February 20, 2026
Wherever in the world he is, this Tzu Chi scholar never fails to give back
By Joy Rojas
At 25, Jaycee Cabiao has traveled to more countries than the average person twice his age. In his first year alone as a seafarer for international cruise company Holland America Line, he’s been to Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Türkiey, Germany, Iceland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and other dream destinations.
But when he’s on a break, the Philippines will always be his first stop. At home, he’ll spend time with his parents and four younger siblings. He’ll also make time for the Tzu Chi Foundation, whose volunteers saw potential in him just as he had lost hope in life and in himself.
Before a room full of Tzu Chi scholars who attended the February 15 Humanities class at the Jing Si Hall of Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila, he shared an all-too-familiar scenario with his young audience: the lack of food on the table, the fights of his parents “not out of anger but fear,” he said, “fear of the tomorrow we couldn’t afford.”
“My father is a hardworking man, a tricycle driver who braved the heat and the rain every single day,” he continued. “I remember watching him and thinking, how does he keep going? It taught me that hard work isn't just about the money you bring home. It's about the dignity you keep while doing it.”
To help out, he became a working student. At McDonald’s, he spent five years slowly rising up the ranks from all-around kitchen staff to crew trainer. For many nights, he ended a long shift with a few hours of sleep before heading straight to a 7 am class at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).
“While my classmates were out having fun, I learned the art of hustle,” he said. “I learned how to smile when I was tired, how to be fast when the line was long, and how to stay disciplined even when my feet ached.”
And yet, despite the physical and mental toll his schedule took on him, he readily agreed to volunteer with the Tzu Chi Foundation. Through the invitation and encouragement of his neighbors who were regular volunteers at Tzu Chi’s Quezon City branch, he helped packed relief goods, distributed them to calamity victims in provinces, and brought cheer to the lonely residents of orphanages and old folks’ homes.
“It makes my heart full, doing good for other people, and not expecting anything in return,” he said. “It’s not tiring, actually, because your heart is so happy helping others.”
Still, his actions would not go unnoticed. Jaycee was taking part in a play on filial piety when a volunteer asked him if he was interested in a scholarship. He submitted requirements immediately, and welcomed volunteers during a home visit.
He remembers feeling embarrassed of his home; it was so small, he and his family slept squeezed together like sardines in a can.
Awarded a Tzu Chi scholarship, he finished his studies in senior high and in college at PUP, where he majored in office administration. Among other benefits, the scholarship provided him with regular rice subsidy, a big help for his family of seven.
Motivated to further ease the financial struggles of his parents, he applied for work in the hospitality industry and was accepted as a banquet wait staff at Solaire Resort. Less than a year later, he landed the job he had been dreaming of since he was a boy: to work on a luxury cruise ship.
Even if the job takes him far from home, he continues to help Tzu Chi. He sends his pledges online, and recently supported scholars’ education by running the 10K category of Tzu Chi Charity Run 2025 last February 8.
“I can’t forget Tzu Chi because everything started from here,” he said. “Tzu Chi gave me hope. I won’t disappoint the people who helped me continue my studies.”
A guest speaker at the recent Humanities class, former Tzu Chi scholar Jaycee Cabiao inspires his young audience with his story of overcoming struggles in life to reach his dreams.
While in the Philippines on a break from work, Jaycee Cabiao made time to support fellow scholars by running the 10K category of Tzu Chi Charity Run 2025.
Jaycee Cabiao (front row, first from left) joins his family in celebrating the birthdays of his mother (in denim skirt) and father (in red cap). / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
In Split, Croatia / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
In Santorini, Greece / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
In Cobh, Ireland / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
For five years, working student Jaycee Cabiao juggled his studies with long hours as a crew member of fast-food chain McDonald’s. / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
“It makes my heart full, doing good for other people, and not expecting anything in return,” Jaycee Cabiao says of volunteering for Tzu Chi. / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
Tzu Chi scholar Jaycee Cabiao stands outside Tzu Chi Foundation’s branch in Agno Street, Quezon City. / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao
A Tzu Chi scholarship gave Jaycee Cabiao hope for a better future for himself and his family. / Source: Jaycee P. Cabiao