August 17, 2026
Bound for a greater purpose
By Thania Florendo
Most adults would hope to turn back time and experience life gently and more kindly. Life was never easy, but Carll Maverick Salac and his family lived a simple and humble life in Roseller T. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay. Although they struggled financially, the whole family kept him and his siblings in school. They had little but so much to cherish.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the country to a standstill, the then-14-year-old Salac welcomed class suspensions, like many students his age. In that same year, his mother gave birth to his fourth sibling. His routine over those two years was to foster the rest of his siblings so his parents could leave every morning before sunrise. His father would drive his mother to make Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) deliveries.
“I am proud that my siblings and I were able to manage. After our parents left early for work, I fed, bathed, and cared for my siblings until our parents returned around nine or ten at night,” he said.
These responsibilities shaped Salac to grow up fast, not by age, but by the responsibility given to him. Yet another pregnancy was on the way that he and his siblings didn’t know about until their mother’s belly became obvious.
In September 2022, his mother was due to give birth again, this time to his fifth sibling. Due to fever, she was admitted to the hospital for three days before delivering their youngest. Salac knew that the woman who had walked into the hospital had been strong, active, and an all-rounder; loved for her warmth, strength, and unwavering sacrifice. Yet, she never got out of the hospital.
On September 14, 2022, Salac lost his mother. On the day she died, she was immediately buried as per COVID’s health and safety protocol. The day after her death was Salac’s birthday.
Salac was in denial that his mother was never coming home. “After childbirth, we talked through video calls and she even promised me to be home before my birthday. I believed my mother would recover and come home, just like she always did. I couldn’t believe it and the loss shattered me in a way I can never fully describe.”
Yet, as life often does, time moves forward without waiting for anyone. Salac welcomed another year of his life carrying grief while helping keep the household running for his siblings.
In a single day, he lost his mother and the security that kept the family intact. He watched the loss break their family as the siblings temporarily lived in different homes with their relatives. Salac and his two younger siblings stayed with their maternal grandmother.
Another problem occurred when his youngest brother began experiencing serious health problems because his late mother was unable to undergo regular prenatal checkups during her pregnancy. The baby’s umbilical cord failed to heal properly, causing persistent bleeding whenever he had to urinate or defecate. The only option they had was to resort to taking huge loans to fund the urgent surgery. The surgery was successful but the financial burden left the family starting over once more.
Despite all the problems, he refused to yield. He focused on his studies, and in college, he enrolled at Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Community Development. On weekdays, he lives in a dormitory for his schooling and returns home on weekends to help his grandmother with household chores.
Before approaching his second year, he learned about Tzu Chi Foundation’s scholarship program, but the application period had already closed. He bravely took his chance by calling the foundation’s office but was met with disappointment. Salac refused to accept the disappointment; he persistently went to their school’s scholarship office to try again.
Stories and cases like Salac’s are given attention and consideration. The next thing he knew, he was in an interview with Tzu Chi staff. The next day, they paid him a home visit and later accepted him as a Tzu Chi scholar.
Now an incoming fourth-year student, 19-year-old Salac describes his experience as a Tzu Chi scholar as happy, surrounded by people who are supportive of his dreams.
“Thank you, Tzu Chi, for helping me help myself and, more importantly, allowing me to extend help to others. That boosted my heart even more. Although I am struggling, it doesn’t mean that I cannot offer help to others,” he said.
His scholarship and academic achievements are being celebrated and supported by his family, who, despite the hard life, had persevered to make life bearable. They became a constant emotional support for one another.
“I wrote a letter to [Tzu Chi Zamboanga OIC and Deputy CEO] Dr. Anton Mari Lim. I thought that if I were to grow up, I wanted to be like Doc Anton—someone who is inspiring. To be like the rest of the Tzu Chi volunteers, who helped us scholars considerately,” he said.
Despite the pain, loss, and responsibilities he has carried, Salac has transformed his experiences into a life devoted to serving others. Often, those who have endured the greatest hardships are the ones most willing to bring hope to others.
Today, Salac has become an agent of change. By saving a portion of his scholarship allowance, he has joined volunteer outreach activities in far-flung communities, bringing school supplies and hope to children who need them most.
With a heart devoted to family, Carll Maverick Salac (back row, second from left) took responsibility early in life, ensuring his siblings were always cared for.
Before losing his mother, Carll Maverick Salac celebrated every academic achievement with her by his side.
Amid the pressures of college, the young scholar remains a constant presence in his siblings' lives. He makes time to visit and care for them whenever he can.
Carll Maverick Salac actively participates in Tzu Chi activities, including the Tzu Chi Charity Run for Education.
Carll Maverick Salac (first from left) takes an active role in various initiatives led by Tzu Chi Zamboanga.
Through the values he learned from Tzu Chi, he wants to bring hope and service to underserved communities.
Experiences like the feeding program in his student organization have played a meaningful role in shaping his character and values.
Carll Maverick Salac reflects on the importance of family during the 2026 Scholars’ Camp held at Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Carll Maverick Salac prays for better days ahead for him and for his family.