August 7, 2024
Helping beyond borders: Relief distribution for Typhoon Carina, monsoon-hit residents in Tatalon
By Sydney Alipao
When the Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon caused a storeys-high flood on July 24, Tzu Chi Foundation distributed relief aid to several affected areas including Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City. 928 Tatalon residents and 25 volunteers who were affected by the flood received relief packages on August 3.
Edgardo Antonio, a taxi driver, was trapped in his vehicle when rains poured nonstop. He went from one safe place to another as he waited for the flood to go down to rescue his wife who was left on the third floor of their house. “I did not expect that the flood would continue to rise. I could not go home to my family to help them evacuate because roads are impassable,” Antonio said.
Antonio and his family are still working on recovering after the typhoon. “This relief package that Tzu Chi gave is a big help for us since I still cannot work full time for now. I am thankful because they came into our lives,” Antonio said
No stranger to Tzu Chi, Romano Gacita is a former plumber who first met the volunteers when he received relief goods in the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses in 2020.
Through his encounter with Tzu Chi, he learned about the foundation's compassion regardless of religion. “They immersed us in Buddhist culture but still respect our beliefs because we’re from a different religion,” he said.
Four years later, Gacita found himself in a similar position singing the same prayer that he first heard at Tzu Chi. “I got emotional because I already experienced disasters and received help from Tzu Chi before. That’s why my heart was touched when I crossed paths with them again today because I remembered the past disasters where they helped us and they are still here today helping us,” Gacita said.
Tzu Chi’s mission for relief action extended beyond borders when medical students from Tzu Chi University (TCU) in Hualien, Taiwan, assisted in the distribution of relief packages.
Chi Ning Huang, a Chinese Medicine student, found herself empathizing with the people she met at the relief distribution centers. “It was difficult to hear the stories of these people’s challenges during the typhoon but they are very persevering and resilient,” she said.
Back in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Chi Ning Huang also experienced waist-level floods that affected their family. “I can relate with these people whom we are giving the goods to,” Chi Ning Huang said.
Her experience warmed her heart seeing that many people, including her fellow TCU students, helped. “I hope that with the aid from Tzu Chi, everyone will be able to get back to their normal lives,” she said.
Aside from helping in distributing the relief supplies, TCU students also gave short lectures on proper hygiene and basic health measures during typhoons and floods.
“When I asked the audience how many times we should brush our teeth, they were so excited to answer ‘Three times!’” George Liu shared. “Their responses gave me the courage to continue teaching. That’s the first thing that made me happy.”
Liu’s energy was even boosted when he helped in distributing the rice sacks and assisted people in carrying it through the venue’s exit. “I saw a person who did not have someone to help him,” Liu said. “I felt like he had nobody to help him so insisted on assisting him.”
Liu’s action is fueled by Master Cheng Yen’s teaching on repaying kindness and passing it on. “I hope that when we face disasters, we can still help each other in withstanding calamities together,” Liu said.
TCU student Max Lin, who was assigned in the distribution of the clothing sets, shared the same mission of passing on love and kindness.
As a first-timer in the Philippines, Lin expressed his happiness when he experienced the friendliness and politeness of the Filipinos. “I feel so lucky to have the opportunity of helping those who were affected by the typhoon,” he said. “I am so much willing to help because I already receive so much love from my family, my friends, and my teachers so I think I have to pass down the love and share it with more people like them.”
Love and care have been attached to Tzu Chi’s ways of extending help to those in need, especially during calamities that destroy homes and affect livelihood.
For the relief recipients, the items they received offer a ray of hope that lights their way as they pick themselves up after the monsoon and Typhoon Carina’s onslaught.
For Tzu Chi University students, this is an experience that they will treasure in passing on love and kindness to more people.
For Tzu Chi Foundation, this relief action is a lifetime mission to provide compassion and relief to everyone in this world.
Barangay Tatalon residents patiently wait for their turn in receiving their relief goods stub.
Tzu Chi scholars help in the distribution of relief stubs for affected residents.
928 residents of Barangay Tatalon receive relief packages from Tzu Chi Foundation.
Sleeping mats, sets of clothes, and other basic necessities were given to the affected residents.
A volunteer carefully unties the sacks that contained 10-kilo rice sacks to be given out to Tatalon locals.
Tzu Chi University students present the foundation’s coin cans to collect donations from the relief recipients.
Edgardo Antonio solemnly prays during the opening program of the relief distribution event.
Romano Gacita shares the story of his first encounter with Tzu Chi after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses in 2020.
Chinese Medicine major from Tzu Chi University, Chi Ning Huang (right) bows as an expression of gratitude to a relief recipient.
Tzu Chi University student George Liu (left) and Tzu Chi volunteer Lino Sy (right) lead a lecture about proper hygiene and basic health measures during typhoons and floods.
George Liu neatly arranges the sacks that contained relief items nearly after the distribution.
Max Lin, a Chinese Medicine student from Tzu Chi University, helps in distributing clothing.
A Tzu Chi University student helps a resident in arranging his received goods.
A Tzu Chi volunteer helps a relief recipient carry the sacks of rice she received from the foundation.
Tzu Chi volunteers help a relief recipient carry the sacks of rice she received from the foundation.
A Tzu Chi volunteer enthusiastically greets Tatalon residents.
Tzu Chi volunteers bow to relief recipients as they exit the venue.
A relief aid recipient shows a wide smile while exiting the venue.
A relief aid recipient shows a wide smile while exiting the venue.
Despite the sudden rain, volunteers and TCU students happily help in the distribution. Here, they pose for a photo.
Tzu Chi volunteers pose for a photo to cap the successful relief distribution at Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City.