Volunteer doctors who serve for free are one reason why the Tzu Chi Eye Center (TCEC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila continues to treat hundreds of poor patients with eye ailments, including those blinded by cataracts. The other reason is its generous donors who provide the funds for acquiring advanced surgery equipment, medical supplies and other aids. 

On 15 May, TCEC received an unlikely donation from siblings Anson, Benson, Benny and Stevie. They turned over P4.5-million cash to Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines president Dr. Antonio Say and CEO Alfredo Li.

The money was donated by family friends and relatives when their mother, Mrs. Dee Siu Lay, passed away in early May.

The siblings encouraged those planning to send flowers and food to the funeral to donate cash to TCEC instead. They made the request as some 200 floral arrangements were sent to the family when their father passed away.

“It was such a waste to throw away all those flowers after the wake,” Benny recalled, adding that the siblings chose TCEC as the beneficiary charitable institution because it is helping a lot of people.

The response was truly heartwarming as the huge donation will directly fund life-changing surgeries for indigent patients suffering from blindness and eye ailments.

“Our Mom was very supportive of projects like this,” Anson shared. “I’m sure that she will be smiling down at us with this donation we did to Tzu Chi.”

“We hope that it will inspire other families to do the same,” Benson added.

Tzu Chi founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen teaches that life is impermanent but its value lies in doing things to benefit the world. By planting seeds of blessings during such an incredibly sorrowful time, the siblings managed to ensure that the departure of their beloved mother would pave the way for hope to dawn for many indigent patients, benefitting society in the long-run.