February 27, 2026
When the gift of hearing saves lives
By Thania Florendo
What becomes of a home without the steady presence of a mother?
This was the quiet fear that lingered in the heart of Rhodora Gallan, 50, and a former flea market vendor from Taytay, Rizal. In her lifetime, she never imagined she would face not just one, but two life-changing battles.
The first came in 1997, when she underwent nine cycles of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with malignant Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), a rare cancer related to abnormal pregnancy tissue. She endured months of treatment and maintenance medication. Through it all, she survived and returned to being a mother, a role she has always embraced without hesitation.
Years later, during the pandemic, another battle began—this time in silence. Her hearing gradually weakened until the world around her fell almost completely quiet. At first, she tried to endure it, but as conversations became exhausting, the silence grew heavier. She had to lean in just to catch fragments of words. Sometimes, it felt easier not to speak at all.
“Before, I couldn’t hear anything, so I stopped speaking. It hurt to ask people to repeat themselves constantly,” she said. It made her feel distant, even inside her home.
Determined to seek help, Rhodora went to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, where she was diagnosed with severe hearing loss and received a hearing aid for her left ear. She was later referred to the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus in Sta. Mesa, Manila, for free ENT consultations and continued care, where she was eventually provided a hearing aid for her right ear, free of charge.
For someone who believed hearing aids were far beyond her financial reach (she and her husband are supported by their children who work), Rhodora felt that receiving not just one but two devices was unimaginable. Through this medical initiative, Tzu Chi Foundation continues its mission to relieve suffering, restore dignity, and help families live safer, fuller lives.
“I’m really happy. I got used to my surroundings being silent for the past years. When I received the hearing aid, my communication with my family became better. I’m really grateful for the help because my family really needs me,” she said.
When she first wore them, the change was immediate. She could once again hear the distinct voices of her children and grandchildren. She could fully participate in family discussions and respond when needed. The silence that once isolated her was replaced with clarity and connection.
Shortly after the New Year, that restored hearing proved life-saving. A small fire nearly broke out in their home when her grandchild accidentally ignited a leftover firecracker and threw it inside a trash bin. Her children, exhausted from night shifts, were asleep. Through her hearing aids, Rhodora heard her grandchild’s cries for help. She rushed in and extinguished the flames before they could spread.
What could have become a tragedy was prevented through her quick action—a reminder of how restored hearing can protect lives.
“Thank you to Tzu Chi Foundation,” she said. “The hearing aid became my way of hearing the people around me. It made me more present for my family because they really need me. I am a mother; they will always come to me for help.”
Twice in her life, Rhodora was given another chance—the first to survive, the second to listen. In hearing her grandchild’s cry, that second chance became a shield for her family, proving that sometimes, the quietest miracles make the loudest difference.
Through its free medical initiatives, Tzu Chi Foundation continues to restore more than health. For families like Rhodora’s, it restores presence, safety, and the quiet strength of a mother who can once again hear—and respond—when she is needed most.
ENT specialists and clinical audiologists, Dr. Joyce Rodvie Sagun (in blue) and Dr. Kristine Layson (in green), work hand in hand to assist patients.
With utmost care, Rhodora Gallan returns every three months for check-ups to monitor her condition and ensure her hearing aids are working properly.
Her hearing aid is regularly checked to ensure it fits properly and meets her hearing needs.
Hearing aids are expensive for her, which is why she is especially grateful to have received one for her right ear from Tzu Chi Foundation.
Together with the medical team and visiting refugee protection and displacement expert Rebecca Lim (first from right), Rhodora marks a moment of inclusion and accessible care.