December 2, 2025
Tzu Chi volunteers solicit donations for Cebu at Metro Market! Market!
By Joy Rojas
Helping without expectation, giving back, and making a difference in a stranger’s life can happen anytime, anywhere—even in the middle of a busy mall.
Shoppers at the supermarket and department store of Metro Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, made the most of the opportunity to share their blessings through a donation drive organized on November 29 and 30 by the Tzu Chi Foundation for survivors of Typhoon Tino in Cebu. A whopper of a storm that slammed through parts of Cebu Province on November 4, Tino was responsible for the deaths of at least 150 and the displacement of over 400,000 individuals.
Like Tzu Chi's other fundraising efforts, the goal of this activity, reminds Tzu Chi volunteer Molita Chua, is to awaken people’s minds and inject positive energy by giving them a chance to help others. “No matter what the amount, even with spare change, you can help,” she said.
Working in groups of two, three, and four and armed with donation boxes, flyers, and signs with QR codes, 98 participating volunteers (40 on the 29th, 58 on the 30th) positioned themselves in various parts of the supermarket and department store and invited mall-goers to help Cebu. Those who gave got a heart sticker with the saying “I’ve shared!”
Passersby gladly heeded their call for different reasons. Jorie Uson wanted to show her support for her fellow Cebuanos even from far away. Now 36, Apple Llave donated as a way to thank Tzu Chi for sponsoring a life-saving abdominal surgery she underwent at 14. Carol and Ganiga, a couple from Papua New Guinea, know of Typhoon Tino’s wrath through their son who is in Cebu. “A lot has been happening and it’s hard not to care,” said Carol. After placing his bet at the Lotto outlet, Peter Teves dropped money in Tzu Chi’s collection box. “I never win at Lotto,” he quipped good-naturedly, “but with Tzu Chi, I know I’m a winner.”
Volunteers maintained an upbeat and optimistic attitude even as they stood for hours holding their boxes and signs in the bustling walkways of the supermarket and department store.
Chinese volunteer Huang Ya Hong practiced speaking Filipino with the help of local volunteers so she could personally communicate Tzu Chi’s message to help Cebu with shoppers. Having been to Cebu, Malaysian volunteer Anderson Leong was happy and humbled to be a part of the province’s recovery “even in a small way,” he says. Looking for something new and meaningful to do in his spare time, De La Salle University third-year management major Paulo Aquino considers his first-ever volunteering experience “fun and different. I get to talk to random people and help others.”
By the end of the activity, how much was collected and who yielded the most donations was a bonus to what shoppers and volunteers fulfilled in a weekend dedicated to lifting Cebu from tragedy: “Let many come forth to do a good deed,” said Dharma Master Cheng Yen. “Together…teamwork moves and inspires.”
You can send your donations through bank deposit to:
METROBANK, Del Monte Branch
Account Name: Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines
Account Number: 163-3-16307190-9
BDO
Account Name: Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines
Account Number: 011-9-7800180-0
Please send a copy of deposit slips or bank transaction confirmations via email at donations@tzuchi.org.ph or through Viber/Line/Wechat +639672110940
DSWD Solicitation Permit No.: DSWD-SB-PSP-S-2025-000072
At the supermarket of Metro Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Tzu Chi volunteer Molita Chua (left) briefs volunteers before they start inviting shoppers to donate to Cebu’s recovery. “No matter what the amount, even with spare change, you can help,” she said.
Armed with their donation boxes, flyers, and QR code signs, volunteers are ready to solicit funds for Cebu’s typhoon victims.
Every donor gets a heart-shaped sticker that says “I’ve shared!”
Volunteers stand at strategic points of Metro Department Store and supermarket to invite as many shoppers to donate.
Volunteers stand at strategic points of Metro Department Store and supermarket to invite as many shoppers to donate.
Chinese volunteer Huang Ya Hong (left) practices speaking Filipino with coaching from volunteers Wang Yubin (center) and Anabel Ong (right).
Flanked by Tzu Chi volunteers Josephine So (left) and Judy Chan, Andrea Ancheta withdrew money from the ATM so she could donate.
Peter Teves (center) didn’t hesitate to donate to Tzu Chi after placing his bet at the Lotto outlet. “I never win at Lotto, but with Tzu Chi, I know I’m a winner.”
Volunteers bow in gratitude as Jorie Uson (second from left) donates to Tzu Chi’s recovery efforts for her fellow Cebuanos.
Tzu Chi Youth Krystian Domel Recto and Lulu Shi pose with Metro’s Santa mascot.
Malaysian volunteer Anderson Leong (in gray) is happy and humbled to participate in helping Cebu “even in a small way,” he said.
Standing at the entrance of Metro Department Store with volunteer Anna Wu, Paulo Aquino (left) says his first volunteering experience with Tzu Chi was fun and different. “I got to talk to random people and help others.”
Many of the donors were young children.
Carol from Papua New Guinea (right) had heard of the calamity in Cebu from her son who is in the province. “A lot has been happening and it’s hard not to care,” she said.
Volunteers were surprised to receive a bag of warm ensaymada (Spanish spiral bread) from an unknown bystander who didn’t want them to go hungry after hours of collecting funds.
A mini photo exhibit featuring Tzu Chi Foundation’s relief work in the Philippines allows volunteers to explain to shoppers where their donations go.
Even after 30 years in the Philippines, many Filipinos have not heard of Tzu Chi. Soliciting for donations in a mall gives volunteers the opportunity to create awareness of the work that Tzu Chi has done in the past three decades.
Thankful all around: Tzu Chi volunteers and Metro’s Santa mascot bow to each other in gratitude.