In June 2022, Tzu Chi Bohol volunteers started on a mission to provide and promote safe and durable homes for deserving, indigent families dubbed the “Happy Home Project”. This initiative prioritizes elderly individuals living in solitude and those whose homes were devastated by Typhoon Odette, representing hope for those in need.
One of the beneficiaries of the Happy Home Project is Fernando Navarez, a 62-year-old bachelor from Katipunan, Sagbayan, Bohol, who shares his home with his faithful canine companion. Fernando’s life took an unpleasant turn in the year 2012 when he suffered a severe stroke, leaving him with body paralysis and speech impairment. As if surviving his day-to-day living is already a challenge, he managed to rebuild his home using salvaged materials after Typhoon Odette destroyed his home last December 2022.
This house belongs to Fernando and was constructed using salvaged materials in the aftermath of typhoon Odette.
Fernando’s unbeatable spirit and determination shone through as he persevered in the face of adversity. His neighbors and local barangay officials supported him and provided him with his daily needs. Their assistance became a lifeline during his most vulnerable moments and a testament to the power of “bayanihan” in times of crisis.
Despite his physical limitations, Fernando found solace in simple living activities such as nurturing a small patch of land beside his shanty and cultivating it to grow his food. He fetches water from the nearby hand-pumped deep well while coursing through an uneven, muddy pathway. His will to thrive and get by through each day serves as an inspiration for all who knew him.
Upon learning of Fernando’s plight, Sister Maricel Diaz, a dedicated volunteer from Tzu Chi Bohol, referred him to Tzu Chi Bohol’s Happy Home Project. On August 19, 2023, carrying with them several gifts and home items, Tzu Chi Volunteers strode on a muddy field and hiked on a slope where a simple turn-over ceremony was held to bless Fernando and his new abode. Even though Fernando could not clearly utter his words, his face was beaming with happiness and his neighbor echoed his gratitude. His neighbor conveyed, “He is happy that the Tzu Chi Foundation gave him a house and beyond grateful that he is one of the recipients of the Happy Home Project.”
Tzu Chi Volunteers walked through a muddy field and ascended a hill to participate in a modest turnover ceremony, offering their blessings to Fernando and his new home.
Fernando is one of the inspiring stories of the Happy Home Project. Just as his new home address was marked, he is Happy Home Project recipient No. 20. As of date, 39 happy homes have already been turned over to their respective beneficiaries. The project extends far beyond the construction of physical houses; it symbolizes the rebuilding of lives, the restoration of dignity, and the nurturing of hope. It serves as a powerful reminder that when a community unites with a common purpose, it has the capacity to effect profound and lasting change in the lives of those who need it most.
Fernando Navarez is filled with joy because he has become the 20th recipient of the Happy Home Project.
