January 15, 2025
Milestones and firsts highlighted in Year End Blessing Ceremony
By Joy Rojas
It was a year of super typhoons (six of them arriving in quick succession), fast-spreading fires, various illnesses, and simply trying to make it from day to day. But Tzu Chi volunteers will also remember 2024 as a year of breakthroughs, changed lives, and hope in humanity restored. Such milestones were highlighted in a Year End Blessing Ceremony organized on January 12 at the Jing Si Auditorium of Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus (BTCC), Sta. Mesa, Manila.
A morning session conducted in English and Filipino was attended by 641 Tzu Chi commissioners and Faith Corps volunteers, special guests, Tzu Chi scholars, Tech-Voc students, Tzu Chi Youth, members of Tzu Chi International Medical Association, and Tzu Chi Foundation staffers, while an afternoon session in Chinese welcomed an audience of 433.
In both gatherings, Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Woon Ng reported on the foundation’s great strides in the year that coincided with Tzu Chi’s 30th anniversary in the country.
In 2024, Tzu Chi helped 923 charity cases, served 15,317 patients in its medical assistance program, and assisted 11,764 families following disasters. Volunteers distributed 214 tons of rice, 2,600 galvanized iron sheets, and P6.4 million in cash vouchers.
Thirteen medical missions were conducted all over the country, providing 14,394 patients with free quality healthcare.
At Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines, 29 children were enrolled in its nursery and pre-kindergarten classes. In Tzu Chi’s Educational Assistance Program, 1,550 scholars from eight regions were served, 311 applicants were admitted for schoolyear 2024-2025, and 191 graduated from college—63 of them with honors. Tzu Chi’s Technical-Vocational program accepted 55 new scholars, and graduated 39 students from its welding, caregiving, and refrigerator and air-conditioning courses. All Tech-Voc scholars received their National Certificate issued by TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority).
For Ng, the end of the pandemic and its restrictive lockdowns was a perfect opportunity for volunteers to revive highly anticipated activities and launch new ones. “We were able to bring back our medical missions and we went as far as Palo, Leyte and Sultan Kudarat,” she notes. Fiesta Verde, the beloved vegetarian and lifestyle fair, was also back after a two-year absence. “Hope we can do it earlier this year,” she says.
As for the milestones in 2024, Ng counts three: Tzu Chi’s first-ever Charity Run for Education, which drew over 6,000 participants to run for a good cause, and the completion of the Palo Great Love Village in Leyte, and Unity Hall in BTCC. “Brother Henry [Yuñez, Tzu Chi Philippines CEO] was able to accomplish the fullness of the renovation,” she says of the campus’s newest building. “Right now, it’s already in use.”
Two of those who benefited from Tzu Chi’s generosity were on hand to share their personal milestones and thank the people for making them possible.
Raised by his grandparents and their modest earnings from a convenience store, Gene delos Santos grew up believing that life wasn’t fair. Little did he know that the best was yet to come.
Upon learning about Tzu Chi and its scholarship program from the girlfriend of an uncle, he tried his luck and was accepted in his freshman year. A Tzu Chi scholar for his entire college life, he completed his Bachelor of Engineering Technology major in Electronics Communication Technology at the Technological University of the Philippines.
Set to join a Business Process Outsourcing company after graduation, he was offered the post of IT and audio-visual technician under Tzu Chi’s Office of the CEO after volunteers were impressed by how he managed the audio-visual requirements of a three-day Scholars’ Camp all by himself.
“It’s an eye-opener for me,” he says of being part of the foundation that transformed his life. “After receiving help as a scholar, it feels good to help others this time.”
Too shy to address a large audience, Prince Galban had his mom Lenlen speak for him while he clung to her side. “He now makes TikTok videos!” announced Lenlen to the delight of the crowd.
It wasn’t long ago when the slightest movement caused him excruciating pain. Prince, who sustained a fracture from a fall, was diagnosed with Pott disease or tuberculosis of the spine. When volunteers Ting Ting Pua and Shirley Chua first met him in a home visit, they instantly took pity on the boy.
“He was lying down and couldn’t move,” recalls Pua. “He had large abscesses on his leg and back,” adds Chua. “As mothers, it was hard for us to see him that way.”
Both expressed admiration for Lenlen, who patiently carried her then 10-year-old son through three commutes from their home in Las Piñas to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, where she lined up for a consult. Compelled to give her a wheelchair even if she didn’t ask for it, volunteers also granted her request for a body brace and MRI of the spine, which helped determine the appropriate treatment for her son’s condition.
Today, Prince is like any boy his age. No longer dependent on his mother to get around, he can walk, play, go to school, and yes, even make TikTok videos. Volunteers will continue to monitor his condition and progress in 2025—and beyond.
“That’s what Master Cheng Yen wants,” says Pua. “Not just to give people what they need for the moment and then leave, but to see them through the end, until their lives are much better.”
It’s a goal volunteers have taken to heart. “Every Tzu Chi volunteer has a simple dream, a simple commitment,” says Ng. “We say it's simple, but actually, it's very profound. We just want whatever charity actions that we've done to be sustainable, as in this cycle of love. Hopefully through all these charity works, we can work continually, sustainably.”
Tzu Chi Foundation Bank Account Name: Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines Inc.
Metrobank Account Number: 163-3-163-07190-9
Banco de Oro Account Number: 011-9-7800-180-0
DSWD Authority/Solicitation Permit No. DSWD-SB-SP-00055-2024 VALID UNTIL OCTOBER 28, 2025, NATIONWIDE
At the entrance of Jing Si Auditorium, guests and volunteers are invited to write down their wishes for the new year, encase them in battery-operated votive candles, and place them on a shelf.
At the entrance of Jing Si Auditorium, guests and volunteers are invited to write down their wishes for the new year, encase them in battery-operated votive candles, and place them on a shelf.
Chinese calligraphers stationed by the entrance of Jing Si Auditorium hand-write auspicious messages in scrolls for guests to hang in their homes.
Chinese calligraphers stationed by the entrance of Jing Si Auditorium hand-write auspicious messages in scrolls for guests to hang in their homes.
Six hundred forty-one Tzu Chi commissioners and Faith Corps volunteers, special guests, Tzu Chi scholars, Tech-Voc students, Tzu Chi Youth, members of Tzu Chi International Medical Association, and Tzu Chi Foundation staffers attended a morning program conducted in English and Filipino, while an afternoon program in Chinese welcomed an audience of 433.
Six hundred forty-one Tzu Chi commissioners and Faith Corps volunteers, special guests, Tzu Chi scholars, Tech-Voc students, Tzu Chi Youth, members of Tzu Chi International Medical Association, and Tzu Chi Foundation staffers attended a morning program conducted in English and Filipino, while an afternoon program in Chinese welcomed an audience of 433.
Tzu Chi volunteers Jane Sy (left) and Ligaya Ng served as hosts of the morning program of the Year End Blessing Ceremony.
Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Woon Ng gave a report on Tzu Chi’s achievements in 2024. She considers the return of large-scale medical missions in Sultan Kudarat and Palo, Leyte; the revival of the vegetarian food fair Fiesta Verde; the launch of Tzu Chi’s first Charity Run for Education; and the completion of Unity Hall in Tzu Chi’s Sta. Mesa campus and permanent housing in Palo among the highlights of 2024.
Once in a scholar’s light blue-and-white uniform, Gene delos Santos now wears a Tzu Chi staffer’s formal shirt and tie since he became the foundation’s IT and audio-visual technician under the Office of the CEO in September 2023. “It’s an eye-opener for me,” he says of his job. “After receiving help as a scholar, it feels good to help others this time.”
With volunteers Shirley Chua and Ting Ting Pua (first and second from right) looking on, Lenlen Galban speaks for her son Prince, who clings shyly to her side. Upon sustaining a fracture from a fall, Prince was later diagnosed with Pott disease or tuberculosis of the spine. Thanks to Tzu Chi’s assistance, the boy who felt excruciating pain with every movement can now play, attend school, and make TikTok videos.
Longtime volunteers Ting Ting Pua (left) and Shirley Chua enjoy conducting home visits because they get to see how Tzu Chi’s help transforms lives. Medical assistance beneficiary Prince Galban is a perfect case in point. Bedridden and in excruciating pain due to Pott disease when they first met him, the boy improved with every home visit. “The last time we were there, we were very happy,” says Chua. “Their willpower is strong,” adds Pua.
Tzu Chi scholars perform “Gei Ni" (Give You).
Tzu Chi commissioners perform portions of the Sutra of Immeasurable Meanings.
Tzu Chi commissioners perform portions of the Sutra of Immeasurable Meanings.
Tzu Chi commissioners perform portions of the Sutra of Immeasurable Meanings.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads commissioners in the distribution of ampao containing commemorative coins from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads commissioners in the distribution of ampao containing commemorative coins from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads commissioners in the distribution of ampao containing commemorative coins from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads commissioners in the distribution of ampao containing commemorative coins from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Participants raise a lighted candle as they pray for better things ahead.
Participants raise a lighted candle as they pray for better things ahead.
Participants raise a lighted candle as they pray for better things ahead.
The Year End Blessing Ceremony concludes on an auspicious note with participants donating the contents of their coin banks to Tzu Chi’s various missions.
The Year End Blessing Ceremony concludes on an auspicious note with participants donating the contents of their coin banks to Tzu Chi’s various missions.
The Year End Blessing Ceremony concludes on an auspicious note with participants donating the contents of their coin banks to Tzu Chi’s various missions.
The Year End Blessing Ceremony concludes on an auspicious note with participants donating the contents of their coin banks to Tzu Chi’s various missions.