THE AMAZING LIFE STORY OF ASIAN SINGING SUPERSTAR TERESA TENG... By: Ver M. Garcia (Entertainment Editor)

Asian Superstar and Singing Icon Miss Teresa Teng.

The Bloggers Association of the Philippines in cooperation with Teresa Teng Fans Club Philippines choose to write something about the Life, Love, and Works of Miss Teresa Teng (Teng Li Yun) a Taiwanese patriotic singer, folksinger, composer, a Movie and TV personality, and a Linguist regarded by many as one of the most influential singers in Asia and in the recording industry who has garnered more than One billion following and still growing until now. 

Teresa charm and angelic voice endeared her to the people in China, Hongkong, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines,  Europe (France) and even in Taiwan.

Works and her studies...

Ms. Teresa Teng was born to a family with a military background which means that from her early childhood to being an adult discipline, courage, audacity, persistence, honour, integrity, and good education are tools in order to become successful in life. But, she chooses to concentrate on her singing career. She had to stop schooling temporarily just to support her family at the tender age of 14 years old, self-sacrifice and long-suffering qualities admired by Cantonese followers in Hongkong. 

Later on in her life, she pursued her studies at the University of Southern California (USC) in the USA. She had the gift of breathing life to the songs she interprets and overwhelming influence on her followers, she touched the sentiments in the people's soul, sorrow, sadness, and joy were felt through her songs and she left a good impression on the lives of her fellow singers. In addendum she studied also voice lessons as in opera in London and frequent this place in Great Britain. The Mainland Chinese felt proud listening to her songs at night, a simple but amusing thought came out from her Fan's and we quoted " During the daytime, we listen to Big Deng (Chairman Deng Xiao Peng) but on Nightime we listen to Small Deng (Teresa Teng), Teresa Teng and Chairman Teng Shiao Peng of the People's Republic of China (P.R.O.C.) have the same surname when written in Chinese.

People who were close to her observed that she had the capacity to touch the hearts and minds of people that she entertains thru her melodious, melancholic and angelic voice. Somehow and in someway her awesomeness was met with sentimental love songs that mirrored her love life. Her interpretations of different folk songs, as well as international songs, appealed to the people in mainland China in the '70s up to the '80s there were the years wherein her career took off, in Japan, she made a name and fortune  and received so many honours in singing Japanese songs. She captivates the hearts and soul of many Japanese by listening to her angelic voice. She's the recipient of three of the prestigious Grand Prix Award for 3 consecutive years for Tsugunai (1984), Aijin (1985) and Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase in 1986. First time in the history of music in Japan.

Teresa Teng love life...

In her life, she had so many prominent suitors including the famous Hongkong Action Star JACKIE CHAN and the richest man in Asia Eddie Beau Kuok, a Malaysian businessman and son of multi-billionaire Robert Kuok, which own the chain of Hotels, The Shangri-la Hotel, believed to be her first love. Later in her life, she met a young French man a photographer in France and believed to become her husband to be, since they plan to be engaged and to be married 3 months after her unexpected and unfortunate demise on May 8, 1995.

More importantly, Miss Teresa Teng who usually visits military camps to provide entertainment to boost the morale of the soldiers of the Republic of China now Taiwan, and at the same time sowed the seed of Love for Peace and Democracy and Goodwill not only in Taiwan but in Mainland China. Eventually, the sad incidence in the TIENANMEN square in the 90's angered the China Government which lead to the banning of her songs in the Mainland. Although, Miss Teresa Teng was exposed early to the harassment of the communist regime early in life through her fathers (a Military soldier) struggle to protect Taiwan from communist encroachment her resiliency, love for her country prevailed and she made the decision to advocate for Peace and Democracy. 

She loves children and longed to have a family of her own. She's also into environmental concern. She planted trees and sowed the seed of love in friendly Japan her second home... Historical footnote of planting trees at Miska Highland, Mishima-machi in Japan and Teresa stayed at  Furusato-so Inn revelling music with the kids. A poem as lovely as a tree.

According to Teresa Teng... She did not consider herself as a Superstar and just considering herself as a human being. She was given the prestigious Golden Bell Award for Best Female Vocalist in Taiwan. The only girl in the family of 5. She was interviewed by DZRT in Taiwan at that time and she was 30 years old and not yet married. The interview was done on her birthday on January 29, 1983.

She raised so many charities for children and the needy with her singing. She's dedicated and loving and had a soft spot for children. She's a contract star of Polydor, Japan. Working in Japan for 5 years was very tough. Working 12 hours a day rehearsing. In 5 years she learned a lot. After that, she stayed in California, USA. I studied there and took a preparatory course in college specializing in Language at the University of Southern California. She had been to the USA once before settling there in the USA in the ’80s and stayed with her younger brother. She speaks fluently in so many languages like English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, French, etc.

She was born on January 29, 1953, and passed away in Chang Mai, Thailand while on vacation due to heart seizure and asthma attack on May 8, 1995. Teresa Teng Memorial Park Beautiful Flowers did not blossom all the year round and things are not always as rosy as they sound. These are the verses of the famous Mandarin pop song then ‘Will You Come Back Again’ which had made its singer a singing legend in every Chinese speaking country. 

Once you entered Jinbao Mountain, besides being besotted by the surrounding scenery, the memory of Teresa Teng, sometimes intimately called little Teng may overwhelm your emotion because it is here that lies the tomb of this patriotic singer who was forever the darling of the army. On May 8, 1995, the Chinese speaking community was shocked by the tragic news of the death of their singing idol. Teresa was found dead of asthma while holidaying in Ching Mai, Thailand. At that time she was only 42 years old. Because of her popularity, a lot of people wished to pay tribute to Teresa. To satisfy the wishes of these fans, the Teng family members had chosen the picturesque Jinbao Mountain and built a tomb for Teresa, naming it after her maiden name as Yun Garden so that her fans could come to pay tribute in reminiscence of their idol at will. A giant keyboard installed in the ground by high-tech design, releasing tunes of melody once being stepped on. In a small flower-bed, scrubs are being cut and arranged in the form of musical notes. A white statue representing Teresa Teng stood in the middle showing her love of music. Automatic Music Box is containing 10 of Teresa’s famous pop songs such as “When Will You Come Back Again”, “Story of a Small Town”, The Moon Represents My Heart, etc. for fans to renew their memory of the sweet voice of Teresa when they pay tribute to their idol.

In conclusion...

Fame and Fortune two of the most coveted prize that the world offers. But is it enough? To some its important, to others, it's their whole life, but to a good number of people in fame and fortune, there is a need to find the strength and resiliency in true love. But love comes in many forms, it may mean love your work, love the people around you or love the things around you that are important to you. But if you think with your heart, it's the people, your loved ones that reciprocate your love back. If you loved the people who love you back then your probably the luckiest and lovable person in this world. But what if the people whom you loved and cared for did not reciprocate back the love and care? The answer, Love is always given away not kept for his or her own sake.

Asian Superstar Teresa Teng performing at the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC) in the Philippines.

An irony in life always teaches us to be resilient, forgiving and it teaches us three things namely:

1.) To accept the things or conditions we can not change.

2.) To change what needs to change it can mean changing your mindset or the mindset of others.

3.) The wisdom and meditation to know the difference between what can not be changed and what can and must change. Knowledge and experience gained from the past, present and the future enables and empowers us to move forward and keeps us ahead in times of crisis. Life teaches us to learn from people we know and from people we do not know, we gain knowledge and experience from their love, life, and works that they leave behind. Sometimes inspirations and solutions can be derived from people who leave a good legacy. There are so many unsung heroes and heroines written and unwritten in global histories. Chinese and some Asian countries give importance and highest honours to the unsung heroes especially those who fell during history's greatest moments.

About Teresa Teng... Fans had this to say.

Original Fan 5 years ago

The video where Teresa's younger brother revealed why her sister broke off her intended marriage with Beau Kuok, son of Malaysia's "Sugar King" and the owner of Shangri-la Hotels, Robert Kuok, even though she was deeply in love with him. I gathered that her brother said it was because of a number of demands by the Kuok family which included her curtailing all her links with the entertainment industry and her singing career. I guess the Kuok family thought that she should be happy enough after securing such a big fish. Very tragic mentality. She did not exist to take away anything from anyone because she had immeasurable value beyond what earthly gold and money could buy. She was very precious as a person and she had a lot to give without the help of anyone. For Teresa, it wasn't tragic at all because it wasn't difficult for her to choose, so she chose her fans instead. She had so much to give but some folks thought she wanted to take or be immersed in luxury and be surrounded by servants all day long. We love you, Teresa! Viva Teresa! You are a heroine! You will be remembered forever in our hearts for generations.

Woody Pulp 5 months ago

People admire her vocal and linguistic talents, her courage, determination, and charisma; her kindness and her easygoing girl-next-door friendliness. Being a superstar she served as a bridge across cultural barriers and, later in life, she committed to love and peace by often sporting in public the V gesture (as in loVe), a sign which stands for love and peace from the U.S. peace movement in the 1970's (she attended the University of Southern California in 1979). So, people to this day still regard her as a voice for love and peace. A true legend, she even in the afterlife continued to be an inspiration. Yet, will time wash it away into oblivion? I believe a voice with a true spirit will last forever.

Teresa Teng was an angel with an inner light shone brightly out to the world where millions upon millions were inspired and comforted by her spirit as well as her mesmerizing voice. She brought us hope, peace, and joy during her lifetime and will forever nestle fondly in our hearts.

tom chang

6 years ago

I think Teresa Deng is not by an asthma attack like I said, When God sends Teresa Deng to this world is to sing for the people, like angel, but when her mission accomplished, then God will call her back, because the angel belongs to God only, so I think it is the time to go back to the heaven, but Teresa will living inside everybody's heart forever.

Woody Pulp 1 year ago

Teresa Teng, an exquisite, accomplished singer who led an illustrious life through her own talent and skills, diligence, foresight, and perseverance. Passion and truth were all she needed and lived for. I believe she always knew her rightful place under the sun and wouldn't have cared, one way or the other, other people's assessment of her. In the end, she was her own self-made woman and an all-around winner. When, after 23 years, people still travel a great distance to be at her gravesite memorializing her that, to me, is a paramount testament to her exemplary character and adorable personality which command true respect and eternal affection and admiration. I'm just too glad that she had worked so tirelessly during her short life and left behind for us to enjoy more than one thousand mesmerizing songs in as many as half a dozen languages. They are truly timeless treasures of the human race.

Woody Pulp 6 months ago

Teresa Teng was a true trailblazer and had been the first of a lot of things in her life. But after death, she continued to set records. The most noteworthy was the first artist to be interned with a State-like honor with the national flag draped over her casket; the first Chinese singer being honored with her portrait and name on the real postal stamps by North Korea (1996), Granada (1998), and Taiwan (2015); the first non-citizen being voted the most culturally influential person in new China's history (2009); the first Asian diva who on 1-29-2018 was prominently featured on Google Doodle, her 65th birthday; and being the first foreigner who's been extensively and fondly memorialized by Japanese TV for 24 years in a row; so on and on and just too many firsts to list. People admired her vocal and linguistic talents, her courage, determination, and charisma; and they were attracted to her warm smiles, kindness, and her easygoing girl-next-door friendliness. Being a superstar Teresa Teng served as a bridge across cultural barriers and, later in life, she brought awareness to love and peace by often flashing in public the peace hand gesture V (as in loVe), a sign which stood for love and peace from the 1970's U.S. peace movement (she attended the University of Southern California in 1979). So, people to this day still regard her as a voice for love and peace in Asia. Teresa Teng has truly been a bright guiding star for the last 50 years - half in life and a half in the afterlife. She and her artistry is now a part of the anthologies of Chinese and Japanese popular music. But will this shining beacon be darkened by the dust of TIME? I believe a sincere, heartstrings-tugging voice with an indomitable spirit will shine ever forever as long as there is still goodness left in humanity.

Asian Superstar Teresa Teng was named in 1986 by the Time Magazine as one of the top influential singer of the world and accrued one (1) billion fans unprecedented in the history of music. Google take notice of this and gave her recognition. She said she travelled a lot and visited countries like Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Teresa's younger brother revealed why her sister broke off her intended marriage with Beau Kuok, son of Malaysia's "Sugar King" and the owner of Shangri-la Hotels, Robert Kuok, even though she was deeply in love with him. I gathered that her brother said it was because of a number of demands by the Kuok family which included her curtailing all her links with the entertainment industry and her singing career. I guess the Kuok family thought that she should be happy enough after securing such a big fish. Very tragic mentality. She did not exist to take away anything from anyone because she had immeasurable value beyond what earthly gold and money could buy. She was very precious as a person and she had a lot to give without the help of anyone. For Teresa, it wasn't tragic at all because it wasn't difficult for her to choose, so she chose her fans instead. She had so much to give but some folks thought she wanted to take or be immersed in luxury and be surrounded by servants all day long. We love you, Teresa! Viva Teresa! You are a heroine! You will be remembered forever in our hearts for generations.

Lester Kok4 years ago

Ten superlatives of Teresa Teng: 1.) The youngest kid that is said to have personally commissioned a professional studio glamor shot of herself -- at the tender age of four! -- without first consulting her parents, only later to have them collect and pay for the finished product on her behalf, hence prefiguring even before she got into kindergarten her relish of the limelight that she would eventually get into big-time down the road. 2.) The first female foreign diva to culturally conquer Japan all by her lonesome in just a few years by the 70s, and to hold to this day her Japanese currency. 3.) The first Chinese singer to headline in Las Vegas and in Lincoln Center, New York in the 80s. 4.) The first cross-cultural singer fully at ease in performance in more than half a dozen languages from Asia to America. 5.) According to the number of Teresa Teng Google search hits, the only singer whose popularity still grows by the year 20 years after her demise. 6.) The only diva with more memorial shrines and museums in her honour than any illustrious expired entertainer...spanning a couple in her native Taiwan, to several in China (at her ancestral home, as well as in Shanghai and Beijing) and one in Thailand (at the hotel suite she last sojourned). 7.) No singer has more personal wannabe emulators than Teresa (Elvis excepted; he is, however merely costumed look-alikes anyway. 8.) A diva of superstardom yet so un-prima donna-ish in style and deportment, which makes her the most unassuming singing legend of grace, humility, and beauty. 9.) A mega diva unpossessed of any major personal scandals or skeletons in the closet. Her exposure to the glitz and glamor of showbiz notwithstanding, by all accounts, hers was an exemplary, disciplined life, unspoiled by the trappings of her early and continuing successes. 10.) Teresa is the consummate spirit of love whose poetic lyrics speak eloquently to life’s romances and heartaches, dreams and reminiscences, to human challenges, perseverance, and celebrations. Her personal real-life persona is best encapsulated by a line in her English rendition of Paul Anka’s My Way: “...I faced it all, and I stood tall, and did it my way.” True to the spirit of her many romantic ballads that celebrated love, she eventually found her all-consuming romantic love outside her familiar culture in Paul, a Frenchman, contrary to the wishes and advice of her tight-knit family. According to the 14-year-old younger Paul, their 6-year blissful affaire de cœur was to be formalized into matrimony in August of that fateful year 1995, just 3 months later had she lived. So any snide characterization of Paul being a mere toy boy of hers, would be disrespectful at best and at worst an insult to Teresa’s spirit of love and integrity. In her quiet, low-key manner, the sui generis diva extraordinaire had worked and lived life to the fullest.

BlessAll2015KC1 year ago

Teresa's music penetrates people's hearts & communicates directly with human souls. Undoubtedly her spiritual energy, expressed so thoroughly in her songs, has continued to radiate throughout the universe to delight all sentient beings since her passing in 1995. As the greatest angelic singer who has ever graced planet Earth, for millions of Teresa's music lovers, her songs have healed broken hearts, restored wounded spirits and shared their ups & downs in daily life. In other words, her music has provided nourishment, renewal & delight in their hearts & minds. She has become a hidden partner in their lives. Teresa Teng's contribution to our world exceeds far beyond any economic data (e.g. song/video/CD/record sales, sold-out concerts, TV appearances,...etc ) can ever represent.

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Thousands of fans turned up at the funeral of Taiwanese pop singer Teresa Teng on Sunday. Family, friends, and fans paid their last respects to her in an open coffin in Taipei before she was buried at a cemetery in the capital's suburb. The singer, who has a huge following in Asia, died of asthma earlier this month in Thailand. She was only 42. Fans began lining the streets outside the City Funeral Parlour early this morning, waiting to pay their last respects to the singer Teresa Teng. To many of her fans, she was more than just a pop star - Teresa Teng stood for democracy. Despite the ban on Teng's sentimental love songs as 'spiritual pollution' from communist China, her music was widely smuggled into the mainland. But Teng stood firm in her anti-communist views by refusing to hold concerts on the mainland - even after the travel ban for Taiwanese to China was dropped in 1987. Then after China cracked down on pro-democracy students in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Teng sang at concerts and attended protests against the communist government's actions. Family members, Taiwanese officials - including the Prime Minister - and celebrities said their last good-byes to her today. About 7-thousand fans also showed up to walk past her open coffin. Teng has died from asthma on May 8 while on a visit to Thailand. The singer had in fact retired from performing professionally in recent years and had been living in France. At the end of the viewing, officials from the ruling Nationalist Party covered her copper coffin with a Taiwan flag. The coffin was carried by soldiers to a hearse for the funeral procession to the cemetery. Tang Lan Hua, another famous Taiwanese singer, was still in shock by the news of her close friend's death. SOUNDBITE: (In Mandarin) "When journalists from Hong Kong told me that Teresa was dead, I couldn't believe it, but it was finally when I came here today that I realized it was true." SUPER CAPTION: Tang Lan Hua, Taiwanese singer Crowds of fans then gathered at the Jin Bao Shan cemetery in the Taipei suburb of Chinshan for the burial of their national heroine. Teng began singing at the age of six and had produced hundreds of records in Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong, and since the announcement of her death, record shops in Taipei have been sold out.

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Asian Superstar Teresa Teng movie about her life story in Japanese language.

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