The Filipino-Chinese Home for the Aged Women (FHAW) in Malinta, Valenzuela City was established in 1972 as a nursing facility for abandoned and homeless women.

The nursing home’s treasurer, Conchita Yu, said that through the hard work and concern of their members and donors, the FHAW manages to provide annual general checkups for its residents except for eye care services.

“We have consulted many eye doctors, but they said they cannot accommodate so many in a day,” she said.

One of FHAW’s supporters is related to Tzu Chi Eye Center (TCEC) volunteer Marcelina Sy, who learned the predicament of the elders. Sy immediately offered to assist in scheduling eight of them for a consultation with TCEC’s volunteer ophthalmologist Dr. Alex Sua.

Run by the humanitarian organization Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines, TCEC offer free eye consultations, lab tests and surgery. It serves hundreds of patients every week at its clinic in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Sua diagnosed two FHAW residents as suffering from cataracts and offered them free surgery.

One of the residents, 74-year-old former teacher Perla Tan, is already being assisted by TCEC volunteers, who regularly visit her to bring food and comfort.

The assistance that she has been getting, including her former students who helped settle her at the FHAW, made her feel better.

I am so thankful that there are still people who love me. I really thought that there was no one left who would care about me,” Tan said.