The Year-End Blessing held last January 20, 2024, at the Sagbayan Cultural Center was filled with expressions of gratitude from both sides, Tzu Chi Bohol and its beneficiaries alike.
Hon. Asuncion Ybañez, Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Sagbayan was one of the event’s guests and she could not help but reminisce in detail all the efforts and assistance that Tzu Chi had provided the town since 2013 when the foundation since laid its first step into the province of Bohol. According to Vice Mayor Ybañez, in every disaster and calamity, Tzu Chi Bohol is the first to arrive and its ongoing support and assistance has been invaluable, reaching out to most especially the vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, abandoned elderly people, and the less fortunate, benefiting and making a significant impact to their lives.
Maria Ysabel Bardello is one of Tzu Chi’s donating member from San Isidro, Sagbayan. She witnessed how the Tzu Chi Happy Home project benefited those who were displaced by typhoon disasters and became homeless in their locality. “What I can say about the Tzu Chi Foundation is that the program (Happy Home project) is outstanding. I hope more homes will be built for those deserving individuals who need it.”
“They (Tzu Chi local volunteers) told me that I will have a house. I did not expect it because I know that there are still many people in line that need assistance from Tzu Chi. I have heard and seen that they have helped a lot of people, and I am very happy to be one of them. Many, many thanks to Tzu Chi, and I hope you will be able to help many more.” Remedios Redelosa from San Isidro, Sagbayan tearfully expressed her joy and gratitude for being one of the beneficiaries of the Happy Home Project leaving an indelible mark on her life, turning her dreams of having a home into a reality.
To support this annual gathering, Tzu Chi volunteers from Manila flew to Bohol to grace the event. Brother Manuel Siao, former CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines expressed his gratefulness to Tzu Chi Founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen for her guidance to establish an operations office in Bohol. “I am delighted to have visited Bohol (this time) and participated in this event. The year-end blessing celebration is a success seeing many people joining and filling up the venue. We hope that more people will join whenever Tzu Chi organizes activities.”
The commitment to plant and cultivate the seeds of love to the people of Sagbayan is unending, as immediately after the year-end blessing event, Tzu Chi volunteers along with Vice Mayor Ybañez seized the day and segued to the different communities to turn over three newly built Happy Homes to their owners. Elderly volunteers showed no hesitation in braving the muddy and slippery pathway as they were resolute to show their benevolence for the Happy Home beneficiaries 
It is very satisfying to see the Happy Home owners’ joyfulness and grateful expressions which served as a fuelling source of energy for all the Tzu Chi Volunteers present on that meaningful afternoon to join the simple turn-over rites. In a world where people are suffering in all sorts of ways, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, Master Cheng Yen tells the Tzu Chi people to be steadfast in purifying the hearts and minds of the people, as it is the only way to save humanity.
