“Great things start from small beginnings.” This simple but powerful idea came to life in a remarkable way at BISU–Balilihan Campus. On September 8, 2025, the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association (TCCYA) Balilihan Chapter was officially recognized as an accredited campus student organization. The new chapter quickly proved that even a simple act like collecting trash can lead to a huge and inspiring impact, as they actively participated in an entrepreneurial activity during the campus intramurals held from September 10–12, 2025.
It all started with Joshua Barbacina, a third-year BSIT student from Loon and a Tzu Chi scholar. He is also the TCCYA Bohol Assistant Head and recently the TCCYA Balilihan Chapter Head. Inspired by the activities of the Tzu Chi Youth, he asked himself, “What if I build something similar in our school?” His biggest worry was finding people to help, but to his surprise, his fellow scholars on the campus immediately stepped up, showing that kindness and shared purpose can be a powerful force. This project was also a tribute to the late Brother Michael Siao, who passed away on June 2, 2025, due to pneumonia, to whom Joshua had promised he would establish this organization.
Brother Joven Uy, Tzu Chi Bohol Deputy Coordinator visited the TCCYA Balilihan Chapter’s booth during the first day of the event.
The TCCYA Balilihan Chapter’s first major project was a booth at the school’s three-day intramurals, which featured a competition for the best booth. While the other 14 organization booths focused on selling products, TCCYA had a different approach with their booth, called “From Camp to Campus: Kubo of Kindness and Recycling.”
Their booth became a central location where students could bring plastic bottles and old clothes in exchange for school supplies and Tzu Chi informational items. This effort, which highlighted giving back to the community and protecting the environment with its native-inspired design, earned them the Best Designed Booth Award, a significant achievement for a new organization.
This unique approach quickly caught Jovie Mae Clabio, a second-year BSIT student and Tzu Chi scholar, who took pride in serving at the booth, helped segregate recyclables, and welcomed students who donated clothes. She shared, “It was fulfilling to see students willing to participate. My message to my co-Tzu Chi youth is to continue inspiring people, especially your classmates or friends, to donate or participate in anything that helps society.”
Other students inspired to give back to the community, like Marie Jane Cruspero, a BSIT student from Antequera, donated clothes she no longer used. “We are blessed with so many excess blessings in life, so we must share them with others,” she reflected.
“All hardships are repaid with joy,” said Melvin Daohog, a fourth-year BSCS student, reflecting on his experience with his classmate, Joshua Hinay. On the first day of the event, the two roamed the school grounds holding a trash bag, hoping to collect plastic bottles. By the end of the day, they had gathered three kilos of plastic from various areas around the campus, including the school gym. This simple act of cleaning up their school led Joshua to an important realization: “We must be responsible for our own trash so it won’t litter around the school. A clean school is pleasing to look at.”
Their efforts even inspired people outside the campus, including Preslie Alalong, a Tzu Chi community volunteer from Loboc. Having volunteered with the organization for a year, she expressed her gratitude, saying, ‘It’s my first time experiencing how college students work hard to exchange their trash for school supplies. Not only trash, but also clothes that they no longer use, which can still be useful. I was amazed and happy that Tzu Chi Youth has such a program.
The hard work of the Tzu Chi Youth Balilihan Chapter paid off as the event turned out to be a success. Throughout the event, the team successfully collected 12 kg of PET bottles, 1 kg of plastic caps, and 12.5 kg of used clothing. This effort showcased the organization’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, proving that purposeful projects can inspire change within the campus community. The plastics were sold to Yankiv Plastic in Catigbian for ₱76, which was donated to the foundation, while the used clothes will be laundered and sorted and will be distributed to orphanages supported by Tzu Chi, further extending the cycle of compassion.
This reflects Master Cheng Yen’s teaching, “It is not the amount of money that matters, but the sincerity behind it.” Even the smallest donation, when given with a pure heart, carries immeasurable value. Money becomes only an instrument; what truly matters is that it inspires people to give, to act, and to serve.
The story of the TCCYA Balilihan Chapter’s initiative and compassion is a powerful reminder that we don’t need grand gestures to make a difference. As Chapter Head Joshua Barbacina shared with his fellow students, “We should not wait for rewards to take care of our environment. Let us take the initiative to keep our surroundings clean and green.” This group proved that a small number of dedicated people can turn trash into treasures and inspire an entire community to do the same.
