January 31, 2024
A Year of Giving and Gratitude: Tzu Chi Philippines holds 2023 Year-end Blessing
By Ben Baquilod
Tzu Chi Philippines held its 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony on a grateful and celebratory note at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus on January 28. Tzu Chi volunteers, donors, partners, scholars, and families gathered for the annual celebration, looking back on the foundation’s accomplishments and milestones with joy and gratitude.
Red lanterns, fresh fruit and vegetable arrangements, Chinese calligraphy, and a wishing wall adorned the Jing Si Hall. Coins and bills filled up a large donation pot from donors and guests.
Guests delighted in the volunteers’ performance of the “Sutra of Innumerable Meanings.” Students of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines performed a dragon dance, and Tzu Chi scholars impressed the crowd with their choral singing of the Chinese song "Where the Sun Lingers with Love."
The program featured a video presentation of Tzu Chi’s global humanitarian efforts in 2023, most notably its fundraising and relief efforts for the survivors of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey. The touching video also highlighted other disaster relief efforts of the foundation worldwide and its program to address climate change, particularly the promotion of a plant-based diet.
Another video presentation showcased the accomplishments of Tzu Chi Philippines in the past year.
“2023 has been very remarkable for Tzu Chi. We tried to improve on the programs and services that we have been offering for the past 29 years,” said Peggy Sy Jiang, Tzu Chi Philippines Director from the Office of the CEO, and one of the newly-appointed Deputy CEOs.
In its mission of charity, Tzu Chi extended educational assistance to 1,693 scholars in 2023, a 22.32% increase from 1,384 scholars in 2022. It also helped 11,104 families in disaster response.
In the field of medicine, 7,426 patients were served in 15 medical outreaches nationwide. In its educational endeavors, the foundation has served 29 students through the Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines, now operating in its second year. All these were made possible by the generosity and collaborative efforts of 1,168 volunteers, 72,011 donors, and 46 partner organizations.
“I would consider our established partnerships with different universities and medical entities as one of our main accomplishments for this year,” said Tina Pasion, Tzu Chi’s Head of Charity. “It was also instrumental in introducing one of our main advocacies, which is environmental protection and the promotion of a plant-based diet.”
In addition to state universities, Tzu Chi also sealed partnerships with the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center and Hi-Precision Diagnostics to deliver quality healthcare services to the foundation’s medical beneficiaries and patients.
“I am profoundly and sincerely thankful to our volunteers and donors who spend their precious time and hard-earned money to make our programs continue for the past 29 years,” Peggy Sy Jiang added. “If not for them, Tzu Chi Philippines would not be what we see right now.”
At the program’s anticipated highlight, guests lined up to receive angpao (red envelope), a gift from the Tzu Chi founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen. The token contains a commemorative coin and three rice seeds, symbolizing discipline, determination, and wisdom.
The event culminated in a solemn prayer, with volunteers and guests raising their candles, hoping for peace and harmony in a disaster-free world.
Tzu Chi Philippines holds its 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony at the Jing Si Hall of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila. 【Photo by Harold Alzaga】
Red lanterns adorn the BTCC facilities in time for the festive celebrations. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads the distribution of angpao (red envelope), a gift from the Tzu Chi founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Guests write and wrap their prayers into a candle at the wishing wall. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Guests raise their candles in prayer for peace at the ceremony’s culmination. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
A huge gong and cylinders resembling firecrackers welcome guests at the entrance of the Jing Si Hall. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Fresh fruit and vegetable arrangements are seen at Tzu Chi’s 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Fresh fruit and vegetable arrangements are seen at Tzu Chi’s 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony. 【Photo by Harold Alzaga】
Calligraphy artists grace Tzu Chi’s 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Calligraphy artists grace Tzu Chi’s 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Calligraphy artists grace Tzu Chi’s 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony.
Calligraphy artists grace Tzu Chi’s 2023 Year-end Blessing ceremony.
Calligraphy artist scribes the word “dragon”, in time for the upcoming Chinese New Year 2024, Year of the Dragon. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Guests write and wrap their prayers into a candle at the wishing wall. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Guests write and wrap their prayers into a candle at the wishing wall. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Coins and bills fill up a large donation pot from donors and guests. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Coins and bills fill up a large donation pot from donors and guests. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Guests are moved by a video presentation showcasing Tzu Chi Foundation’s humanitarian efforts and accomplishments in 2023. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Multiple generations of families joyously attend the annual Year-end Blessing ceremony. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Volunteers delight the guests with their performance of the “Sutra of Innumerable Meanings.” 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Volunteers delight the guests with their performance of the “Sutra of Innumerable Meanings.” 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Students of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines bring smiles to the audience with their song and dragon dance performance. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Students of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines bring smiles to the audience with their song and dragon dance performance. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Students of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines bring smiles to the audience with their song and dragon dance performance. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi scholars impress the crowd with their choral singing of the Chinese song “Where the Sun Lingers with Love.” 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi scholars impress the crowd with their choral singing of the Chinese song “Where the Sun Lingers with Love.” 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi volunteers Francis Lim and Tina Pasion host the morning ceremony in English and Filipino. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi volunteers Pansy Ho and Sharon Sy host the afternoon ceremony in Chinese. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Former Tzu Chi scholar and now volunteer Jeff Aguilar delivers a testimony during the morning ceremony. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Former Tzu Chi scholar and now volunteer Jamil Carvajal delivers a testimony during the afternoon ceremony. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi Philippines Director from the Office of the CEO and one of the newly-appointed Deputy CEOs, Peggy Sy Jiang, reports on the foundation’s 2023 accomplishments in the morning ceremony. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Wilson Hung, one of the newly-appointed Deputy CEOs of Tzu Chi Philippines, reports on the foundation’s 2023 accomplishments in the afternoon ceremony. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez presents an angpao (red envelope) to Tzu Chi Eye Center Medical Director, Dr. Bernardita Navarro. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
The angpao (red envelope) contains a commemorative coin and three rice seeds, symbolizing discipline, determination, and wisdom. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads the distribution of angpao (red envelope), a gift from the Tzu Chi founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Woon Ng hands angpao over to a preschool student. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Tzu Chi Bicol head volunteer Antonio Tan presents an angpao to a guest. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Tzu Chi volunteers lead the culminating prayer at the Year-end Blessing ceremony. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】
Volunteers and guests raise their candles as they sing a prayer for peace and harmony in the world. 【Photo by Marella Saldonido】
Volunteers and guests raise their candles as they sing a prayer for peace and harmony in the world. 【Photo by Matt Serrano】