TZU CHI FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES

In 1991, founder of Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation, Master Cheng Yen received The Magsaysay
Community Leadership Award from the Philippine Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. This is the
equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Asia. Along with the award came a prize money of US $30,000 (worth
approximately Php 825,000 then) which the Master distributed to two beneficiaries - the victims of the
China flooding and of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. The award paved way to the exposure of the Master’s
compassion to the Chinese community in the Philippines.

Years later, a group of local Chinese led by volunteer Linda Chua, visited Tzu Chi’s different
establishments in Taiwan. The group vowed before the Master to bring the seedlings of love back to the
Philippines and help the Master in carrying out the mission of alleviating suffering and inspiring people in
the country. The Master gave her blessings, setting November 8, 1994 as the official date of inauguration
of Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines.

Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines is one of Tzu Chi Foundation’s chapters in more than 57 countries around
the globe. In the beginning, the local arm had no office so meetings to plan relief operations and other
charitable activities were held at the volunteers’ houses. Several temporary offices later, Brother Walter
Huang from Tzu Chi Taiwan came to their aid and supported Tzu Chi Philippines in purchasing a 4,400
square meter-lot to be used for the foundation’s expansion.

On September 2002, the Still Thoughts Hall which now serves as Tzu Chi’s main operation center in the
Philippines had its ground breaking. Six years later, on March 29, 2008, Tzu Chi Philippines’ Still
Thoughts Hall finally opened its doors.

Inspired by the Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s selfless devotion to relieve the suffering of individuals, the
number of Tzu Chi volunteers in the Philippines grew. The missions reached out to more people, resulting
in countless of individuals being inspired and discovering their value in life. By helping the underprivileged
across the Philippine archipelago, the seedlings of love were spread further, leading to the establishment
of liaison offices in locations such as Cebu and Zamboanga.

Although Tzu Chi Philippines started with members coming from the Filipino-Chinese communities, a
number of Filipinos have also joined the group. On March 29, 2009, exactly a year after the inauguration
of the Still Thoughts Hall, a number of Filipinos, most of whom were beneficiaries of the Foundation,
joined Tzu Chi’s goal in alleviating the sufferings of their fellowmen.

TZU CHI’S EIGHT FOOTPRINTS

Tzu Chi volunteers selflessly contribute through a mindset of gratitude, expressing their sincerest care
and support to each and every individual in need.

The shared goal of Tzu Chi volunteers is to cultivate sincerity, integrity, faith, and honesty within while
exercising kindness, compassion, joy, and selflessness to humanity through concrete actions.
Transcending the bounds of race, nationality, language, and religion, they serve the world under the
notion that “when others are hurting, we feel their pain; when others suffer, we feel their sorrow”. Not only
do the volunteers endeavor to promote the universal value of “Great Love,” they also fully employ the
humanitarian spirit of Chinese culture to its utmost.
Tzu Chi Foundation’s “Four Major Missions” consist of Charity, Medicine, Education, and Humanity.
Adding the efforts in Bone Marrow Donation, Environmental Protection, Community Volunteerism, and
International Relief, the undertakings are now collectively known as “Tzu Chi’s Eight Footprints”.

ORIGIN OF TZU CHI FOUNDATION

Tzu Chi Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 by Buddhist nun, Dharma Master Cheng
Yen in the impoverished east coast of Taiwan. The Foundation has been contributing to better social and
community services, medical care, education and humanism in Taiwan for over 50 years. Master Cheng
Yen firmly believes that suffering in this world is caused by material deprivation and spiritual poverty. She
felt that “lack of love for others” has been the root of many problems in this world. “To save the world, we
must begin by transforming human hearts.”

A volunteer-based, spiritual as well as welfare organization, Tzu Chi’s missions focus on giving material
aid and inspiring love and humanity in both the givers and receivers. The humanitarian work is both a
means to help those in need, and a way to open the eyes of the volunteer to the harsher side of life, so
that through giving, they may find spiritual happiness and life’s true meaning.

Tzu Chi volunteers living abroad began setting up overseas chapters in 1985. They used money that they
have earned in their country of residence to help the poor and needy in their local communities.
Emergency aid to typhoon-stricken Bangladesh in 1991 marked the beginning of the Foundation’s
international relief efforts. Firmly believing that, “nothing is more valuable than life, all beings are equal”,
Tzu Chi demonstrates first hand that they can overcome obstacles of time, distance, and politics to
provide relief and hope to victims of war, flood, and drought. To date, 95 countries have received Tzu
Chi’s aid.

From the icy Arctic Circle to the sweltering tropics, Tzu Chi volunteers have left their footprints in many
faraway lands, risking their lives in epidemics and wars. Their belief in “making the impossible possible”
has sustained them in accomplishing many arduous tasks. In addition to material aid, Tzu Chi has also
encouraged mutual help among disaster victims and assisted them to become independent by involving
them in rebuilding their own communities. The ultimate goal is to inspire disaster victims to contribute to
others in turn when they have the ability to do so, thus creating a global village of Great Love. Tzu Chi
has expanded to all five major continents of the world with chapters and offices in 57 countries as of
2017.