Gregoria Sabio, a 79-year-old widow from Lawis, Inabanga Bohol, lives with her only son, who suffered a stroke in 2017 and has a heart condition. She single-handedly provides for their daily living, relying on her senior citizen pension and trading collected firewood in exchange for rice and fish. Additionally, their neighbors would also offer them food for sustenance. When Typhoon Odette destroyed her newly constructed home, it left the roof intact and she turned a part of it into a wall and foundation for their shelter. Anyone including her will have to bend sitting down to go in and out of their refuge. Gregoria felt devastated and lost all hope to live until Tzu Chi conducted a relief mission in their community offering financial assistance and distributing sacks of rice. Tzu Chi volunteers further shared words of comfort that inspired Gregoria to persevere and continue with her life.
Tzu Chi Volunteers pay a visit to Gregoria at her home (roof), which happens to be her place of shelter and she has to bend down in order to enter the house.
“During the calamity, I initially felt it was the end as the floodwaters were deep. Returning to my newly built house that morning, I found it completely damaged, except for the roof, which can still be repaired. Despite losing hope, I persevered and prayed. Thankfully, my prayers were answered when Tzu Chi provided financial aid and rice. This experience enlightened me, reminding me not to lose hope during such disasters. They followed Master Cheng Yen’s instructions to help those who have suffered, and for that, I am grateful,” said the 79-year-old Gregoria.
Despite the hardships that Gregoria has to endure, she continues to create blessings by becoming a donating member of Tzu Chi since April 2022 where she adopted a coin can and saved 1 peso every day. When she heard of Tzu Chi’s “Happy Home Project”, Gregoria reached out to Sister Regine Escabusa, a dedicated Tzu Chi volunteer in their area. Moved by Gregoria’s story and situation, Sister Regine promptly submitted the necessary documentation and application to the Tzu Chi Bohol Office and the construction of her Happy Home began.
Gregoria has been a contributing member of the Tzu Chi Foundation for a year now, setting aside one peso daily to assist those in need.
On September 30, 2023, bringing with them gifts and household items, Tzu Chi youths and volunteers paced through a waterlogged path caused by high tide to reach Gregoria’s place for a simple ceremonial turnover of Happy Home No. 37.
The Tzu Chi volunteers strode on a waterlogged path to grace Gregoria with household items for the turn-over ceremony.
“A million thanks to the Tzu Chi Foundation and I hope you still continue to love the lives of other people. I would also like to thank Dharma Master Cheng Yen and the volunteers who responded to my need,” Gregoria’s happiness radiated as she said those words.
“𝗜𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻.”– Jing Si Aphorism by Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
