WITH Mothers Day just over and Fathers Day approaching, food souvenir entrepreneur Aesos Lai hopes more Malaysians will take time to reflect on how they treat their parents.
Through his self-published book Filial Piety, he hopes to encourage conversations about gratitude, family responsibility and caring for parents while they are still around.
The 63-year-old is making 500 copies of the book available until the end of June, with recipients encouraged to make voluntary donations to two children’s homes.
“The book is not for sale, but those who ask for a copy can donate directly to the homes or channel their contributions through me.
“How much they give is up to them,” he said.
Lai told StarMetro that the donations would benefit the Hiichiikok Foundation in Taman Rainbow, Kuala Lumpur, and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Mary Kuala Lumpur in Setapak.
He said the homes were selected because of their work in supporting children’s basic needs and education.
The book contains original and adapted quotes on filial piety, gratitude, personal development, and business.
Lai said the book was put together with the help of his wife and printed as a personal project.
“About a third of the book focuses on filial piety, while the rest includes broader reflections on life, personal growth and business values,” he said.
“The book is also a continuation of a message I have carried through my work over the years,” he added.
Lai, who has been involved in the food and souvenir business for more than a decade, said some of his earlier food souvenir products, including coffee items, featured family members on the packaging as a way to honour parents.
He said the gesture was a way to thank parents for bringing their children into the world and supporting them through life.
Lai said his own views on filial piety were shaped by his upbringing in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, where his father worked as a teacher while his mother began working in her 40s to support the family.
He said his mother travelled by bus to Kuala Lumpur to sell magazine subscriptions, going from office to office to help provide a better life for her children.
“I saw the sacrifices my mother made for us.
“She worked hard so that we could have a better life,” he said.
Lai shared that his mother, now 89, remained a major influence in his life.
He still checks on her regularly and tries to spend as much time with her as possible.
“We must love our parents and spend as much time with them while we can.
“Do not keep giving excuses, because none of us can guarantee that they will still be here tomorrow,” he said.
Lai said filial piety should not be seen as an outdated idea, but as a reminder to show gratitude through time, attention and care.
Those interested in obtaining the book can WhatsApp Lai at 016-218 8338.
