April 14, 2025
43 Ata Manobo avail of eye checkup outreach organized by Tzu Chi Davao and Family Eye Care clinic
By Joy Rojas
Tzu Chi Davao collaborated with the Family Eye Care clinic for its first-ever eye checkup outreach on March 25 at the Barangay Gupitan Hall in Kapalong Municipality, Davao Del Norte.
Members of the Ata Manobo community in Barangay Gupitan were the beneficiaries of this outreach. It’s the latest initiative for the Indigenous Peoples (IP) who are part of Tzu Chi Davao’s Seed of Change Project, a poverty-alleviating program. Kapalong is the second site of the project in Region XI after Talaingod, whose community now thrives after a banana tree-planting livelihood program was launched in 2022.
Forty-three Ata Manobo IP availed of the free eye screening from 10 am to 2 pm. Of those screened, eight were diagnosed with cataract, six with pterygium (a fleshy growth in the eye), and four with both cataract and pterygium. Their treatments will be fully supported by Tzu Chi Davao’s liaison office. Aside from screening, the outreach offered free reading glasses to the residents.
"I never expected that there would be a small community here,” said Karl Dennis Sollano, business development officer for Family Eye Care clinic, who was joined in the outreach by one ophthalmologist and one nurse. “The long drive made me think there wouldn't be many people, but to my surprise, there are so many here. I’m curious how Tzu Chi Foundation managed to identify this area.”
Barangay Gupitan is one of the 14 barangays of the Municipality of Kapalong, a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA). In a house-to-house ocular visit, Tzu Chi Davao volunteers noted that eye health was among the top and evident concerns in the community. Living in a GIDA makes it difficult for residents to access treatment from the nearest hospital, a good two-hour drive away. Many also do not have the resources for healthcare, as they depend mostly on selling root crops for their livelihood.
Before the outreach, Tzu Chi Davao volunteers and Family Eye Care clinic staff paid a courtesy call to Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol, who expressed her appreciation to Dharma Master Cheng Yen for deploying volunteers in the area. Nelson Chua, officer-in-charge of Tzu Chi Davao, presented Mayor Timbol with copies of the Tzu Chi Philippines anniversary books, “A Mission of Love” and “The Power of Compassion,” which highlighted the foundation's history and accomplishments in the country in the last 30 years.
In a short program held at Gupitan Integrated School, Tzu Chi Davao Deputy Officer-in-Charge Mei Yuen Ang engaged the community with stories of the Tzu Chi Foundation and its founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen. She also explained the history and relevance of Tzu Chi’s coin cans, underscoring the essence of giving and compassion that fuels the drive of Tzu Chi volunteers. Beneficiaries supported the foundation’s cycle of love by dropping donations into Tzu Chi’s coin cans. Each also received a copy of Master Cheng Yen’s Jing Si aphorisms.
Kapalong Women Coordinator Mericell Cabusas conveyed her sincere appreciation to the Tzu Chi Foundation. "Tzu Chi Foundation is indeed a blessing to our community! Not only did it include us in its poverty-alleviation program, but it has also given much-needed medical care to our people," she said.
Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol (center) receives Tzu Chi Davao volunteers and Family Eye Care staff in a courtesy call before an eye checkup outreach for Ata Manobo residents. The mayor is flanked by (clockwise from left) Angelo Santos and Karl Dennis Sollano of Family Eye Care, Tzu Chi Davao Officer-in-Charge Nelson Chua, and Family Eye Care’s Dr. Chris Sasam.
Ata Manobo residents of Kapalong Municipality hold up their stubs to avail of free eye checkup services organized by Tzu Chi Davao and Family Eye Care clinic.
Tzu Chi scholar Brelyn Tandayun (in blue) and apprentice volunteers conduct intake interviews on Ata Manobo beneficiaries before their eye checkup.
Family Eye Care nurse Angelo Santos assesses a patient’s eyesight using the Snellen chart.
A patient looks into a refractor as Family Eye Care in-house doctor Chris Sasam examines her eyes.
At a short program before the checkup, Tzu Chi Davao Deputy OIC Mei Yuen Ang engages Ata Manobo community members with the story of Tzu Chi Foundation and Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Tzu Chi Davao Officer-in-Charge Nelson Chua (left) shows Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol a photo from the book “The Power of Compassion” of volunteers wading through a river to reach the indigenous Talaingod farmers. Through Tzu Chi Davao’s Seed of Change Project, a poverty-alleviating program, these farmers now have a sustainable livelihood from a banana tree-planting initiative launched by Tzu Chi in 2022.
Family Eye Care’s Karl Dennis Sollano (center) informs beneficiaries on proper eye care and health awareness as Tzu Chi Davao Officer-in-Charge Nelson Chua (left) and Deputy OIC Mei Yuen Ang (right) listen.
Tzu Chi Davao Deputy OIC Mei Yuen Ang explains the significance of Tzu Chi’s coin can.
Tzu Chi Davao volunteers, Family Eye Care staff, and members of the Kapalong community gather for a group photo.