October 28, 2026
Tzu Chi Youth welcomes new members
By Joy Rojas
Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines inducted nine new members into its Tzu Chi Youth (TCY) in an overnight advancement camp that culminated with the presentation of uniforms on October 25 at the Harmony Hall of Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The new inductees—Coby Mykhel Ong, Ralfh Nethan Mahinay, Murdoch Cain Lim, Bianca Claire dela Cruz, Annette Flores, Jeanne Jasmine Hermano, Angela Yu, Peilin Li, and Jessica Michelle Dy Victoria—were among the participants of the Tzu Chi Youth Camp held in May.
Leading the induction ceremony was Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez, who presented each with a TCY uniform, a short-sleeve blue-violet shirt with a white collar. A logo of two hands holding a lighted candle within a lotus flower adorns the upper portion the left chest pocket.
“Wearing the uniform carries responsibility,” said Yuñez. “The world needs Tzu Chi and Tzu Chi needs you. We hope you carry the torch of Tzu Chi for the next 30 to 50 years.”
Indeed, once Coby Mykhel Ong donned the uniform, he immediately felt the weight of what it stands for. “When I started with the camp, I didn’t feel the full Tzu Chi experience,” admitted Ong, 18, and a Grade 12 STEM student from De La Salle University (DLSU). “Now, having the shirt definitely means something. We need to respect the shirt and respect the responsibility and capabilities of being TCY.”
Before DLSU, Ong was already into volunteerism. At St. Jude College, where he was president of the Techies Club, he helped organize outreaches that taught computer literacy to enrollees of the Alternative Learning System program in Quezon City. Describing his experience with TCY as “eye-opening,” he chose to continue with the foundation because of its organized approach to extending various forms of help—from coastal cleanups and mangrove planting to spending time with seniors at an old folks’ home.
“I’m really blessed in my life, and I want to give back to the world and share my knowledge,” he said.
For Jessica Michelle Dy Victoria, wearing the uniform “is a big privilege for me,” said 17-year-old 12th grader at the Philippine Cultural College. “At the same time, it is actually really meaningful, helping others and seeing how through small actions, we can change the world.”
Victoria, who had never volunteered before, knew of Tzu Chi through her donor parents, and through friends, who described it as “a very cool organization.” Once she got into it, she saw the value of what she was doing.
“As a very small person in the community, I can still help a lot. It’s really heart-touching because I see that in volunteering, we can inspire others.”
To youths looking for a platform to make a difference in other people’s lives, she says, “Come here and you will know what to do. People around here are really nice and kind. If you have free time, you can spend it doing meaningful things.”
Officially known as Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association and Tzu Ching (“compassionate youth”), Tzu Chi Youth traces its roots to June 2, 1974, when 28 young men and women from Mingdao Society at Hualien Teachers College joined a relief team organized by the Tzu Chi Merit Association. Then known as the Torchlight Youth, the group followed Dharma Master Cheng Yen in visiting 46 families needing long-term assistance in Hualien City and the rural townships of Ji’an and Xincheng.
Since then, TCY members all over the world do their best to live up to Master Cheng Yen’s hopes for them: that they volunteer during their spare time, cultivate compassion for all living beings, and learn to get along with people from all walks of life.
Wearing their Tzu Chi Youth (TYCY) uniforms, nine newly inducted members (front row, seated) gather for an official group photo with TCY members and Tzu Chi volunteers and staff.
Coby Mykhel Ong (right) receives his Tzu Chi uniform from Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez.
Jessica Michelle Dy Victoria (right) receives her Tzu Chi uniform from Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez (center) shares a light moment with Tzu Chi volunteers and staff.
Organizers post the advancement camp’s theme on the wall.
Learning how to sign the moves to the song “We Are Tzu Ching”
Tzu Chi volunteer Kinlon Fan (left) discusses TCY’s role in the foundation with TCY members.
Tzu Chi Malaysia volunteer Jia Jiann Foo (standing, right) explains what it means to be a Tzu Ching to newly inducted members.
Tzu Chi volunteer Edward So discusses Tzu Chi’s 10 Precepts in detail.
TCY members and inductees take turns sharing what they learned from their TCY journey.
In the group activity “Survival Game,” this house won the most points for being a model of sustainability.
Groupmates gather around their creation in the team effort “Survival Game.”
Groupmates gather around their creation in the team effort “Survival Game.”
TCY inductees and members write what they are grateful for in Post-it notes.
A white board “journal” invites TCY inductees and members to post their reflections.
The event wraps up with a participants’ sharing session introduced by TCY member Alex Wu (center).