News
News from Tzu Chi Philippines missions, ceremonies and community work across the country.
Tzu Chi, FFCCCII end “Operation Bakuna” with Closing Ceremony
After months of planning and preparation, organizers behind “Operation Bakuna,” the vaccination program of Tzu Chi Foundation and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) with MedGrocer, Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), the Department of Health, and other government agencies, held an appreciation and closing ceremony outside the Jing Si Hall Auditorium of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus (BTCC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
In the spirit of bayanihan, Caloocan South beneficiaries share their blessings
Caloocan South’s tricycle drivers divide relief goods among themselves; jeepney drivers donate a pledge to their fellow public utility drivers.
At Caloocan South, driving a tricycle is a woman’s job too
Three female drivers explain how the humble source of living has helped raise their respective families.
Tzu Chi extends rice, grocery relief to Zamboanga, Jolo, Sulu
In Zamboanga City, a targeted 4,711 jeepney drivers, tricycle drivers, tricycad drivers, van drivers, and boatmen ferrying tourists from the city to Santa Cruz Island were the recipients of rice and grocery items from Tzu Chi’s Zamboanga chapter. On July 22, 27, 29, and 31, Tzu Chi volunteers set up a distribution area at the seafront parkway Paseo del Mar, where each beneficiary went home with two 10-kg sacks of rice and a grocery pack containing two packs of 300g spaghetti noodles, two packs of 300g spaghetti sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, cooking oil, salt, refined sugar, bath soap, and detergent bar.
Caloocan tricycle drivers receive—and give—in the first of three relief goods distributions
Dave Puno was picking leaves from a malunggay tree at the back of his family’s home in Caloocan, when the riprap he was standing on suddenly collapsed. “I should have been dead,” he says, “because I nearly landed on my head.” Instead, he fell on his left arm, breaking it and his lower right foot in the process. Puno has been on a wait list for surgery for four months and counting.
TIMA’s history includes lasting contributions from two volunteers from the Philippines
The Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) was founded in 1998 to provide the poor with relief and compassion through expert medical treatment and services. As of 2017, TIMA has 12 mission teams in Taiwan, as well as chapters in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Globally, over 16,000 medical professionals have volunteered their time and expertise to treating millions of sick people, many of who have never visited a hospital or seen a doctor before.
2020 A Year in Review
With 2020 coming to an end, the Tzu Chi Foundation looks back at a challenging year, and while it was fraught with difficulties and turmoil, it was also a year of accomplishments and hope. Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers worked tirelessly all year long to help those affected by the pandemic and natural disasters. This year also highlighted the good in people and demonstrated the lengths that they would go to help their fellow neighbors.
From performing surgery to donating PPEs, TIMA doctor is a tireless, hands- on volunteer
In March 2020, when the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 was beginning to rise, Josefino “Joe” Qua, oncological surgeon and one of the founding members of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), was on the road, distributing donated face masks and personal protective equipment to hospitals around the metro. Occasionally, he was accompanied by a Tzu Chi volunteer, but for the most part, Dr. Qua preferred to do it alone because he didn’t want to risk exposing others to the potentially fatal virus.
TIMA Doctors Help Vaccinate at BTCC
As the Tzu Chi Foundation’s vaccination program continues to help vaccinate thousands of people, Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), together with Tzu Chi volunteers are helping in the effort to vaccinate both Filipinos and foreign nationals. Several TIMA doctors graciously volunteered their time and knowledge to oversee post-vaccination, taking blood pressure, and provide medical advice.
Nearly 3K avail of Tzu Chi, FFCCCII, MedGrocer vaccination rollout
As of July 9, a total of 2,801 private citizens received the first of two Sinovac doses offered in a vaccination rollout organized jointly by the Tzu Chi Foundation, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), the Department of Health, MedGrocer, and other government agencies. The program, which began on July 5, runs till July 17 at the Jing Si Auditorium of Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus (BTCC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.