August 19, 2025
Over 5,000 patients served at Tzu Chi’s 283rd medical mission in Zamboanga Sibugay
By Joy Rojas
It’s a three-hour commute from Isla Talusan to Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay, a trip that includes sea transfer via barge. Yet even with two young children in tow, it was worth it for Eme Grace P. Manginsay, who didn’t want to miss the free consultations of Tzu Chi Philippines’ large-scale medical mission from August 14-16. It’s the foundation’s 283rd since volunteers organized their first medical mission in Baguio in 1995.
In three days, 5,193 patients received consults and treatment for a wide array of healthcare services. Checkups for general medicine, pediatrics, dental medicine, ophthalmology, and ears, nose, and throat (ENT) medicine were held at the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Capitol Gymnasium. Patients cleared for surgeries for hernia, hydrocoele, varicoele, goiter excision (for non-toxic and non-CA goiter cases), and Jaipur prosthesis services underwent their procedures at Dr. George T. Hofer Medical Center.
Mobile vans for dental work and obstetrics and gynecology were provided by Congresswoman Dr. Anna Marlesa Hofer Hasim. SM Foundation volunteered the use of its mobile laboratory van, and RiteMED Philippines, Inc. donated medicines.
Explaining in Visayan how her children tended to be cross-eyed, Eme Grace had her kids, 6-year-old Jerelyn and 2-year-old Earl Jacob, checked by an ophthalmologist. The doctor prescribed glasses for Jerelyn, but not for Earl Jacob, as he was still too young to wear them.
Like Eme Grace, Nicole Mangcasing and her 9-year-old son Nico Jhon Dua had to shell out money for the ride from their home in the Municipality of Roseller T. Lim to Ipil. But she knew she would have spent more if she paid for a local dentist. Availing of the medical mission’s free dental extraction was a huge relief for this mother of three. The pain from her wisdom tooth was so severe, it gave her lockjaw.
Edwin Pandalan didn’t expect the hearing problem of his son John-rell would be resolved right then and there at the medical mission. Now 18, John-rell was 1 when his parents discovered he was hard of hearing. Upon examination, doctors at the medical mission deemed him fit to use a hearing aid, a device that will open doors and tap into his potential for years to come. John-rell’s dream is to become a social worker someday. “I’m happy because he can finally hear,” says a grateful Edwin.
Success stories like these are the result of the concerted efforts, boundless generosity, and selfless acts of hundreds of volunteers who came from far and wide—from the 74 doctors of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) to the 147 volunteers from Manila, 52 volunteers from Tzu Chi Youth and Tzu Chi University in Taiwan, 1 volunteer from Myanmar, 4 volunteers from Davao, the doctors and nurses from Zamboanga City Medical Center, and students from Medina College Ipil, Inc. College of Pharmacy and Mindanao State University Buug Campus School of Nursing-Ipil Extension.
The relationship between Tzu Chi and Zamboanga Sibugay dates back to its first medical mission in the province in 1998, followed by the setting up of a Zamboanga Liaison Office in May 2000. Eventually, volunteers established ties with the province’s founding father and first governor, Dr. George T. Hofer.
“We had a little district hospital and Tzu Chi Foundation started with my father,” says Dr. Ann K. Hofer, current governor of Zamboanga Sibugay. “Now we have a nice hospital and Tzu Chi Foundation is there also. I would like to thank Tzu Chi Foundation. I’m hoping and praying that it will be a continuing partnership so that we can help our constituents.”
Given Tzu Chi’s strong presence in the province (its eye center and physical rehabilitation and Jaipur prosthesis manufacturing center are housed in Zamboanga City Medical Center) and its reputation for extending assistance without expectation, it was easy convincing people to support the foundation’s latest outreach.
“It's not hard to market Tzu Chi in this medical mission,” avers Dexter Tsang, a Tzu Chi volunteer based in Zamboanga Sibugay. “We received a lot of help in transportation. Aside from that, there were a lot of people who campaigned for Tzu Chi, and there were lot of inquiries about our medical mission.”
For many healthcare practitioners, Tzu Chi’s medical missions is a change of pace from their usual private practice. Dr. Alma Reyes-Addatu, an internal medicine and infectious disease specialist from Chinese General Hospital, considers speaking to underserved patients who traveled long hours to see a doctor and are so grateful when they do a humbling experience.
“It’s like giving back after how far I’ve come,” says Dr. Reyes-Addatu, who was part of Tzu Chi’s medical missions in Sultan Kudarat and Palo, Leyte.
“At Tzu Chi, no matter what level you are from or what group you’re in, we will still help and serve you. They’re all my patients, so I treat them well. Our goal is to make them better.”
Indeed, more than caring for the sick, Tzu Chi’s medical missions are a chance for the disadvantaged to feel seen and heard, to be treated with respect, and to know, even for a day, that they mattered to someone.
“It’s always beyond medicine,” affirms Woon Ng, deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines. “It’s always about compassion, the dignity of our patients, and about the hope and love that we bring.”
“Medicine is healing, and I think that is the brightest solution to today’s health problems,” she adds. “But thinking good thoughts, speaking good words, and doing good deeds—I saw this today. And I hope everyone here that we touched could bring this home and try to practice it every day.”
Tzu Chi’s 283rd medical mission held its consultations and treatment for general medicine, pediatrics, dental medicine, ophthalmology, and ears, nose, and throat (ENT) medicine at the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Capitol.
The first batch of Tzu Chi volunteers gathers for a group shot on the first day of the foundation’s 283rd medical mission in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Visiting Tzu Chi Youth and students from Tzu Chi University in Taiwan perform a song in sign language for medical mission patients.
Eighty-nine-year-old Tzu Chi volunteer Dorothy Ho (right) continues to participate in the foundation's medical missions. She was part of Tzu Chi's first medical mission in Baguio in 1995.
Students from Mindanao State University Buug Campus School of Nursing-Ipil Extension are masked up and ready for the medical mission.
Tzu Chi Zamboanga OIC and Deputy CEO Dr. Anton Mari Lim (in blue mask) addresses students of Tzu Chi University, Taiwan.
Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ulysses Silorio says a few words before the start of the medical mission.
Dr. Josefino “Jo” Qua, co-founding member of Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), expresses his appreciation to medical mission host province Zamboanga Sibugay.
Under a balete tree by the provincial capitol stands a statue of Dr. George T. Hofer, founding father of Zamboanga Sibugay and the province’s first governor.
Day 1 of Tzu Chi’s 283rd medical mission was a busy one, with over 1,600 patients seeking consults and treatments in general medicine.
A patient gets her vital signs taken by a student from Mindanao State University Buug Campus School of Nursing-Ipil Extension.
A grandmother cradles her 7-month-old granddaughter with hydrocephalus, while her daughter (the mother of the baby) looks on.
Nine-year-old Nico Jhon Dua winces as a dentist injects him with a local anesthetic before a tooth extraction.
A Tzu Chi volunteer uses an otoscope to check the inner ear of patient John-rell Pandalan.
Hard of hearing since age 1, the now 18-year-old John-rell Pandalan can finally hear after volunteer doctors fitted him with a hearing aid.
A volunteer doctor tries a pair of glasses on 6-year-old Jerelyn Manginsay, whose mother sought treatment for her daughter’s cross eyes.
Patients with prescriptions receive free medication and a Tzu Chi coin can from volunteers at the pharmacy section.
Dr. Ann K. Hofer, current governor of Zamboanga Sibugay, receives a token from Chen, Tsung Ying, vice principal and dean of the medical school of Tzu Chi University, Taiwan.
(From left) Tzu Chi Deputy CEO Peggy Sy Jiang and Tzu Chi Department of Communications Head Judy Lao explain the relevance of the coin bank to SM Foundation, Inc. Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Connie Angeles and SM Foundation, Inc. Senior Project Manager for Health and Medical Programs Albert Uy.
Volunteers take a break from dispensing reading glasses to smile for a photo.
Leafy greens are among the ingredients volunteers procured for the medical mission’s vegetarian meals.
An ample supply of fruits and vegetables helped feed the volunteers of the medical mission.
Blood chemistry, urinalysis, and random blood testing were possible at Tzu Chi’s medical mission through the facilities of SM Foundation’s Mobile Clinic.
Digital x-ray, ECG, ultrasound, and blood tests are offered in a mobile clinic van provided by Congresswoman Dr. Anna Marlesa Hofer Hasim.