Sister City of Portland: Centennial Rose Festival / 波特蘭姊妹市玫瑰節百週年慶
◎Text and Photos by Eli Chiu
In order to connect the world and strengthen city-to-city diplomacy, the City of Kaohsiung has established relations with 22 sister cities and 1friend city throughout the world. Among them, 13 sister cities are in the United States. Portland is one of the sister cities sharing the most cordial relations with Kaohsiung.
As Portland's Rose Festival enjoyed its 100th Anniversary this year, Kaohsiung received a warm invitation from Portland and decided to organize a large delegation to take part in the event. A delegation was then formed, co-led by Mr. Ci-Wang Jhuang, Speaker of the City Council and Deputy Mayor Chiu. It was comprised of more than 100 delegates, the largest group in recent years.
The 2007 Rose Festival was held in early June lasting for 10 days. The content of the festival included Grand Floral Parade, Dragon Boat Races, Rose Queen Pageant, indoor/outdoor concerts, Rose Cup Races, and folk performances from around the world. In the Centennial Celebration Party, Portland made a presentation on how the Rose Festival has progressed from 1907 to 2007. People gave high credits to Mr. Harry Lane, who was Mayor of Portland in 1907, for his vision to initiate the festival. Owing to this festival, we can see the high spirit of participation and volunteerism from the citizens and a cohesive consensus in the community of Portland During the Festival, the Kaohsiung Delegation was invited to the Rosarian Knighting Ceremony. Mr. Ci-Wang Jhuang, Speaker of Kaohsiung City Council, Mr. Fu-Peng Lee, President of Su-Te High School, and Mr. Ci-Wei Jhang, former President of Kaohsiung Sister City Association, were knighted as Rosarians in the Rose Centennial Celebration for their long-term contributions to the two cities of Kaohsiung and Portland. At the Knighting Ceremony, we were very happy to see that our national flag was proudly flown in the sky of Portland.
Though the day for the floral parade was cold and rainy, Su-Te High School marching band & performing group braved the bad weather and eventually marched into a great victory. The school won first place. Furthermore, the floral float presented by Kaohsiung Sister City Association received the honor of the Mayoral award.
The delegation also paid a visit to the Mayor of Portland, took part in the Centennial Ball, and presided over the opening & the closing ceremony of the Dragon Boat Races along the Willamette River in Portland. After the parade, Su-Te High School gave a "Kaohsiung Night" performance, which received resounding applause from a jam-packed audience.
On this trip, the delegation has made a very successful move for city diplomacy. In addition, the combined effort from the City, the Council, and the School served as a good model that has helped Kaohsiung advance its city diplomacy to a higher level.
◎文．攝影／邱英財
高雄市為與世界接軌，加強推動城市外交，目前共計締結了22個姊妹市及１個友好城市。在美國的姊妹市共計有13個，波特蘭市是與高雄互動最熱絡與頻繁的城市之一。
今年適逢波特蘭玫瑰節(Rose Festival)的100週年慶，在波特蘭姊妹市的力邀之下，高雄市籌組盛大代表團參加，由議長莊啟旺與副市長邱太三分別擔任正副領隊，共計100餘人參加，是本市歷年來訪問波市代表團人數最多的一次。
波特蘭玫瑰節於六月上旬舉辦，為期十天。主要的活動項目包括有花車遊行、龍舟競賽、玫瑰皇后選拔、戶外與室內音樂會、路跑活動及各國的民俗表演等。今年係百週年慶，特舉辦週年慶祝晚會，在會中回顧從1907年至2007年間的活動花絮，並緬懷1907年時，波特蘭哈利市長（Harry Lane）的遠見。該市非常欣慰這項有意義的活動，得以讓市民長期參與，發揮志工精神，進而凝聚波特蘭的社區意識。
此行參加玫瑰節活動期間，高雄市代表團受邀參加在玫瑰花園舉辦之玫瑰爵士受爵儀式。受爵人員中，莊議長、樹德家商董事長李福芃及波特蘭／高雄姐妹市協會前會長張奇威，因長年來對兩市城市交流所做的貢獻受到肯定，成為該市在紀念100週年玫瑰節時，受封玫瑰爵士，在受爵儀式的現場，我國國旗飄揚在波特蘭的藍色天空，意義非凡。
今年花車遊行時，天候不佳，氣溫極低，又下著飄雨。但樹德參加遊行之樂儀及表演隊，仍賣力演出，其優異的表演，贏得第一名的好成績，另姐妹市協會所製作之花車亦贏得市長獎。
這次訪問的行程還包括拜會波特蘭市長、參加玫瑰節100週年晚會、主持在波特蘭的蔚藍美(Ｗillamette)河所舉辦之龍舟開幕及閉幕頒獎典禮等。另樹德學生於遊行結束後舉辦「高雄之夜」公演，演出當天演藝廳座無虛席，其精湛的演出，博得全場熱烈的掌聲。
本市此行代表團為城市外交成功出擊。另，此行結合府會合作及學校出訪的模式，對於城市外交的推動，有很大的助益。