Three exciting events in the Philippines
PASIL, Philippines -
On the morning of February 5th, Familiara Street was packed
with a hundred Tzu Chi volunteers. The Philippines branch's
"Team Mutual Love B" had organized three activities
on the same day: opening a new recycling center, helping a
family move into a better home, and hosting a free clinic.
The grand opening of the recycling center
Tzu
Cheng Faith Corps and Environmental team walk into the recycling
center as part of the opening ceremony
Medical
students perform a lion dance for the opening ceremony
A white cloth was draped over the recycling
center's sign. With the help of local community leaders, Tzu
Chi doctors, Tzu Cheng Faith Corps, Tzu Chi commissioners
and volunteers, the cloth was removed and the recycling center
was officially opened for business!
Lea and Rachel move to a new home
After the grand opening ceremony, Tzu Chi
Brothers and Sisters quickly rushed to Lea and Rachel's home
to help them move to a better house. Lea and Rachel are the
conjoined twins who were successfully separated at Tzu Chi's
Hualien Hospital in 2003. "Dark" and "humid"
were two words that best described their previous home. The
110 square foot house had no bed to sleep on, and it was hard
to imagine that four people had lived there.
Lea
and Rachel happily play in their new home
Tzu Chi brothers and sisters continued to provide love and
care to the family after the operation. Eventually, they decided
it would improve the living conditions of the twins tremendously
if the family moved to the recycling center. The father of
the twins could also help out in the center and provide income
for the family.
Community free clinic
Volunteer
doctors examine a patient
The free clinic provided free medical services, including
pediatric and dental care, which benefited over 400 patients.
With 3 new pieces of dental equipment donated by Dr. Tsung
Hsien Tsai, the Tzu Chi Philippines branch could provide thorough
washing and filling services.
A
dentist helps a young patient with fillings
Crystal Clair was a 12-year old girl with a big hole between
her front teeth. With the help of a volunteer doctor, her
problem was fixed and she could not stop smiling afterwards.
Another volunteer helped a mother by serving
as a temporary nanny while the doctor pulled the mother's
tooth.
In another corner, Leslie, who looked very
skinny and pale, was feeling sick and had suffered from pleural
effusion and malnutrition for four months. However, she had
not been able to buy any medicine because her family was very
poor. Volunteers were able to successfully help her get the
right medicines.
Tzu Chi volunteers not only provided free
medical services, they also tried to spread the seeds of love.
They introduced Tzu Chi and tried to bring joy to the patients
by performing sign language songs and showing TV programs.
 Andy
and Marietta Awel, parents of the twins, thank all the
Tzu Chi volunteers |
 Brother
Sheng Hang Tsai demonstrates sign language and hand exercises
to patients who are waiting for treatment |
 Sister
Hsiu Chih Liu happily washes the dental tools |
