Bohol, Philippines – The 10th anniversary celebration of Tzu Chi Foundation Bohol was marked by a profound and moving Sutra Adaptation Performance by Tzu Chi scholars and youths, most of them, are educational assistance program beneficiaries of the foundation.
“The locals mainly relies on foreign labor to sustain the economy. So life becomes challenging. To change the fate of these children, to change the fate of these families, it must start with education. The number of scholars began to grow. Especially during the pandemic, that year saw a significant increase of scholars.”, revealed Brother Michael Siao, Deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines and the coordinator in choreography of the Sutra performances, in an interview with DaAi TV, December 14,2024.
The event, held on December 15, 2024, brought together 320 participants to convey the teachings of Tzu Chi Foundation Founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen and how these are carried out through Tzu Chi’s four missions.
The Sutra Adaptation combines a theatrical sign language act with synchronized formations to illustrate Tzu Chi Founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s Buddhist teachings. The two Sutras performed by the youths and scholars depicted impurities of the human mind such as greed, anger, and ignorance in which these creates negative thoughts, speech and actions resulting to catastrophes as in portrayed in the typhoon and the pandemic adaptations. Then, a moving message ensued on understanding and embodying the Dharma (Buddhist teachings), such that on the impermanence of life, there is a need to cultivate compassion and wisdom.
Despite the reluctance and several overlapping activities in their schools encountered, the willingness and determination of the youths and scholars to perform the Sutras exuded. Even in the morning of the performance day, some of them went to their schools to take their examinations then quickly rushed to the event site for the general rehearsal.
“When I came to know the meaning of the sutra, I began encouraging my fellow scholars who were very hesitant to join the performance. I told them that this is to relay a message to everyone how disasters brought about by calamities affect all of us and how we should stand up to the challenges we encounter in life”, Divine Joshua Bayotlang, Tzu Chi Scholar and Youth.
Tzu Chi Youth Bohol head, Mark Anthony Boiser disclosed that the greatest challenge he had to deal with was how to gather all the 320 participants to practice given the proximity of each one residing in different far municipalities. “I have observed the Sutra performances in Taiwan were very synchronized and they were very dedicated (in practicing). So I figured that we have to diligently practice in small groups, by networks or by community because it was one of the wishes of Master Cheng Yen to see the Bohol youth perform a Sutra adaptation.”
“As practices kept going, I got to understand more deeper what the Sutras meant. So, I did it myself, I went on a vegetarian diet one week prior up to this performance day. I hope that the message of the Sutras will be able capture the audience, not only their minds but also their hearts” – Niño Jay Lamorda, Tzu Chi Scholar and Youth, 3rd year in BS Elementary Education.
Recipients of the Tzu Chi medical assistance also shared their thoughts on being a part of the Sutra performance. KC Lamoste was born with webbed hands and with the help of Tzu Chi, she went through a successful surgery in 2017. Seven years later, aside from benefiting from the Tzu Chi educational assistance, she now proudly lifts her hands up to become part of the sign language performance. “The message that the typhoon and pandemic sutras (wants us to know) is that we have to become responsible individuals, then we can make a difference in action by becoming vegetarians and in (saying good) words, as hurtful words when said is difficult to take back and eventually pains others.”
“Before I met Tzu Chi 6 years ago, I cried by myself every night. I lost all hope that I could get well with my condition and I would just die like this. I joined the Sutra performance, not just as a former patient and now a Tzu Chi Scholar, but this is my way to give back my gratitude to Tzu Chi Foundation and Dharma Master Cheng Yen, for transforming my life and giving me the confidence (that I never had before) to face such a huge crowd.”, said Trisha Mae Tulop, who in November 2018, underwent a major surgery at the Tzu Chi Hualien Hospital for severe scoliosis.
The young volunteers indeed has shown how the Sutra Adaptation experience had transformed their perspectives and inspired them to contribute more actively to Tzu Chi’s missions.
“While doing the practice, I began to reminisce the past and I came to the realization that human actions affect the nature and the nature just gives it back to us. Through the sutra performance we want to encourage everyone to do our part to protect our mother earth and with this I am challenging myself to slowly become a vegetarian.” – Mark Anthony Boiser
“Before the Sutra Adaptation, I wanted everyone including me to forget all the bad things that happened to us here in Bohol. But after knowing the message of the Sutras, I now wanted everyone to always remember. These tragedies that happened, teaches us a lesson and we all have to learn from this. It gives us strength to move forward.” -Divine Joshua Bayotlang
Through this Sutra Adaptation, we hope they realize that Tzu Chi is not just about providing entertainment but has a clear direction and purpose—aiming to inspire and transform hearts. – Brother Michael Siao, in an interview with DaAi TV, December 14,2024.
Over the past decade, Tzu Chi Bohol has provided aid to disaster victims, supported education initiatives, helped heal the sick and promoted environmental sustainability through several charitable activities. The 10th anniversary celebration of Tzu Chi Bohol was not only a commemoration of the past but also a reaffirmation of the organization’s dedication to creating a better future through acts of kindness and compassion.
May we continue to carry forward the teachings of Dharma Master Cheng Yen and spread compassion and love in 2025 and the coming years ahead.
