Loon, Bohol — On July 12, 2025, the second day of the Tzu Chi Youth Life Camp was held at Carmelite Learning Center in Tontonan, Loon, where young Tzu Chi scholars and volunteers came together to learn, reflect, and grow. The event was part of a three-day youth camp organized by the Tzu Chi Foundation to help young people discover their purpose through compassion, service, and spiritual guidance.
The day began with morning exercises that fostered joy, teamwork, and connection among the campers.
After breakfast, Bro. Jimmy Chua led the first session, which focused on the life and mission of Dharma Master Cheng Yen, founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation. He shared her early experiences with loss early in life. Her mother once fell seriously ill, and later, her father died from a stroke caused by a brain hemorrhage and how a life-changing question: “What has Buddhism done for the poor? From Catholic nuns, she was inspired to turn compassion into action, eventually founding the Tzu Chi Merits Society.
Bro. Jimmy shared a photo taken by Master Cheng Yen in 1970 of their bus stuck in a river, proof of the hardships volunteers faced to help others. These challenges led to milestones like the 1969 winter relief and the founding of Tzu Chi’s first hospital. In the Philippines, that same spirit continues, showing how small acts of kindness can build communities of hope.
Incoming third-year BS Office Administration student Kenn Rio Labapez in BISU Main Campus was deeply moved by the reenactment of Master Cheng Yen’s father’s death, relating it to the loss of his brother. “Our purpose is like a seed,” he said. “I will help others grow into their true selves,” he added.
The day continued with a powerful talk by Tzu Chi Bohol Deputy Coordinator Brother Joven Uy titled “Witnessing Suffering to Appreciate Blessings.” He shared stories of patients from Bohol who underwent life-changing surgeries through Tzu Chi’s Mission of Medicine. Master Cheng Yen established this mission after witnessing the death of a poor indigenous woman who suffered a miscarriage and was denied hospital care because she couldn’t afford the deposit. Deeply moved by this tragedy, Master Cheng Yen was determined to ensure that poverty would never again be a barrier to receiving medical help, thus beginning Tzu Chi’s Mission of Medicine.
Stories of complex heart, brain, eye, and orthopedic surgeries served as powerful reminders to campers of the importance of gratitude and compassion.
Among the patients featured were Jessa Masepequiña, who had a congenital heart disease; Velie Joe Dumagat, who underwent brain surgery; and scoliosis patients Trisha Tulop and Rejean Dungo. Others included Amilyn, diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Angelica Requiña, diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy, who received magnifying devices, as well as individuals treated for orthopedic issues, Hirschsprung’s disease, and facial reconstruction. Now in better health, these individuals who received specialized treatments are doing better. Grateful for the renewed hope and support they received, they expressed their gratitude by actively supporting Tzu Chi activities through donations and volunteer work.
Also present that day was Niño Jabasa, along with his parents, who traveled from Loboc to share their story. Niño, who suffered severe burns at the age of two, recently underwent reconstructive plastic surgery in Manila with the help of the foundation to release the contractures that limited his movement. “Now, he can stretch his arms, something he couldn’t do before. Thank you so much, Tzu Chi Foundation,” the family expressed with heartfelt gratitude.
Brother Mulric Sarmiento, a Tzu Chi volunteer from Cebu, shared how the talk deepened his admiration for the way Tzu Chi serves others. “What I will never forget about Tzu Chi’s way of helping is their consistency, that even after the surgery, they do home visits, check if patients are okay, and continue supporting them,” he said. His words echoed those of Brother Jack Gaisano, Head of the Tzu Chi Bohol Education Committee, who reminded everyone that transformation begins within: “We serve not because we are weak, but because love makes us strong.”
Camper Charry Bongabong, a Tzu Chi scholar and BS Business Administration student from BISU Main Campus, the true essence of being a Tzu Chi volunteer is living out compassion, action, and inspiration. “Serving with passion, sincerity, care, and love is what truly touches the hearts of our fellow Filipinos,” she said. “Through genuine compassion, we unite to care for those in need.”
Closing the day, Sister Chieh Fang Uy, a Tzu Chi commissioner from Manila, praised the campers for choosing growth over leisure. Before presenting Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s talk, she said their decision reflects a commitment to personal development. Master Cheng Yen described them as seeds of goodness, planted through service and discipline, destined to grow into trees of compassion.
