 | From December 2009 to February 2010, Tzu Chi witnessed Manila’s biggest fire disaster and one of the world’s most devastating earthquake tragedies in the past 10 years.
Master Cheng Yen once said that the disasters here on earth are results of our “inner disasters” that is why she encourages everyone to cleanse their hearts and purify their minds. Volunteers of the Tzu Chi branch in the Philippines carry out the Master’s vision to spread the seeds of compassion and righteousness as they stage various relief efforts to help the fire victims recover from their loss through material aid, and transform their miseries into golden opportunities to sow their own blessings.
December 10, 2009
Santolan, Pasig
Aside from providing material aid, 16 volunteers from Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines also motivated 97 fire-stricken families from Doroteo Extension, Barangay Santolan in Pasig City to continue the cycle of goodness by doing simple acts of kindness at its relief mission held at Santolan Elementary School multi-purpose gymnasium which served as the fire victims’ evacuation area.
Monetary aid was also provided to the fire victims which made them truly happy as they will be able to restart their lives and support their needs. A total of 68 families with four members or less received Php2, 000 while Php3, 000 were given to 29 families with five or more members.
December 15 and 16, 2009
Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
What was considered as Manila’s biggest fire disaster in nearly a decade meets up with the equally massive response and compassion of Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines as it brought along an army of its volunteers to distribute relief goods and inspire 1,413 families who befell victims of blaze in Brgy. 10, Oroquieta Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila in a two-day relief mission held at the nearby Rasac Covered Court on December 15 and 16, 2009.
December 25 and 30, 2009
Makati and Pasay Cities
While most of the general public was happily celebrating the Christmas season with their families, Tzu Chi volunteers were out on the road to extend compassionate aid to the fire-stricken residents of two cities in Metro Manila.
Residents of three barangays in the cities of Makati and Pasay suffered from a huge fire morning of December 23 where over 700 families were affected. After a survey conducted by Tzu Chi volunteers on December 24, a relief mission was slated for the victims as an immediate response to the grievances of the fire-stricken residents in this holiday season.
A total of 63 Tzu Chi volunteers, including 39 from Barangay Malanday, Marikina City, served 137 families in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City not just with material gifts but also with great love and care.
Tzu Chi also gave assistance to the affected families in Pasay by providing hot meals and purified drinking water. On December 30, Tzu Chi volunteers end the year 2009 by giving 973 fire-stricken families in Pasay City a new hope for a better year despite their miseries at the foundation’s fire relief activity in Juan Sumulong Elementary School.
With Master Cheng Yen as their inspiration, 81 Tzu Chi volunteers including 24 residents from Barangay Nangka, Marikina City offered the fire victims in Pasay a chance to nurture their innate compassion in the face of their own sufferings.
January 16, 2010
Paco, Manila
Greatly inspired by Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines’ message of great love and selflessness, 1,111 families from a massive fire incident in Paco, Manila got a chance to start their lives anew with compassion as they opened their hearts and donated what could be their last coins to the victims of earthquake in Haiti during the foundation’s relief distribution activity held at the Celedonio Salvador Elementary School.
The conflagration was actually the second in the area. The first happened in July 2008, whereby Tzu Chi volunteers were also present to give aid to the fire victims. Many residents remembered the volunteers, much so the stories of altruism and hope that they have imparted them.
January 21, 2010
Baseco Compound, Port Area, Manila
The fire relief activity in Baseco Compound, Port Area, Manila, which happened the day after another earthquake (magnitude 6.1) hit Haiti, had the Tzu Chi volunteers gather the victims and move them to also extend their compassion to the earthquake victims. After offering their sincere prayers with the Tzu Chi volunteers, 311 families, who were once helpless victims of fire, emerged as kind-hearted givers to the victims of the deadly tremor in Haiti. Sixty two Tzu Chi volunteers, including the typhoon Ondoy-survivors turned local volunteers from Marikina, attended the relief activity.
February 11 -12, 2010
Caloocan City
In cooperation with the local branch of the University of the East, Tzu Chi staged a two-day relief activity that benefited 877 fire-stricken families from Barangay 73, Zone 7 in Caloocan City. Eighty six Tzu Chi volunteers, staff and local volunteers from Marikina worked hand in hand in distributing relief items of 10-kilo sacks of rice and basic household necessities including the thermal blanket from Taiwan and other personal hygiene products.
February 22, 2010
Baesa, Quezon City
The great love and compassion that the Tzu Chi Foundation has shown in their relief distribution activity on F. Carlos St., Brgy. Baesa, Quezon City greatly inspired their beneficiaries to also demonstrate their loving kindness to other people in need.
A total of 136 families who befell victims of fire received material assistance as well as the chance to help the earthquake victims in Haiti through their prayers and heartfelt donations. Thirty four volunteers present in the said relief were happy that apart from handing over relief goods, they have also imparted the value of selflessness to the fire victims as a very effective instrument in the latter’s physical and emotional recovery. |