July 25, 2024
Strides of Hope: Tzu Chi scholars join Charity Run for Education
By Sydney Alipao
With his race kit and the hope of graduating next academic year, Tzu Chi scholar Leandro Peter Joshua Taton prepared himself as early as 2:30 in the morning of July 21 for the first fun run of his life. “I woke up early because I am very excited to run with my friends,” Taton said. “I have been looking forward to the Tzu Chi Charity Run for Education for days.”
The Tzu Chi Charity Run for Education 2024 is a fund-raising event to support the 1,700 scholars of the foundation around the Philippines. All proceeds from the event will directly go to the foundation’s Educational Assistance Program.
Taton considered the charity run at the grounds of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City more than a form of exercise as he had not stretched a muscle in a while. Rather, he was busy juggling his academics and personal life. As a runner of the 3 Kindness Kilometers race category, his physical health does not benefit alone but also his dreams of becoming a teacher.
A scholar since 2019, Taton is now an incoming fourth-year Bachelor in Values Education student from the Philippine Normal University. He will be the first college graduate in his family.
“Our family struggled in life before I became a Tzu Chi scholar. My father was the only one who had a job to support our daily necessities. But he’s getting older and working on-call construction jobs might be difficult for him,” said Taton.
His becoming a Tzu Chi scholar marked significant changes in their lives. “Our financial difficulties have lessened because Tzu Chi finances my academics. I do not ask for money from my mom too much so she and my father could focus on my two other siblings.”
Taton was inspired to be a part of the charity run because he knew that all of the proceeds of the event would go to helping a lot of students like him. “I am so glad to see that thousands of people joined. I am so happy to see that there are a lot of kind hearts supporting us.”
The inspiration he got from the massive support he saw from the planning stage of the run to the actual event motivated Taton to give back. To pass on the kindness he received, he helped his co-scholars by volunteering as one of the nine scholar-runners.
Scholars like Taton volunteered in Tzu Chi Foundation’s Charity Run for Education as personnel, performers, and runners.
Performers included the Tzu Chi Scholars’ Chorale, of which Andrea Beatrice Cantiga is a member. The group performed the sign language presentation of “Children of the Earth” with the message of togetherness in dreaming.
“I enjoyed performing for Tzu Chi’s first charity run. I was able to join the runners,” Cantiga said. The scholar shared her interactions with her fellow performers who expressed similar sentiments of gratitude to the Tzu Chi Foundation and the volunteers.
Just like Taton, Cantiga met the Tzu Chi Foundation when their family was facing a great financial crisis in 2022. “We experienced unexpected losses since the pandemic—my mother lost her job and remained jobless for six months.”
Cantiga struggled in pursuing her college education, but because of Tzu Chi’s Educational Assistance Program, she was able to continue her BSED Major in English degree at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig campus.
Aside from the financial help that she receives from the foundation, monthly Humanities classes for scholars ignite her dream. “As I enjoy my education, I still learn lots of things from the Humanities classes,” she said. “Through the classes, I finally understood the things that can help me not only in my education but also in life.”
A former Tzu Chi scholar and now Tzu Chi’s Volunteer Development and Mission Support Department Officer in Charge Cherrie Rose Ang served as part of the personnel in the information booth during the charity run.
For Ang, not only the scholars but also lots of people were inspired by Tzu Chi’s deep sense of awareness in its missions and advocacies. They were especially impressed at how volunteers tried to find ways to turn their goals into reality, such as organizing a fun run to benefit its mission of education.
“I am grateful to our volunteers for thinking of various ways to raise funds for students in need. I am touched by their level of dedication. Despite not knowing how to organize a run or having joined fun runs before, they took a leap of faith in setting up this charity run,” Ang said.
The scholars shared their heartwarming messages with the runners. “You served as my inspiration in being part of the campaign to help others. Your participation and contribution are a big help for us scholars in aiding our financial needs. Your kindness and compassion give us hope and inspiration to carry on and continue to strive to reach our dreams,” Taton said.
“Every bit of my experience as a scholar is fantastic and I will surely adopt and apply the lessons that I have learned from the Tzu Chi Foundation—to help humanity and extend help to the community,” Cantiga added.
Tzu Chi scholars wave at the starting line of the race.
Tzu Chi scholars wave at the starting line of the race.
Leandro Peter Joshua Taton (second from right) shows his finisher’s medal together with his co-scholar friends.
Leandro Peter Joshua Taton proudly shows his finisher’s medal after the race.
A scholar awards a runner with a finisher’s medal.
Scholars ensure that runners receive the right finisher’s medal.
Tzu Chi Scholars’ Chorale performs the “Children of the Earth” sign language during the after-race program.
Andrea Beatrice Cantiga (second from right) performs the “Children of the Earth” sign language with the Tzu Chi Scholars’ Chorale.
OIC for Tzu Chi’s Volunteer Development and Mission Support Department Cherrie Rose Ang shares her life experiences before, during, and after graduating as a Tzu Chi scholar.
The author (left) and Tzu Chi Scholar alumna Cherrie Rose Ang give testimonials about life as a scholar of the foundation.
Scholars perform “Sail Your Story,” their camp song inspired by Auli’i Cravalho’s “Live Your Story” during the after-race program.
Scholars pose in the booths area after the program.
Tzu Chi scholars flex finishers’ gold and bronze medals.
Tzu Chi scholars gather with volunteers and event staff for a photo after the program.
Tzu Chi scholars and volunteers pose for a photo at the Palma Hall steps to cap off the event.