 | Volunteers of Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines marked history in Bicol as they inaugurated the first school building they donated to Tabaco National High School (TNHS) in Tabaco, Albay, June 26.
With the majestic Mayon Volcano as its backdrop, the new TNHS building stood before the volunteers from Tzu Chi offices in Manila, Cebu and Albay, together with the members of the faculty of TNHS led by its principal, Mr. Virgilio Navarro, and most especially the thousands of students of TNHS to whom the building was built for.
Also present in the celebration were Tabaco City Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro and Vice-Mayor Reynaldo Bragais, officials of the local government, representatives of the Tabaco Division Office of the Department of Education, wife of Senator Franklin Drilon, Mrs. Mila Drilon, and leaders of the Catholic Church, Father Kim Camu and Father Dave Ramoso.
“In behalf of the people of Tabaco, I sincerely thank Tzu Chi Foundation for sharing your love and compassion with us here in Tabaco City,” said Mayor Luistro. “It is our responsibility to take good care of the building that Tzu Chi donated so that it can last through many generations. One beautiful thing about this project is that the students know that they have their own contributions, no matter how much, to the construction of this building, hence, they will surely take extra care of this establishment.”
“Thank you very much to Tzu Chi and Master Cheng Yen. Because of you, we can study comfortably now,” the second year students of the first section said.
“We would like to give the Tzu Chi Foundation and Master Cheng Yen our most sincere thanks. At this point, more than 500 students are utilizing the classrooms. We promise to take care and maintain the good state of the whole building. In fact, we have already saved some funds for this,” principal Navarro said.
Meanwhile, the local government of Tabaco presented Tzu Chi with different local products such as pili, bolo (tabak), one clay pot, and some tools for gardening. According to Mayor Luistro, these gifts are made of clay and metal that are very useful. All the hands that made these products symbolize the compassion and love from the hearts of the volunteers who continue to make new products as well as the people who open their hearts to help others.
The Blessing
The official inauguration of the new structure capped off with the unveiling of the building marker. A Deed of Donation was also signed by the Tzu Chi volunteers, guests of honor and some of the TNHS teachers. Indicated on the marker were the awful experience of the Bicol Region when typhoon Reming (Durian) arrived in 2006 and the efforts of Tzu Chi volunteers to ease the sufferings of the victims of the said storm. The construction of the school building started with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 13, 2008 and was completed on June 8, 2009.
Planting the seeds of love
The second part of the celebration was held at the TNHS gymnasium where Tzu Chi volunteers showed those in attendance a 15-minute video presentation of Master Cheng Yen which focused on the people of the depressed community of Dreamland in Rosario, Cavite. This video aims to remind everyone to be thankful for their blessings and learn to help those who are in need.
While the video was being showed, most of the students were silently and intently watching. There were students who cannot help but share their thoughts about the poverty in Dreamland with their seatmates in whispers, while some remained quiet. Tzu Chi volunteers hope that the video inspired everyone who watched to give help to those in need.
Meanwhile, 34-year-old Divina Bragais expressed her deepest gratitude to the Tzu Chi Foundation as she recalled how her ovarian cyst was successfully removed in an operation led by Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) member Dr. Hui Sing Liu at the Chinese General Hospital in Manila.
Tzu Chi volunteers also led a prayer to propagate peace and solemnity throughout the place. Putting the thought of the prayer into action, the students and guests excitedly and happily deposited money to the coin banks passed on by the Tzu Chi volunteers. Tzu Chi volunteers explained that the coin banks are reminders of the early times of the Tzu Chi Foundation, which started off through 30 housewives who donated 50 cents every day.
To further spread the inspiration from Master Cheng Yen, Tzu Chi volunteers also donated 10 books written by the Master and the different editions of magazines published by Tzu Chi Foundation.
In the Mission of Education, Tzu Chi volunteers in the Philippines continue to strive and do their best to achieve Master Cheng Yen’s philosophy: “The youth are the hope of the nation and their hope lies in the education that they receive.” |