May 21, 2026
Preschoolers use art and inventions to interpret Tzu Chi’s teachings
By Joy Rojas
When they’re not demonstrating Master Cheng Yen’s teachings through words and deeds, the students of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines use art and creativity to interpret caring for the environment, kindness, peace, hope, love, and other virtues espoused by the Tzu Chi founder.
At the preschool’s fourth Moving Up Ceremony for pre-kindergarten and nursery students on May 16 at the foundation’s Agno Street branch in Quezon City, teachers set up a portion of the Jing Si Hall into a gallery of the kids’ handmade works using recyclable materials.
In Great Love City 2050, nursery students assembled three-dimensional cardboard buildings accented with their idea of a city in the future—from carrot, squash, spinach, and broccoli, to Ironman, Spiderman, rainbow, and bunny. The youngsters also affixed printouts of their faces on paper sculptures of submarines, cars, planes, and hot air balloons.
With a little help from their parents and a lot of imagination, they put together Peace Lanterns out of paper cups, single-use plastic bottles, soda cans, and other recyclables.
Odain Ira Kaw’s colorful lotus-shaped lantern was singled out for capturing “contentment or being happy with what we have,” read the note attached to his piece. “Like the lotus that blooms peacefully, it reminds us that true happiness comes from a thankful and peaceful heart.”
Pre-kindergarteners were challenged to come up with prototypes of inventions that promote sustainability. Cassidy Echeche’s Eco Air Cooler runs on a battery from an old mini fan. Jeremiah Jefferson Pua’s mini vacuum cleaner employs a motor and fan to sucks dust and small particles into a plastic bottle. A plastic bottle was also one of the recyclables Marcus Brayden Yan used for his water-powered car; his other materials were chopsticks, old CDs, and plastic caps.
Savi Grace Tan received the Sustainable Inventor Award for her Eco Water Filter, which makes dirty water clean by refining it with rock, sand, cotton, and charcoal.
The preschoolers didn’t just make art for self-expression; they did it to benefit others too. They sold ceramic creations for P2,500 and clay décor with imprints of their hands for P1,500. Proceeds from their sales would help support the various programs under Tzu Chi’s missions.
Preschoolers’ Peace Lanterns, inventions for sustainability, and other works of art were displayed in a portion of the Jing Si Hall.
Kids’ colored as they pleased in templates of a flower pot and gumball machine.
Odain Ira Kaw titled his colorful lotus-shaped lantern “The Light of Contentment” because it “reminds us that true happiness comes from a thankful and peaceful heart.” Odain was recognized with a Peace Advocate Award.
Savi Grace Tan’s Eco Water Filter uses rocks, sand, cotton, and charcoal to refine water from dirty to clean.
Families made use of recycled materials to put together Peace Lanterns.
Families made use of recycled materials to put together Peace Lanterns.
Families made use of recycled materials to put together Peace Lanterns.
Nursery students affixed photos of their faces on paper sculptures of submarines, cars, planes, and hot air balloons.
Nursery students affixed photos of their faces on paper sculptures of submarines, cars, planes, and hot air balloons.
A nursery student looks for her photo in a carboard cutout of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
While the Tzu Chi Medical Center just had its groundbreaking ceremony on May 8, the preschoolers already built their interpretation of the hospital using recycled cardboard.
A portion of the Jing Si Hall was the designated Memory Lane Park, where photos of the students participating in activities during the schoolyear are displayed on the walls and hanging from the ceiling.
Tzu Chi volunteer check out photos of the students strung from the ceiling.
Guests check out photos of the students strung from the ceiling.
Made of clay and marked with imprints of the preschoolers’ hands, these décors sold for P1,500 each.
Made of clay and decorated with imprints of the preschoolers’ hands, the décor sold for P1,500 each.
Also for sale were ceramic accents at P2,500. Proceeds from the sale benefited the various programs of Tzu Chi’s missions.
Also for sale were ceramic accents at P2,500. Proceeds from the sale benefited the various programs of Tzu Chi’s missions.