What begins as a small act of care can lead to a powerful movement for change. In Bohol, a simple initiative driven by compassion and responsibility turned into an expression of unity and environmental care.
On April 25,2026, fifty-three (53) Tzu Chi Youth of Bohol, joined by various college organizations across the island province, including students from different campuses of Bohol Island State University (BISU) and Buenavista City College (BCC), came together with one shared purpose to bring new hope not only to the community but also to Mother Nature.
Barangay Tungod in Inabanga, which officially became a community of Tzu Chi Bohol in July 2025, is composed of 7 zones and was chosen as the site of this year’s annual coastal clean-up because of its identity as a coastal area and its growing support provided by the foundation, with a total of 11 Happy Home project beneficiaries. This made the activity not only timely but also deeply meaningful for both the residents and the volunteers.
In preparation for the activity, volunteers came equipped with the necessary tools and a strong sense of responsibility. They wore protective gloves and brought sacks for collecting waste, along with rakes and shovels to efficiently gather and manage debris along the shoreline. These simple yet purposeful preparations ensured that the clean-up was not only organized but also safe and effective.
United by a shared purpose, students, volunteers, and local residents turned awareness into action, living out the Jing Si Aphorism of Dharma Master Cheng Yen “To care for the Earth is to extend compassion to all beings.” This serves as a powerful reminder that caring for the Earth is also a way of caring for one another.
Upon arriving at the coastal clean-up site, many volunteers initially thought there was only minimal cleaning to be done, as the barangay road on both sides appeared clean and well-maintained. However, as they moved into deeper corners, a different reality unfolded – large amounts of waste were scattered and left unnoticed, slowly revealing the true condition of the area.
This realization became a turning point volunteers realized that cleanliness seen on the surface does not always reflect the true condition beneath. Each piece of waste collected became more than just garbage removed, it became a step toward restoring dignity to the community and hope for the ocean’s future.
Barangay Tungod Captain Jose Añana expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Tzu Chi Foundation and highlighted the importance of unity in maintaining cleanliness. He shared, “I am grateful to the Tzu Chi Foundation. Let us make an effort to clean our surroundings and work together in cleaning our environment and coastal areas because the fish we eat from the sea also consume waste. When our coastal areas are polluted, they become dirty as well.” He encouraged everyone, saying, “Let us all join and take part in this clean-up drive.”
Echoing this call to action, Mark Boiser, Head of Tzu Chi Youth in Bohol, emphasized the deeper purpose of the initiative. He stated, “In celebration of Earth Day, our annual Bayanihan Coastal Clean-Up activity themed ‘Together for Earth: Protect, Preserve, and Participate’ aims to inspire individuals to unite communities in a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.” He stressed that the activity goes beyond cleaning, it is a collective mission to protect and preserve nature.
He further stressed the urgency of addressing pollution and improper waste disposal in coastal ecosystems, reminding everyone that “protecting the Earth means protecting the future.” He also encouraged the youth to take active roles as environmental advocates, highlighting that real change begins with collective responsibility and action.
As the activity progressed, The activity became a platform for awareness as volunteers, students, and community members worked hand in hand, embodying the true spirit of bayanihan. For many volunteers, the experience was both challenging and eye-opening, revealing realities often unseen in everyday life.
For Mylah Valiente, a 22-year-old BS Office Administration student from BISU Main Campus, the experience was driven by her passion to protect coastal areas as she served as an assigned youth leader, “This is for the safety of the community,” she shared. She noted that most of the waste collected consisted of plastics and bottles. Despite the intense heat of the sun, she added, “I feel happy that we were able to help this community and be part of this clean-up activity.”
One of Mylah’s members in their assigned area was a first-time and aspiring Tzu Chi volunteer, Joan Jade Polgo, a 24-year-old work-from-home graduate, who shared how the experience transformed her perspective. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “This is my first time joining this kind of activity. I stayed at home for almost two years after graduation, so being around many people again felt new to me.” Initially believing the area was already clean, she was surprised upon reaching the deeper parts of the barangay. “The impact of the trash we gathered was truly serious,” she said, emphasizing how even small actions like proper waste disposal can make a meaningful difference.
The impact of the activity also resonated deeply within the local community. Premare Cabaral, a resident of the barangay, expressed her gratitude and encouraged her neighbors, saying, “I would like to ask my neighbors to please keep our surroundings clean and never throw garbage into the sea because it also affects all of us.”
Another aspiring volunteer from the community was Estelita Aparre, a 64 year-old senior volunteer and Happy Home beneficiary of the area, who described the experience with mixed emotions. Despite enduring back and knee pain while collecting waste under the heat of the sun, she found beauty in unity. “It is beautiful to see people united and working together,” she shared. With humility, she admitted past habits and expressed her desire to change, saying, “We are not perfect people, but I will try my best to change. While I am still alive, I will make sure to properly dispose of my waste.”
In other areas, volunteers encountered different types of waste. Larry Estorgio, a 21-year-old Tzu Chi scholar BSIT student from BCC, lives in the neighboring barangay of the area, and was assigned in another area, observed that many of the collected materials were clothes and fishing nets, possibly remnants of Typhoon Odette. He described the difficulty of removing buried waste, saying, “There were many buried shirts and other waste that seemed tightly stuck in the ground and very hard to remove. No matter how I tried to pull them out, they would not come off. There were also many fishing nets, which were difficult to collect, and a lot of broken glass as well.” Despite the challenge, he found fulfillment in the effort and emphasized, “It is very important that we clean our environment, not only for ourselves but also for Mother Earth and our health.” He encouraged everyone, especially the youth, to practice Clean As You Go (CLAYGO) and always be mindful of their waste.
Inspired by the Jing Si teaching, “True cleanliness is not only what we see on the outside, but what we cultivate within and care for beyond what is visible,” student leader Mc Neil Louise Sinajon, Vice President of BISU Balilihan SSG, observed that the true essence of the activity was reflected not only in the environment but also in the people. He noted the determination in every volunteer’s face and reflected on how the experience strengthened his passion for service. “Being a student leader has given me the opportunity to participate in activities like this, especially in community engagement and volunteerism,” he shared, expressing gratitude to the Tzu Chi Youth group for the opportunity.
The coastal clean-up ended with a total of 639.2 kg of waste collected, consisting of 473.0 kg of plastics, 59.2 kg of plastic bottles, 27.5 kg of cans, 32.0 kg of glass bottles, and 47.5 kg of cloth waste, resulting in a visibly cleaner and renewed shoreline. These wastes are scheduled to be collected by the local government waste disposal unit proper disposal management.
Indeed, the coastal clean-up drive reminds us that we share one home. We live on the same planet, breathe the same air, and stand under the same sky as we move toward a shared future. Protecting the environment is not the responsibility of one person alone, it calls for unity, compassion, and a continuous collective effort.
Through initiatives like this, communities do more than restore their surroundings; they awaken a deeper sense of care, responsibility, and hope for generations to come. Each small act, when done with sincerity, becomes part of something greater. And in these simple, mindful efforts, we are reminded that caring for the Earth is, ultimately, caring for one another and for the future we are all shaping together.
