Long-term violence in Zamboanga, on Mindanao Island, has brought about a terrible state of poverty and a deterioration in the social order of its people. However, despite the hardships of living within a country torn apart by conflict, the people are still generating a powerful love.

It all started when thirteen people came together with an idea to form a group to carry out good deeds. Of different races and religions, they came together in the interest of the poor. Over the past four years, they have succeeded, through a combination of hard work and kindness, to relieve the suffering and pain of tens of thousands of people.

Though this country is worn out from warfare, the love of the people in this land is as big and beautiful as the rainbow that often hangs above this place, shining down to offer hope amid the darkness and despair.



Zamboanga is located on Mindanao, the southernmost island in the Philippines. This city of 700,000 people is situated an hour's flight from Manila. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1635, and many examples of Spanish architecture are scattered among the lush green mountains and crystal turquoise waters. Stunning as this harbor city is, its serene beauty has been marred by a complicated array of political problems.

More than 80 percent of the Filipinos living on Mindanao are Catholics, and the rest are mostly Muslims. Many in the Muslim community have been pushing for independence as a separate Islamic country, and protesters frequently launch anti-government actions. As a consequence, the city has become a battleground shattered by clashes between government troops and Islamic militants.

Zamboanga once was a prosperous and vibrant city. Unfortunately, in more recent times it has sunk into a devastating state of destruction and poverty since becoming a target for radical militants and terrorists. The endless fighting, deadly explosions, and threats of kidnapping have resulted in a serious decline in levels of public security. Sadly, Zamboanga has become a city referred to as the dead end of the Philippines.

Four years ago, the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA), based in Manila, began offering free clinics in Zamboanga. Thirteen local citizens volunteered to learn how to assist with the work. They drove around and helped distribute medicine to people living in the slums. Later, they set up a local Tzu Chi liaison office in order to promote a subsidy program for patients suffering from hydrocephalus and cataracts. So far, more than 20 free clinics have been held. The Tzu Chi Great Love Rehabilitation Center was finished in July 2004.

The thirteen pioneers include Yang Wei-shun, acting as the person in charge of the office, along with his wife, sister, two uncles and eight friends. Some of these people are Chinese and some are Filipinos, and they come from a diverse assortment of occupations--veterinarians, nurses, housewives, accountants, secretaries, teachers, real estate brokers, and owners of hardware stores or restaurants. Their ages range between twenty and forty years old. Because they work in the daytime, most volunteer activities are scheduled either at night or on weekends. However the volunteers also assist in hospital visits during lunch breaks.

Looking back upon what they have achieved, it is difficult not to be amazed by their sheer courage. However, these individuals instead focus on how encouraged and lucky they feel to have been witness to altruistic acts of devotion from other charities, medical organizations, and medical personnel.

Starting from nothing

In November 1998, TIMA members traveled from Manila to Zamboanga to hold a free clinic. The chairman of the local Chinese Chamber of Commerce asked his son-in-law, Yang Wei-shun, to help out. The three-day clinic treated 6,000 patients, including 270 patients who underwent operations.

Volunteers in the recovery ward meticulously took care of patients coming around from anesthesia by covering them with blankets or cleaning up the vomit of those who felt nauseous. Volunteers thoughtfully prepared food, drinks, and entertainment activities for patients in the waiting area. Even the doctors joined in to help sweep and mop floors. Although the doctors and volunteers had commenced their busy day at 7 a.m. and worked continuously through until 11 p.m., the smiles on their faces showed how much they had enjoyed themselves.

At the end of March 2000, Tzu Chi returned to hold the second free clinic. With the experience gained from the initial clinic, Yang observed that this time the work was far more successful and ran more smoothly. Yang felt it brought forward a wealth of new ideas.

The two free clinics in Zamboanga initially brought together thirteen residents who shared the same ideas and concepts regarding charity work. Since then, they have traveled with TIMA members to remote and isolated places to provide free clinics. After attaining adequate experience, they decided to set up a Tzu Chi liaison office in Zamboanga in 2001, and Yang Wei-shun became the head of the office.

With about US$1,700 donated by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the volunteers started to distribute vitamins and pills for parasitic worms. The more patients they served, the more kinds of medications they needed to prepare. "We sometimes wondered if we could afford to buy so much medicine since the costs were getting higher and higher," explained Yang. "However, compared with the lives of these poor people, we knew we were so blessed." The volunteers were determined to continue despite the obstacles that lay ahead of them.

The pain of war

Half a year after the medicine distribution program began, Islamic militants attacked government troops, bringing greater destruction and uncertainty to Zamboanga.

At this time, Yang's home was not far from the battlefield. On the night of November 26, the skies rang out with the sound of continuous gunfire. At 3 a.m. the next day, Yang received a call, asking, "What are we going to do now? People living in the battle zone were evacuated at midnight. Are we going to be able to help them out?"

As the military confrontations persisted, Yang kept receiving calls for help. All the shops were closed, so no one could buy any food or daily necessities. Even government social workers came to ask Tzu Chi for help. Yang vividly recalls the desperate sound of a child wailing on the telephone.

The original team of thirteen members went to work immediately. They contacted Tzu Chi members who owned grocery stores in order to purchase noodles and food from them. Yang's father even provided eggs from his own farm, and Yang's mother was so exhausted after cooking so many eggs for the victims that she was unable to lift her arms.

The thirteen volunteers in their small, unarmored cars had to venture out across the battle zone in order to distribute food and drink to a total of 4,500 refugees crammed within four different shelters.

The first thing that had occurred to the volunteers was to organize the immediate preparation of food and transport so as to keep innocent people from starving. They were not aware how incredibly dangerous it would be to transport food in a war zone, which at that time was crowded with soldiers, police, and tanks. The gunshots that they heard created a terrifying atmosphere.

In addition to refugees from these confrontations, volunteers also distributed food to troops, policemen, and Islamic activists. Some people asked Yang, "Why did you help the activists?"

Yang replied, "Because of the hatred they had in their hearts. We had to help them activate their love."

Afterwards, although the volunteers were frightened when they watched footage of the fighting on the TV news, they still had no regrets. "Thinking of those starving refugees," says Yang, "We just wanted to be there to help them. The ceaseless courage and inner strength just kept pouring out. It was quite unbelievable, in hindsight, when we realized what we had done."

Advice from the Master

One time when Yang traveled to Hualien, he asked Master Cheng Yen why there were so many conflicts in Zamboanga. The Master replied, "We haven't tried hard enough to make people love each other."

Yang was born in the Philippines in 1965. In addition to English and Tagalog, he also speaks some Chinese and he has learned the Master's words by heart. When he returned to Zamboanga, he started leading groups of volunteers to remote mountain villages where there were no medical facilities in order to provide free clinics. By September 2004, 20 free clinics had been held and around 15,000 patients treated.

A 63-year-old man who had previously refused to have a hernia operation had suffered excruciating pain for decades. He did not want to have surgery because he worried that the expense would bankrupt his family. Whenever his intestines fell out of place, he would try to take care of it himself and with agonizing pain push them back into place with his own hands.

In September 2003, the old man received his hernia surgery at a free clinic. Yang explained, "Tzu Chi helps treat those who cannot afford treatment and frees them from terrible pain and suffering. These people can then go back to work again in order to support their families. To save a person is also to save a family."

"We take the initiative to look for patients in remote districts rather than waiting passively for them to come to us," Yang continued. Over the years, Tzu Chi volunteers in Zamboanga have distributed free medicine to more than 5,000 patients and promoted several medical subsidy programs to further help the impoverished.

Volunteers have also successfully worked in conjunction with the Zamboanga City Medical Center. Every week, the hospital grants two free operations to patients who are unable to afford surgery or treatment. Although this measure is valuable, it still falls short of meeting a far greater demand. Those who cannot pay for treatment are referred to Tzu Chi, which then takes care of the fees and even provides daily necessities for them.

Besides this, Tzu Chi and the medical center also work hand-in-hand to run an ophthalmology subsidy program for the poor. The program so far has helped over 900 patients with cataract and lens implants, over 250 patients with other ophthalmic surgeries and medication subsidies, over 200 patients with eyeglasses, and one patient with a corneal transplant.

When the Tzu Chi office was established, there were only three TIMA members, but now there are 43. At the free clinics, people from different organizations or units such as local charity groups, hospitals, civil administration units, volunteers from the Zamboanga City Medical Center, and owners of 4-by-4 vehicles all come together to provide help.

The rainbow always comes after the rain. A soldier who helps maintain security at the Tzu Chi free clinics explains the impact that the relief work has had on him. He says, "Seeing people of different races and religions working together to help those in need, to provide relief from such dreadful pain, is such a beautiful scene. It reminds me of the rainbow which, after the rainfall, hangs across the sky above."

Never turn anyone down

In 2001, Tzu Chi volunteers in Zamboanga began the VP Shunt Program, which assists poor children inflicted with hydrocephalus and brain tumors to receive free checkups and treatment. [A ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a small tube that helps relieve pressure on the brain by draining fluid.] More than 70 patients have received treatment over the past three years.

"A lot of children here suffer from hydrocephalus, which is also known as 'water on the brain.' If they don't receive treatment in time, the sickness leads to permanent physical or mental handicap, or even death," Yang explained. An operation to remove a brain tumor costs between 50,000 and 100,000 pesos (about US$9,000-19,000). In most cases, this equals the entire life savings of a family.

The 58th hydrocephalus patient was a three-month-old baby called Johanna. Her father, a jeepney driver, found it very hard to support his family of seven. His burden was significantly worsened by Johanna's medical fees. He asked around for help and was finally referred to Tzu Chi.

"Every day I prayed to Allah, but I never thought I would get such a quick response," Johanna's father said, with great relief, after discovering that Tzu Chi was able to help him.

In May 2004, after two weeks of treatment, Johanna recovered. When her story reached the parents of Von, a one-year-old patient, they also contacted Tzu Chi for help. "Ever since our child was born, we had saved money for his treatment. However, the money turned out to be only enough to pay for checkups. Not long ago, the doctor advised us that Von would need surgery as soon as possible. Tzu Chi was our last, and only, hope."

Yang said that many impoverished families sell their entire supply of livestock in order to travel to Zamboanga and ask Tzu Chi for help. The volunteers understand the incredible hardships these people have to go through just to get there, so they have pledged never to turn down any children who arrive in need of treatment.

However, the colossal expense of this program is a hefty responsibility for the limited number of volunteers and 300 Tzu Chi members based in Zamboanga. "The Master told us not to worry about money if we are sincere in our charity work," Yang said. "If we are committed to doing what we should, things will finally turn out all right. So we continue looking for patients who need help. Whenever we need money badly, someone always shows up to help us."

A heavy responsibility

Although Yang is a Catholic, he was not asked to convert to Buddhism upon joining Tzu Chi. Master Cheng Yen encouraged him to keep up his good work in purifying people's hearts and act as a good Catholic.

Last year, Yang was certified as a Tzu Chi commissioner by the Master. "When I was commissioned, I felt like a great responsibility was bestowed upon me. However, the ribbon given to me was emblazoned with the words, 'Let us take the Buddha's compassion as our own and the Master's commitment as our own,' and this message has continued to be a guiding light for me. I understand where the heavy responsibility comes from." The more deeply Yang understands the Master's ideas and the more support he gets from his teammates in Zamboanga, the more carefree and self-possessed he feels.

In his five years as a Tzu Chi member, Yang has had a stable clientele in his veterinarian clinic. His career has not been affected by his activities in Tzu Chi. After ten years of marriage, he finally got the thrilling news that he was to become a father. "The estimated arrival date was June 2004, but there were signs that it would be a premature delivery. Although the doctor gave my wife medicine to delay the arrival, the baby was still born on the date of Tzu Chi's 38th anniversary!"

Yang went on to share with us the ensuing drama of his wife's delivery. Because it would be a premature birth, the doctor decided to perform a cesarean section. The surgery could only be performed on the condition that there were ten packs of blood. While Yang was asking people to donate blood for his wife, he saw a group of anxious people waiting in the hospital building. He approached them and learned that they had come to donate their blood for a friend's father who was about to have an operation, but none of their blood types matched his. Yang happened to have that blood type, so he volunteered then and there to donate his blood.

Later, when Yang returned to his wife, the hospital notified him that the blood needed for his wife's operation was ready. He wondered where it had come from and was told that the group of people that he had just helped had donated their blood for his wife. He said happily, "I had only donated my blood, but in return ten people donated theirs. Isn't this a great example of the teaching, 'Good-heartedness often meets with recompense?'"

When it comes to planning for the future support of Zamboanga, Yang believes that the free clinics, relief work, and goods distributions are only the initial stages. His real hopes lie in education, as he believes that people can be taught to truly purify their hearts. Through education, Yang explains, children can have a positive influence on their families, and in turn these families will have a fundamental influence on society.

Yang hopes to build a school that accepts children of all races and religions. This means that children in Zamboanga can be influenced by Tzu Chi culture and pass on the seeds of love when they grow up. With a smile on his face, Yang said, "This is what I dream of."