Behind every dental mission are many hands working together. While dentists care for patients, others quietly ensure that every machine works, every detail is ready, and every effort leads to one goal—bringing care and smiles to the community.
On March 7 and 8, the Tzu Chi Foundation held a two-day dental mission at the Tubigon Cultural Center, gathering dentists, commissioners, overseas volunteers, youth volunteers, staff, and other support teams to serve the community of Tubigon. While treatment areas were readied for patients, a quieter, but equally vital effort was underway—teams of volunteers worked together to prepare every detail. Among them, the Taiwanese dental technicians focused on the machines, making sure every unit functioned properly. Their meticulous work enabled the dentists and local volunteers to perform without interruptions, making the mission run smoothly for everyone involved.
As Bro. James Chua, Deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines and Coordinator for Tzu Chi Bohol explains, “In Bohol Island, we usually hold a dental free clinic every three to four months, specifically for elementary school children in rural areas, because many of them have never even seen a dentist. When they have a toothache or dental problems, they simply do not know how to deal with it. Seeing this need, we come to organize a dental charity clinic in the countryside.”
It is within this carefully orchestrated effort that the quiet but essential presence of the Taiwanese volunteers becomes evident. In one corner of the hall, they worked methodically over each machine—checking circuits, adjusting components, and ensuring every unit could operate safely. Their movements were calm, precise, and almost invisible, yet without them, the mission could not run as smoothly.
Bro. Joseph Co, head of Tzu Chi’s medical team, emphasized: “Very, very crucial and a great help. Because all the machines—whether small or big issues—can be immediately handled and resolved. Everything goes smoothly, allowing us to help more patients. We are deeply grateful to the brothers and sisters from Taiwan, who selflessly give without asking for anything, coming from afar to support our dental mission here in Bohol Island.”
For Taiwanese volunteer Brother Lin Chin-An, repairing machines is only part of the mission. More importantly, he hopes to pass on the technical knowledge needed for local volunteers to take care of the equipment themselves.
He explained that machines often develop problems because they remain unused for long periods. “Our volunteers here in Bohol are still not very familiar with doing maintenance on the machines,” Bro. Lin shared. “When equipment stays unused for months, it can break down or stop working.” Instead of simply fixing the problems, Bro. Lin takes time to demonstrate how the machines work and how certain issues can be addressed. “We try to share the right concepts and techniques,” he said. “If the local volunteers understand the machines, they will know how to maintain them properly.”
While the technicians ensured that every machine worked perfectly, dentists and local volunteers carried out the care that patients received directly. Every adjustment, every repaired unit in the corner allowed the dentists to focus fully on the people in front of them, turning preparation into healing, and effort into compassion.
In these moments, the mission became more than a dental outreach, it became a place where skill met heart. The impact of this work comes alive in the words of the dentists themselves.
For Dr. Leonora Mercado Panganiban, joining the mission was the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Service had always called to her, but life’s responsibilities often came first. Now 54, she had spent much of her life raising her child alone after losing her husband. Only after her child graduated from college did she feel ready to dedicate herself fully to helping others.
“It is really to serve,” Dr. Leonora shared. “There are so many who are less fortunate. We are the ones who are bless, (and) in a better situation than they are. So as long as we still have the ability to help, we should keep giving our best to support them.”
During the mission, one moment stayed with her. A young boy approached her station for dental cleaning, and she noticed he had no slippers. Concerned, she gave him a small amount of money and asked him to buy a pair before returning.
Not long after, the boy came back wearing new slippers. Dr. Leonora welcomed him warmly and continued with his dental treatment.
For her, moments like these bring her back to the reason she chose to volunteer—the chance to share kindness and care with others. In these sincere acts of compassion, the dream she once held in her heart finds its true purpose.
Another volunteer dentist, Dr. Jazmine Gail Martillo, joined the mission with a deeply personal connection to the work.
Originally from Tacloban City, she grew up hearing stories from her father, a firefighter, about the help their community received from the Tzu Chi Foundation after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan. This molded her understanding of compassion and the power of giving.
Years later, being able to volunteer in a Tzu Chi dental mission herself carried profound meaning. “I feel very happy and fulfilled as a dentist to help others,” she shared.
For Dr. Jazmine, serving in the mission is a continuation of the same kindness that once reached her hometown. “Now, I am very honored to have become part of the group who once came to help us,” she said, reflecting on how the cycle of giving has come full circle.
In Tubigon, the dental mission showed how many hands are needed to make service possible. From the Tzu Chi volunteer technicians from Taiwan who carefully prepared the machines, to the dentists who treated every patient, to the youth volunteers and local teams who assisted and guided the community, each person played a role in bringing the mission to life.
For everyone involved, it was not only about providing dental care. It was about sharing time, skills, and compassion with those who needed it most. And in the smiles of the children and families they served, the purpose of the mission became clear—kindness, once given, continues to move forward through the hands of those willing to serve.
