Participants came from 10 municipalities across the province, including Loboc, Loon, Sagbayan, Catigbian, Tubigon, and Inabanga. Tzu Chi volunteers from Cebu, Manila, and Taiwan also graced the activity.
Mayor Asuncion Ybañez of Sagbayan shared an emotional message, honoring Brother Michael’s kindness.
Community leaders, medical professionals, school heads, and institutional representatives joined the gathering, underscoring the collaborative role of different sectors in advancing humanitarian values and compassion-driven service.
Tzu Chi volunteers warmly welcome Dr. John Rodel Acosta (in his white coat) upon arrival.
Dr. John Rodel A. Acosta, a highly skilled neurosurgeon who has worked closely with Tzu Chi Bohol since he joined the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) in 2019 in providing medical assistance to indigent patients.
Among them was Dr. John Rodel A. Acosta, a highly skilled neurosurgeon who has worked closely with Tzu Chi Bohol since he joined the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) in 2019 in providing medical assistance to indigent patients. He shared that through Tzu Chi’s support—particularly in providing costly neurosurgical implants and instruments—more patients are able to receive life-changing care. He noted that healthcare in the Philippines remains imbalanced, and partnerships such as this help bridge gaps in access to essential treatment, allowing patients to regain comfort and hope.
Jan Rel Pantoliano attended the Year-End Blessing to express his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Acosta and Tzu Chi Bohol.
Such as for beneficiaries like Jan Rel Pantoliano, having involved in a motorcycle accident that left him one-sided skull-less seemed like a hopeless matter, but Dr. Acosta would not give up on him and made Jan Rel learn about Tzu Chi Bohol that he was able to receive the medical assistance for his cranioplasty surgery. Jan Rel attended the Year-End Blessing to express his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Acosta and Tzu Chi Bohol.
Mayor Dexter Muneses Ancla of Inabanga, attending the event for the first time, shared: “It is my profound happiness to be part of this very special occasion—the Year-End Blessing and Thanksgiving event held here at Bohol Wisdom School by the Tzu Chi Foundation. To Master Cheng Yen, I sincerely thank you for this wonderful gift: the ang pao, the blessings, and the wish for a better world without suffering and disasters.”
Mayor Dexter Muneses Ancla of Inabanga expressed deep gratitude for the occasion, describing the Year-End Blessing as a meaningful gathering of compassion. He thanked Dharma Master Cheng Yen for the red packet (ang pao) and for the foundation’s unwavering aspiration for a world free from suffering and disasters. On behalf of the many people assisted by Tzu Chi, he conveyed appreciation to volunteers around the world for their selfless service.
Dr. Lloyd Lopez of Loon reflected on Tzu Chi’s long-standing presence in the province, recalling his first encounter with volunteers during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013.
Dr. Lloyd Lopez of Loon reflected on Tzu Chi’s long-standing presence in the province, recalling his first encounter with volunteers during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013. He shared how Tzu Chi provided relief goods, hygiene kits, housing materials, and even temporary school buildings for damaged communities and schools in Loon. Witnessing the same warmth and compassion years later during the Year-End Blessing, he described the gathering as deeply comforting and reassuring that Tzu Chi would continue its mission to serve humanity.
Father Peru Dayag, Chief Executive Officer of Holy Name University Medical Center Incorporated (right), shared that witnessing the candlelight ceremony, the giving of red packets, and the being informed of Tzu Chi’s missions left an impression on him.
The event was also attended by leaders from the penal institution and various faith-based organizations. Fresh from the previous day’s eye-screening activity for 540 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Bohol District Jail, Jail Superintendent Thomas Diaz Jr. did not let the opportunity pass to express his gratitude to Tzu Chi by attending the Year-End Blessing event. Father Peru Dayag, Chief Executive Officer of Holy Name University Medical Center Incorporated, shared that witnessing the candlelight ceremony, the giving of red packets, and the being informed of Tzu Chi’s missions left an impression on him. He noted the shared belief between Tzu Chi and his own Divine Word Foundation that generosity does not impoverish the giver, but instead brings joy to both the recipient and the Divine. He mentioned that their parallel efforts in helping indigent patients and nourishing schoolchildren through the ongoing Jing Si multi-grain supplement program, affirms that children cannot learn on empty stomachs.
One of the highlights of the program was the distribution of red packet which are representation of blessings from Dharma Master Cheng Yen, along with symbolic charms engraved with messages of happiness, good health, and peace. These tokens when cherished, would cultivate mindfulness, gratitude, and kindness in daily life.
