May 14, 2024
From cleansing and honor to humility and gratitude: Reflections from the 3-in-1 event
By Joy Rojas
As it happens only once a year, the joint celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day is an event worth experiencing, whether as a first-time participant or one assigned to a task they had never done before.
Held every second Sunday of May, this event of repentance and renewal is highlighted by a Buddha Bathing Ceremony. Facing a crystal image of Buddha, participants bow a first time and dip their fingers in a bowl of water, a symbol of touching Buddha’s feet. In a second bow, they pick a wooden leaf-shaped token bearing Dharma wisdom inscribed in Chinese. In this simple act, a blessing has been received.
On May 12 at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila, over 800 Tzu Chi volunteers, staff, scholars, Technical-Vocational scholars, and special guests gathered for a moving commemoration of the ritual. For each one, the Buddha Bathing Ceremony touched them in a unique way.
Arnello Valerio, who normally spends Mother’s Day with his wife and mom, accompanied 26 Tzu Chi scholars for this new experience. “It's my first time to witness this kind of event, and I felt that I was welcomed by everyone,” says the director of student affairs and services of Pampanga State Agricultural University. “I felt honored to have been a part of it.”
Fellow first-timer Dr. Jose Ramon I. Guzman found the event an appropriate way to celebrate Mother’s Day. “I was very close to my mother, and she was with me until she was 95 years old. I actually took care of her personally,” says Dr. Guzman, a volunteer doctor with TIMA (Tzu Chi International Medical Association). “The principles that the Buddha Day celebration was talking about—peace, understanding, love—those were the things that my mother taught me. And so, these messages hit me in a very special way.”
Of his first Buddha Bathing Ceremony, Dr. Guzman considers it “an experience of cleansing and introspection. I felt the peace and the love of the community.”
In the past two years, Ben Baquilod watched the Buddha Bathing Ceremony from the sidelines as a writer with Tzu Chi’s Department of Communications. This time, he witnessed the ritual from a raised podium where he and volunteer Miaolin Li served as this year’s masters of ceremonies.
Hesitant at first, as his previous hosting stints were for kiddie parties and hospital visits with Kythe Foundation, the NGO for children with cancer, Ben felt nervous and unqualified for such an important undertaking. As the event neared, his doubts were replaced with humility and gratitude for an opportunity that isn’t given to everyone.
“It felt like such a big responsibility. I felt like Miao and I were leading an orchestra, where the timing of what we were saying had to be precise,” he says. “But it also felt like I was part of something big. While watching everyone during the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, I felt more inspired to do good. I felt the spirit, the solemnity, the sacredness.”
Even seemingly menial tasks elicited joy and pride in those that handled them. The foot guides on the plaza grounds indicating where a participant should stand during the Buddha Bathing Ceremony are by volunteer Willy Sy. Working quietly on his own, he endured the heat and humidity of the afternoon sun while taping 18 of the foot guides on either side of the rectangular tables and 12 on the round table.
It's an unenviable job, for sure, but one that the volunteer was happy to take on. “I am lucky to do this,” says Willy. “Not everyone gets the chance.”
That’s the beauty of the 3-in-1 event. Whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or the nth time, there’s always something new to discover.
“It's true what they say that you won't know until you try,” says Ben. “I'm thankful that I was given the opportunity to do something outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes you’re forced to do things that you feel you cannot do, and yet it turns out good for you.”
Working quietly by himself, volunteer Willy Sy took on the unenviable task of taping foot guides for participants of the Buddha Bathing Ceremony. Despite enduring the afternoon heat and humidity, he was happy to do it. “I am lucky,” he says. “Not everyone gets this chance.”
Sharing hosting duties of this year’s 3-in-1 event with volunteer Miaolin Li (left), Ben Baquilod felt nervous and unqualified at first. In time, his doubts would be replaced by humility and gratitude for an opportunity not given to everyone.
Tzu Chi’s kitchen is one of the busiest areas for major events like May 12’s 3-in-1 event. Here, volunteers prepare ingredients for a vegetarian menu.
Tzu Chi scholars' mothers help out in the preparations by bringing potted orchids to the Buddha Bathing Ceremony tables.
Working together harmoniously contributes to the success of large-scale celebrations like May 12’s 3-in-1 event. Volunteers help put green and white accents on a table for the Buddha Bathing Ceremony.
Though he normally spends Mother’s Day with his wife and mom, Arnello Valerio (standing right, in mint green shirt) accompanied 26 Tzu Chi Pampanga scholars to Tzu Chi’s 3-in-1 event at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila. “It's my first time to witness this kind of event, and I felt that I was welcomed by everyone,” says the director of student affairs and services of Pampanga State Agricultural University. “I felt honored to have been a part of it.”
At the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, Tzu Chi scholars and youth touch a bowl with water, a gesture of respect that symbolizes touching the feet of Buddha.
From his vantage point on an elevated podium, 3-in-1 host Ben Baquilod (right) “felt more inspired to do good. I felt the spirit, the solemnity, the sacredness.” He credits co-emcee Miaolin Li (left) for her guidance and support. “We encouraged each other,” says Ben.
The Buddha Bathing Ceremony and walking meditation that followed took many hours of practice to perfect. Volunteers and scholars spent time going over the ritual.
The Buddha Bathing Ceremony and walking meditation that followed took many hours of practice to perfect. Volunteers and scholars spent time going over the ritual.
The Buddha Bathing Ceremony and walking meditation that followed took many hours of practice to perfect. Volunteers and scholars spent time going over the ritual.
The Buddha Bathing Ceremony and walking meditation that followed took many hours of practice to perfect. Volunteers and scholars spent time going over the ritual.
With diligence and dedication, Tzu Chi Philippines organized yet another successful celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day.
With diligence and dedication, Tzu Chi Philippines organized yet another successful celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day.
With diligence and dedication, Tzu Chi Philippines organized yet another successful celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day.
With diligence and dedication, Tzu Chi Philippines organized yet another successful celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day.
With diligence and dedication, Tzu Chi Philippines organized yet another successful celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day.