Stepping up to the check-in counter of service and leadership, a new batch of youth prepared to board an unforgettable journey at the 7th Tzu Chi Youth Bohol Life Camp, held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Taloto, Tagbilaran City. A total of 259 participants filled the venue on June 12, 2026, for the pre-gathering activities, including 70 campers, 87 working personnel, 58 volunteers from Cebu, Manila and Taiwan, 20 local community volunteers, 21 staff members, and 3 alumni youth. Embracing an aviation-inspired theme, the camp officially launched its flight toward a lifelong mission of compassion, guiding attendees in their transition into Tzu Chi youth volunteers.
During the pre-gathering orientation, the Camp Disciplinary Officer introduced the rules and reminders that campers were expected to follow. This was followed by “Tzu Chi Etiquette: Soaring with Courtesy,” led by Sister Virgie Almosura, which introduced the foundation’s history, values, and daily practices.
Campers were introduced to Tzu Chi’s Four Major Missions—charity, medical care, education, and humanistic culture—which serve as the foundation of the organization’s humanitarian work worldwide. These missions guide its efforts in providing disaster relief, supporting medical missions, offering educational assistance, and promoting moral and humanitarian values through community and cultural programs.
Participants learned basic customs observed within Tzu Chi communities, including the greeting “Amitofo,” proper uniform guidelines, and mindful eating practices. These were presented as part of the organization’s emphasis on discipline, respect, and awareness in daily actions, encouraging youth to develop gratitude and responsibility in both behavior and mindset.
First-time participant John Reno Villapaña, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science student from Bohol Island State University (BISU) – Balilihan Campus, described the orientation as an eye-opening experience that reshaped his understanding of the organization.
“At first, I thought that Tzu Chi was just a scholarship foundation,” he said. “But after the pre-gathering, I learned that it is more than that—it is about charity, communication, and serving others.”
He also shared how meeting fellow campers added to his enthusiasm.
“I feel happy because I got to meet many new faces from different places,” he added, noting how the gathering helped him feel more connected to the community.
On June 13, 2026, the Tzu Chi Youth Life Camp officially commenced, marking the start of a two-day journey centered on compassion, service, and self-discovery.
To begin the camp, Brother James Chua welcomed the participants and reminded them that the days ahead were not about competition, but about learning the values of compassion and unity.
Through a story about students searching for balloons bearing their names, Tzu Chi Bohol Coordinator, Brother James Chua illustrated how cooperation achieves more than individual effort. Instead of competing, the students succeeded when they helped one another locate and return the correct balloons. “Don’t look for who wins or loses. Show your best efforts, but what is important is unity,” Brother James told the campers, encouraging collaboration throughout the camp.
He also shared another lesson using a one-thousand-peso bill. Despite being crumpled, stepped on, and dirtied, the bill never lost its value. Drawing a parallel to life, he reminded participants that personal worth remains intact despite challenges.
“Wherever you go, whatever happens to you, your value is with you,” he said. “No matter how much it is crumpled or stepped on, does the value of a thousand-peso bill disappear? No.”
Concluding his message, he expressed hope that campers would carry the lessons beyond the camp. “To show our compassion, to show our value, to show our unity,” he said, leaving participants with a message of service, self-worth, and togetherness as they embarked on their journey.
To begin the camp, Brother James Chua welcomed the participants and reminded them that the days ahead were not about competition, but about learning the values of compassion and unity.
Encouraging the youth to leave behind uncertainty, Assistant Camp Head Joshua M. Barbacina told the campers that giving leads to a more meaningful life. “On this flight, there is no baggage allowance for doubt or hesitation. We are leaving behind the noise of the world to journey inward, discovering the immense power of our own compassion,” he said.
Expanding on the camp’s theme, “Compassion Awakens: A Flight Towards Service and Purpose,” Camp Head Mark Anthony Boiser emphasized that the event aimed to awaken the spirit of volunteerism through the teachings of Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
“We want to awaken the compassionate heart within each camper because even one simple act of kindness can awaken the innate compassion of a person,” Youth Camp Head Mark Anthony Boiser said, noting that while each participant has a unique path, they are united by a shared mission of helping others.
The educational sessions began with “The First Takeoff: The Birth of Tzu Chi,” Sister Chieh Fang Uy, Tzu Chi Commissioner from Manila gave an in depth and interactive talk which traced the life of Dharma Master Cheng Yen from her early years to the founding of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation in Hualien, Taiwan, in 1966. Participants learned how a group of 30 housewives, inspired by Master Cheng Yen’s vision, began saving small amounts daily in bamboo coin banks to help families in need—an initiative that grew into a global humanitarian organization.
Reflecting on the session, camper Larea Mae Ramada, a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics at Buenavista College, shared her realization.
“Tzu Chi Foundation’s beginning taught me that it is never about how much you offer to a person. What is important is that what you give comes from your heart and your willingness to give,” she said.
As the session concluded, campers entered a brief period of reflection to process the stories of service and purpose, preparing themselves for the next destination in their camp journey.
