Tzu Chi's Philippines Division Goes to
Pangasinan to Aid Typhoon Victims
Philippines
(Translated by Wendy Chen, Palo Alto, Northern California)
We had just returned from the Mayon volcano
relief area. On July 3, Typhoon Feria, which was wreaking havoc
throughout central and north Luzon, was upgraded to Category
Three. At about 2 AM on July 5, during the full moon high tide,
a sudden flood inundated a whole village. Helpless inhabitants
used tables to climb onto rooftops and waited for assistance.
A Tzu Chi disaster relief team immediately went to the stricken
area to comfort the unfortunate residents and find out what
they needed most. Upon returning to Manila, they began purchasing,
packaging, and transporting relief supplies.
On July 12 at 4:30 AM, thirty-two volunteers
left as scheduled for Pangasinan to relieve stricken victims.
At 9:30 AM, the group reached the distribution station. Prepared
for only 1,500 families, the team was shocked at the sight of
a crowd of 2,000 families. However, despite the change in the
situation, the volunteers were not alarmed. Everyone helped
out, and there was something for everyone to do. Tzu Chi volunteers
told everyone that Great Love transcends all national borders.
They also taught everyone the song "One Family," and
with the help of local Tzu Chi Youths translated the lyrics
to manifest the sincerity and emotion of the tune. One victim
was so overcome with emotion that he hugged a Tzu Chi Youth
and sobbed, "Let us forever be one family!" Volunteers
quietly carried supplies from the truck in an organized and
well-practiced manner, creating a special atmosphere that taught
the dharma without words.
Each family was given a water bucket, a set
of blankets, five kilograms of rice, five packets of instant
noodles, six articles of second-hand clothing, and a copy of
Master Cheng Yen's book, Still Thoughts. One resident,
Felicita, said that what she saw of Tzu Chi's style was just
as she had expected, and she hoped she might have a chance to
help others as well. She wanted to go to church immediately
and pray for God's blessings on all the kind volunteers.
One mother there, carrying a baby and towing
her three- and six-year-old sons, painstakingly retrieved fallen
grains of rice that had escaped from the loosely woven rice
sacks. There were only a few grains, and they were dusted with
dirt, but the family patiently picked up each and every one
of them. Unless driven by extreme hunger, an average person
would not have bothered to do so. This bitter sight further
taught us to realize, cherish and create more good fortune.
Upon entering the second relief station, we
were surprised to see how organized the people were. Everyone
was seated in their respective district's designated area. The
1,500 families there belonged to the following eight districts:
Bolsam, Salisay, Tambac, Lasip Chico, Bacaya Sur and Norte,
Mangin, Tebeng, and Pantal. The new mayor of that town, Lin
Kuo-min, was an old acquaintance of Tzu Chi, and he did all
he could to cooperate in the distribution of supplies.
The successful distribution of relief supplies
was made possible by the whole-hearted aid of the city government
and the local Fil-Chinese Volunteer Firefighters Association.
Here, we would like to give our most heartfelt thanks to those
people.
The Fil-Chinese Volunteer Firefighters Association
was founded twenty-one years ago, and has since made many great
contributions to the local community. We were deeply moved by
the fact that each and every one of them, whether CEO or common
person, fought to carry the cumbersome sacks of rice from the
trucks to the distribution site.
The Firefighters Association dispatched all
its members deep into the afflicted area and personally chose
victims to help, so as to really help those who needed help
the most. They committed themselves to each task with their
hearts and souls, with unbeatable spirits. This was a true display
of Great Love. They have not yet become part of the Tzu Chi
family, but they already possess the spirit of Tzu Chi volunteers.
Barangay captain Ceferino M. Baugsal, sixty-seven
years old, has devoted twenty-eight of those years to serving
his community. He extolled all that Tzu Chi did, and remarked
that the Still Thoughts booklet was priceless. He said that
even though the relief supplies would be eaten and used up,
the wisdom of that booklet would prove useful for a lifetime.
It's a good thing we have such people to carry out the Tzu Chi
spirit-it gives all members drive and motivation.
