The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation – Philippines, in cooperation with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), gave away sacks of rice to hundreds of families at the Valenzuela City People’s Park Amphitheater, January 19.

A total of 401 beneficiaries were chosen among the families of (a) Tokhang surrenderees, (b) relocated families from Bulaos, Rincon and Mendoza, Veinte Reales, (c) and certain individuals and families with special cases that are selected by the social workers of CSWDO.

Beneficiaries with five or less family members received 20 kilos of rice while those with over six members got 40 kilos.

Ms. Jocelyn Dagal, 38, and Ms. Fe Marissa Marcos, 52, both from Barangay Malinta, expressed their gratitude for the sacks of rice that they have received. Ms. Dagal said that the food that she obtained were a big help to her family for she could buy other household needs instead of using their money for rice purchase. In the same light, Ms. Marcos shared in Filipino, “Malaking bagay [ito] sa mga kagaya namin na walang sumusuporta maliban sa mga bigay ni mayor” (This is a big help to people like us who only depend on what the mayor gives us).

Mr. Boni Yu Pabiloña, one of the volunteers of Tzu Chi Foundation, said that their organization follows the four major missions of their founder, Master Cheng Yen: charity, medicine, education, and promotion of humanistic values.

The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a volunteer-based organization founded in 1966 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen, in Taiwan which aims to give aid and inspiration to every person who needs assistance and wants to lend a hand.