Call to filial duty

An online survey shows that 40 percent of the respondents expressed their concern for their mothers by making phone calls to them on Mother's Day yesterday. This survey also suggests that 60 percent of them believe that the Chinese need to have a Mother's Day of their own.

A motion endorsed by 60 members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) proposed at the CPPCC session this March that April 2 on the Chinese lunar calendar be designated as China's Mother's Day.

The day was chosen because the mother of an ancient Chinese sage, Mencius, gave birth to this great thinker (BC 372-289) on that day 2,380 years ago. It was also in respectful memory of this mother known for her wisdom and efforts in raising her son as one of the most influential sages.