On February 14, 2026—Valentine’s Day—a different kind of love blossomed in the humble community of Kabasacan, Sagbayan. While many celebrated with flowers and sweet gestures, commissioners and volunteers of the Tzu Chi Foundation from Loboc, Inabanga and Sagbayan, together with Tzu Chi youths, staff, and visitors from the Tzu Chi Eye Center Manila, chose to honor Hearts Day through a meaningful service. Instead of roses, Tzu Chi Bohol carefully prepared boxes of Jing Si Multigrain Supplement drink. Instead of chocolates, there thoughtfully arranged gift and tokens. And instead of fleeting expressions, there were genuine smiles exchanged between volunteers, parents, and 29 grade school beneficiaries whose journey of physical nourishment had reached a significant milestone.
The atmosphere was filled with warmth and anticipation. Laughter echoed as children arrived with bright, hopeful eyes, accompanied by parents whose gratitude was already evident. The gathering marked not only Valentine’s Day but also the culmination of the Multigrain Distribution Program in Kabasacan Elementary School—a six-months commitment rooted in compassion, discipline, and sustained care.
As the program commenced, Mr. Mark Anthony Boiser, Head of the Tzu Chi Youth, warmly welcomed the parents, children, volunteers, and guests, expressing appreciation for the collective effort that carried the initiative from its humble beginnings to its meaningful conclusion. What began in August as a simple participation in the celebration of Nutrition Month gradually evolved into a long-term response to malnutrition within the community.
Every two weeks, volunteers returned to Kabasacan, consistently delivering to replenish the Jing Si multigrain supplement while closely monitoring the children’s height and weight development. Over time, encouraging changes became evident. By the end of the 6-month long program, 89.66% or 26 out of 29 children have shown significant weight improvement while 20.70% or 6 out of 29 reached normal and 58.60% or 17 out of 29 elementary school-aged children (5 to 12 years old) respectively went above the normal range indicating that their height improved as well, benefiting from the multi-grain supplement program. There are a few children who have not shown improvement to both their heights and weights and will be further consulted with pediatric nutrition experts.
Beyond physical nourishment, each visit also served as an opportunity for values formation.
Through Jing Si Aphorism reading sessions, the children were introduced to lessons on kindness, gratitude, responsibility, and resilience. The initiative therefore extended beyond dietary supplementation—it sought to cultivate character and instill principles that would endure beyond the duration of the program. Grain by grain, the effort nurtured not only stronger bodies but also grounded and compassionate hearts.
Among the success stories were siblings Justin Lou Marzon (8 years old) and Althea Fritz Marzon (7 years old). Their mother, Jovelyn Marzon, a dedicated parent and volunteer from Kabasacan, Sagbayan, shared her heartfelt experience after witnessing the positive transformation in her children, particularly their improved appetite and steady progress. She expressed deep gratitude to the Tzu Chi Foundation and its founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, for extending compassion and meaningful support to the children and families in their community.
According to her, attending the Tzu Chi Multigrain Feeding Program has been a truly valuable experience for her family. As a mother of Justin Lou and Althea Fritz, she shared that she is sincerely thankful to the foundation for including her children in the initiative. She noted that the program has significantly contributed to positive changes in her children’s weight and height, while also enhancing their overall health and well-being. More importantly, it has provided them with essential nutrition that supports their growth.
Justin Lou Marzon (8 years old), fondly recalled his first taste of the multigrain, which inspired him to ask for more. On the first day of the program, Justin weighed 15 kg with a height of 120 cm and showed signs of undernourishment, with a smaller appetite and low energy levels. Through the consistent support and nourishment provided over seven months, he steadily gained weight and improved his overall health, ending the program at 24 kg and 123.60 cm, more active, energetic, and confident. He shared that through the Jing Si reading sessions, he learned “to always be kind.” He expressed that he would miss his “ates” and “kuyas,” and shared his aspiration to become a volunteer one day so he, too, could help other children grow healthy and strong.
Another beneficiary, Dianne Ligo (9 years old), demonstrated notable improvement throughout the program. She started at 19 kg and 121 cm, showing signs of undernutrition and slow growth. By the last session, Dianne’s weight improved by approximately 10.5% and her height by 3.3%, reaching 21 kg and 125 cm, reflecting her increased energy, appetite, and overall wellbeing. She shared that she would miss reading the Jing Si stories, though she was grateful to receive a copy to continue reading at home. She expressed appreciation for the nourishment provided and thanked Tzu Chi for helping her grow stronger and healthier.
As the first Multigrain Distribution Program in Sagbayan concluded, gratitude resonated throughout the gathering. Community volunteer, Sister Liezel Sasutil expressed deep appreciation for the Foundation’s commitment to enrichment programs that directly uplift young beneficiaries. With heartfelt sincerity, she shared her gratitude to everyone whose hands and efforts were poured into making the Jing Si Multigrain program reach Bohol—recognizing that behind every container distributed was a chain of compassion, coordination, and dedication. She conveyed how thankful she is to have become part of this significant first milestone in her own community, describing it as both a privilege and a responsibility. She further affirmed her commitment to expanding volunteer participation locally so that more families in need may be reached through future initiatives.
Tzu Chi volunteer Sister Jacqueline Ong shared to the adult participants that while the words of gratitude from the community were sincerely appreciated, Tzu Chi is equally thankful for the opportunity to serve. She emphasized that such initiatives are not merely assistance programs but invitations to adopt healthier practices and to prioritize long-term family welfare. She expressed hope that the affinity between Tzu Chi and the community would continue beyond this milestone.
In her closing speech, Sister Caroline Uy, who spearheaded the Grains of Love: Sailing Nourishment to Bohol (The Jing Si Multigrain Supplement project), reflected on the journey of the past six months. She noted how quickly time had passed since they first met as strangers, only to now feel like a close-knit family.
She reminded the children that although they may miss the monthly storytelling sessions, the teachings remain with them through the Jing Si books they received. She urged them not to let the books simply sit on a shelf but to actively read them and apply the lessons to their daily lives.
Addressing the parents, Sister Caroline expressed deep gratitude for their participation and shared a profound lesson on the spirit of giving. She reminded everyone that “a palm facing downward is more blessed than a palm facing upward,” emphasizing that it is far more fulfilling to be a person who gives than one who only receives. She assured the families that the doors of Tzu Chi remain forever open to those who wish to serve and extend compassion to others, conveying her heartfelt thanks for the community’s cooperation, donations, and trust throughout the entire initiative.
From what began as a simple participation in Nutrition Month, the Multigrain Distribution Program in Sagbayan grew into a meaningful trajectory of sustained care, careful monitoring, and genuine community partnership. Grain by grain, the initiative strengthened not only the children’s health but also the bonds between volunteers, parents, and young beneficiaries.
Love was truly in the air that day, filling every corner with joy, gratitude, and shared purpose. The culmination on Valentine’s Day stood as a celebration of growth, hope, and unwavering dedication. As this first chapter closes, the lessons, inspiration, and collective effort from Kabasacan will guide the next steps of this mission. With hearts united and compassion as our compass, the program now moves forward to the municipality of Inabanga—ready to transform more lives, uplift more spirits, and plant seeds of hope that will echo for generations.
