July 8, 2021
TzuChi Provides Vaccinations for Indonesian Theology Group
By Daniel Lazar
With many Filipino citizens getting their Covid-19 vaccines every day, through the support of their local governments, foreigners who are studying and working in the Philippines are not prioritised and, therefore, have to wait longer to get their vaccines or pay to be vaccinated earlier.
As a result, some local companies employing foreigners, pay to send their staff to be vaccinated. But what about those studying here and are unable to have their vaccines paid for? One group of Indonesian theology students was facing this dilemma before they attended Tzu Chi’s vaccination program.
Father Gusti Supur, CMF, together with Father Kristian Changkung and Sister Anastasia, are part of a larger group of Indonesian students teaching and studying theology at the Institute of Consecrated Life in Asia, here in Manila. Fathers Gusti and Kristian are professors of theology at the Institute, while Sister Anastasia studies theology and finance at DLSU.
They have been in the Philippines for several years, and while they have not been previously involved with the Tzu Chi Foundation, all of them are very familiar with Tzu Chi’s benevolent activities in Indonesia. “I came to the Philipiines six years ago as a missionary to help children and better their education,” Father Kristian told us, “and I learned a lot about the culture here and how to help people.”
The group found out about Tzu Chi’s vaccination program this July through a local Indonesian Tzu Chi family who sponsored them to help them get vaccinated. Sister Anastasia expressed how warmly she was received in the Philippines and “how kind, friendly and hospitable everyone we met here in the Philippines has been to us.”
Having received their first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, the group, along with the many others participating in Tzu Chi’s vaccination program, will be back next month to receive their second shot and be fully vaccinated.