Mission of happiness

Giving gifts of flowers to loved ones is a hallmark of Valentine’s Day celebration. Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines (TCMFP) put a new twist to the “day of love” when the humanitarian group fulfilled its promise of assistance to a homeless couple, undernourished children and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Bohol.

Optometrists Dr. Adriene Lim and Dr. Siu Yu Lam, and nurse Brian Lopez led other medical volunteers from the Tzu Chi Eye Center (TCEC), which was established by the TCMFP to provide free eye care services to mostly poor people, in spreading compassion and public service.

In Sagbayan, they turned over Happy Home 302 to its beneficiary, Crisologo Amotan, and his 89-year-old wife Regina. Aside from donating the house to the couple, Lim also brought and fitted a custom artificial eye on Regina.

Earlier, Lim and other TCEC volunteers visited the Amotans and the doctor saw Regina missing her left eye, which she lost to an infection several years ago. The optometrist promised to bring the artificial eye when they return to make her look better.

The foundation also fulfilled her simple wish for a mirror so she can see her face and whole body. They brought a brand-new full-sized mirror and a bouquet of flowers, completing a Valentine’s surprise that filled the Happy Home tears of gratitude from the couple.

Regina saw herself in the mirror and smiled to her better appearance.

Supplement and glasses

At the Kabasacan also in Sagbayan, TCEC volunteers fed children to conclude its six-month “Grains of Love” program, which provided the Jing-Si multi-grain supplement powder to 29 undernourished children in the community, helping improve their nutritional status and overall health.

The Valentine’s gathering became a celebration not only of love, but of physical and spiritual growth and development. Parents and volunteers witnessed the visible progress of the children who had faithfully received the supplement over the past six months.

For their final mission, the medical volunteers proceeded to the Bohol District Jail to distribute prescription eyeglasses to 46 PDLs.

The inmates were among the 540 PDLs who underwent eye screening from the foundation inside the prison last 24 January 2026.

SJ03 Efren Tadena, officer-in-charge of Bohol District Jail, thanked Tzu Chi founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, and the TCEC team for returning on Valentine’s Day, a blessing he calls for alleviating the eye problems of the PDLs.

For many of the recipients, receiving proper eyeglasses meant regaining the ability to read, write and perform daily tasks more clearly.

From nourishing children to bringing back the smile and happiness to an elderly, and improving vision for inmates seeking a second chance, Valentine’s Day in Bohol became a living expression of Tzu Chi’s mission of compassion.

On a day devoted to love, the Tzu Chi Eye Center team showed that the greatest gifts are not merely given — they are lived.

“A lot has happened today, and we are here wholeheartedly to share to the people here of Bohol, Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s love for humanity. We are grateful for the opportunity to be an instrument to give Tzu Chi’s blessings and we will strive to do better to bring help to more people in our next missions here in Bohol,” Lopez said at the conclusion of the mission of happiness.