Tzu Chi (慈濟), means compassion 慈 and relief 濟. The Tzu Chi logo consists of a ship that bears the lotus fruit and flower, symbolizing the belief that the world can be made a better place by planting good karmic seeds. Followers believe that these seeds are required for flowers to bloom and bear fruit, […]
We huddled around a birthday cake of decadent chocolate and cups of siphoned coffee, notepads and pens scattered among the cutlery. Moist glasses of ice-cold water stood by on the coffee tables that Saturday high noon in the middle of May. Angela Yu, president of Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Jonah Martin of MGA GAWA Foundation […]
In a chance meeting at the sprawling outdoor gardens of San Agustin church in 1990, I discussed with Angelo King the work that I had been doing. I shared that working with a nongovernment organization rather than in the more lucrative corporate world was a deliberate choice for me. He listened intently as I shared […]
Volunteering is not an uncommon undertaking in the Chinese-Filipino community. Volunteer fire brigades and charitable organizations are almost always the first to respond to emergency calls and offer sustainable help in disaster situations. One such organization is Care Caravan (華福關懷列車), a social outreach organization of Chinese Christians that targets marginalized groups in Philippine society. In […]
This year started with a bang, literally. Taal, the go-to “chill” place of Manila’s urbanites for years, and Taal Volcano and the lake surrounding it, are the centers of attraction. Traversing all the Batangas towns around Taal, travelers enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake and the volcano. But the best view is, of course, […]
Before the new coronavirus reached our shores, and before Taal Volcano erupted on Jan. 12, the Tsinoy (Tsinong Pinoy, who are Filipinos of Chinese ancestry but born and raised in the Philippines) community launched the Alay Puso outreach program for the poorest and most marginalized communities. This offering of giving was a significant dual celebration […]