November 30, 2023
Tzu Chi joins Xavier School’s Environmental Fair
By Ben Baquilod
Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines participated in Xavier School’s “Greenovations” Environmental Fair 2023 held on November 28 and 29. Over 20 exhibitors filled Xavier’s Angelo King Multi-purpose Center, showcasing a diverse array products and programs dedicated to advancing environmental causes.
“I’m very happy to have a lot of exhibitors this year, to promote each advocacy to our students and our community,” said Allyn Chua—Go Tian, a member of Xavier School’s Development and Alumni Relations Office and Environmental Advocacy Committee.
Tzu Chi, which has been invited to the event for three consecutive years, introduced its environmental protection program and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its booth and a brief talk. Tzu Chi’s Program Officer Lineth Brondial presented Da Ai Technology, an initiative focused on creating blankets and various products from recycled plastics.
Moreover, Tzu Chi featured its upcycling program, offering mats and seat covers handwoven by Tzu Chi volunteers and charity beneficiaries. Proceeds from the sale went directly to the program’s beneficiaries.
Tzu Chi volunteers also showcased popular plant-based dishes, including the vegan palabok and sisig bun, which quickly became bestsellers in the Xavier community. “We also invited Tzu Chi to promote vegetarianism to our faculty and students,” said Mrs. Chua—Go Tian.
“We know that adopting a plant-based lifestyle is directly relevant to reducing our carbon footprints and harm to the environment,” Brondial noted. “If we’re talking about the climate emergency, we need to talk to the youth because they are the ones who will suffer longer for the climate crisis,” she added.
Students had the opportunity to explore a variety of eco-friendly products and learn about the advocacies of different groups, including Tanging Yaman Foundation, The Eco Shift, Silingan Coffee, Better Snacks, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, and Precious Plastic, among others.
Precious Plastic, a global open-source plastic recycling organization, combines entrepreneurship and advocacy in its projects. They create items such as chairs, furniture, wall clocks, plant pots, and headphone cases from recycled plastics. Additionally, they manufacture and sell machines to encourage others to establish their plastic recycling businesses.
Expressing optimism for the future, Butte Metz of Precious Plastic Philippines remarked, “I hope that young people decide to become entrepreneurs and start their own projects as well. The recycling workspace is a very small community, and we like to see more people join us.”
Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines participated in Xavier School’s “Greenovations” Environmental Fair 2023 held on November 28 and 29. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi volunteers explain the upcycling program of the foundation. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
The upcycled multi-purpose mats, handwoven by Tzu Chi volunteers and charity beneficiaries using excess socks, contribute directly to the program’s beneficiaries through the proceeds from sales. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
The upcycled multi-purpose mats, handwoven by Tzu Chi volunteers and charity beneficiaries using excess socks, contribute directly to the program’s beneficiaries through the proceeds from sales.【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi’s vegan palabok becomes instant bestseller in the Xavier community. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi’s vegan palabok becomes instant bestseller in the Xavier community. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Students write down their learnings from visiting Tzu Chi’s booth. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Program Officer Lineth Brondial talks about Tzu Chi’s program on environmental protection. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi’s Program Officer Lineth Brondial presents Da Ai Technology to a group of students, an initiative focused on creating blankets and various products from recycled plastics. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Students avail of fruit and vegetable chips from Better Snacks. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Fresh farm produce from Tanging Yaman Foundation is also up for grabs in the fair. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
“We hope to encourage everybody to love the world we’ve been blessed with by embracing a plastic-free and vegetarian lifestyle, and by incorporating these practices and advocacies into our own homes as well,” says Allyn Chua—Go Tian, a member of Xavier School’s Development and Alumni Relations Office and Environmental Advocacy Committee. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
“I hope that young people decide to become entrepreneurs and start their own projects as well. The recycling workspace is a very small community, and we like to see more people join us,” says Butte Metz of Precious Plastic Philippines. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Precious Plastic Philippines creates items such as chairs, furniture, wall clocks, plant pots, and headphone cases from recycled plastics. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Precious Plastic Philippines creates items such as chairs, furniture, wall clocks, plant pots, and headphone cases from recycled plastics. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】