Despite adversities, compassion continues to thrive in the world.

This is what gave birth to Tzu Chi Foundation in Taiwan in 1966, from where its simple tenets of goodness and kindness have spread around the world.

"Tzu," in Chinese, means compassion, while "chi" means relief. The foundation's founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, wanted to help the poorest of the poor in her native land. Years later, Tzu Chi is present in many other countries, guided by its core belief of "giving respect to all living beings." This is what drives all its charitable works around the world and other activities that promote it.

Tzu Chi Foundation is, according to its official website, an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to relieve the suffering of those in need while creating a better world for all through compassion, love, and hope.

In the country, Tzu Chi Foundation was formally established in 1994. Now going on 28 years of unstinting service to all, it held its annual Fiesta Verde last 5 to 6 November.

Judy Lao, head of communications at Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, spoke with the Daily Tribune during the first day of Fiesta Verde last 5 November and shared insights about the non-government organization.

Daily Tribune (DT): What is Fiesta Verde?
Judy Lao (JL): Fiesta Verde is our yearly activity to raise funds for the NGO's causes. Our last Fiesta Verde was in 2018 and during the pandemic, we weren't able to host the event.
At this bazaar, we have merchants that sell body products, skincare, appliances, kitchenware, etc. Our food merchants all serve vegan and vegetarian meals.
DT: Since vegetarianism is the dominant aspect of the fund-raising activity, would you say it is being taken into more consideration nowadays?
JL: Vegetarianism has gained traction during the pandemic as people focused more on their health. Events like this are a great way to buy vegetarian food, ingredients, among other things.

DT: Apart from being a fundraising activity, what more is there with Fiesta Verde?
JL: Proceeds from the bazaar go to all the different missions of Tzu Chi, like the mission of education. There are a lot of scholars funded by Tzu Chi. Also disaster relief.

DT: Do you have plans of holding a different activity?
JL: I think this is pretty much consistent with Tzu Chi's mission. It addresses our respect for all living beings, respect for animals, healthy living, eating vegetarian, and it's still the fundraising factor.

DT: What has been Fiesta Verde like throughout the years?
JL: Well, I think before, if we tell people about vegetarianism, people would say they cannot be vegetarian. Nowadays, a lot of people are looking for where to buy.
People are looking for healthy food, which is very well changed, it's a development, actually.

During our generation, if people say you're a vegetarian, either they are very old, they are Buddhists, they are monks. Other than that, we never heard of people being vegetarians. But nowadays, it's the young people who become vegetarians and they are the ones convincing their parents, their grandparents to have a healthy living so it's a very positive change,
We are here to tell people if they want to be a vegetarian, it is possible, you can have palabok, dinuguan, even steak, that is plant-based.