practical advice for anyone looking to start their own business in this final part of our conversation.

In today's episode, we continue our conversation with Imelda Ching, owner of Filipino restaurant CresArt located in Taipei. Imelda opens up about how her connection to cooking started, how she started the business and what were the difficulties when she first started. Imelda also reveals what sets Filipino cuisine apart, offering a deeper insight into the flavors and traditions that make it different from other cuisines.

Having lived in Taiwan since 1986, Imelda Ching, a Filipino restaurant owner in Taipei, shares her inspiring journey on Formosa Dream Chasers on how she started working and living in Taiwan - adapting to Taiwanese society, helping other foreign spouses and later establishing her business, CresArt, to offer authentic Filipino cuisine to both Taiwanese and Filipinos in Taipei.

Daphne Lo is a certified BASI Pilates instructor and the founder of her own studio located in her parents' hometown in eastern Taiwan.

Born into a Taiwanese migrant family and raised in South Africa, Daphne's upbringing shaped her perspective on life. In this interview, she shares her unique experiences living in South Africa and the journey that eventually led her back to Taiwan.

To learn more about Daphne's Pilates Classes, click HERE.

How far would you go to chase your dreams? Would you risk everything—even your life—for a chance at a better future?

In this episode, Formosa Dream Chasers speaks with Choi Jae-hoon, a North Korean Issues Officer, and Jo Eun-sil, a North Korean defector, about Amnesty International South Korea's latest report. Together, they explore the harrowing experiences of defectors who escaped an authoritarian regime in pursuit of freedom and a better life.

The report titled: "60+ Voices: Looking back at daily life in North Korea" can be found HERE.

In today's episode, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish shares how the loss of his daughters inspired his fight for human rights and led to the creation of the Daughters for Life Foundation, which empowers women of all backgrounds through education to create a better world.

Understanding the struggles of life rooted in his personal journey, he offers a message of hope for all listeners and urges the international community to address the plight of innocent civilians in Palestine with compassion and action.

For more information about Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish's foundation, click HERE.

As Formosa Dream Chasers continue to put a spotlight on theTaiwan International Human Rights Film Festival, Mary Anne and Ching-en sit down with five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Palestinian human rights activist Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish whose life is featured in the documentary "I Shall Not Hate" by Director Tal Barda.

Dr. Izzeldin talks about the beginnings of his life in Palestine, how the Israeli - Hamas conflicts impact the lives of innocent civilians and his memoir "I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity."

Since 2017, the Taiwan International Human Rights Film Festival, organized by the Cultural Ministry’s National Human Rights Museum, has been a significant annual event. This year, it was held at Taipei’s SPOT cinema at the end of September.

Formosa Dream Chasers had the privilege of speaking with Director Tal Barda, whose documentary "I Shall Not Hate" is featured in the festival’s lineup. Against the backdrop of over fifty years of conflict between Israel and Palestine, Director Barda shares her insights on the human rights situation in Gaza and her experiences creating a film about the renowned human rights activist Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation!

As we continue our conversation with Arden, he shares how he landed his first technical writing job in Taiwan and describes the application process. He also discusses the stepping stones he took and the differences between working in the tech industry and traditional Taiwanese work culture. Before the episode ends, he offers valuable advice on job searching and cultivating a mindset that enhances both life and career development.

Mr. Arden Lim is currently a senior technical writer at ADLINK, a Taiwanese company that designs and manufactures products for embedded computing, test and measurement, and automation applications. Headquartered in Taoyuan, ADLINK has operations in several locations, including Beijing, Paris, San Jose, and Seoul.