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On Yolanda’s 10th year, a visit of love back to Leyte
Tzu Chi’s medical and non-medical volunteers were all eager to continue nurturing the seeds of love that were sown on this land 10 years ago, when the organization helped rebuild ‘Yolanda’-devastated communities
The Tzu Chi Eye Center recently joined a medical outreach in Ormoc City, Leyte as part of Tzu Chi's commemorative activities for the 10th year of super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).
On 8-9 November, the Buddhist charitable group offered free dental services and minor surgeries at the Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Barangay Lilo-an, and eye surgeries at the Ormoc District Hospital.
Transporting all the needed equipment, especially the eye surgical machines, was a challenging endeavor.
"Land and water transport would take days and might also affect the Eye Center's operations in Manila," said volunteer Jacqueline Ong. Luckily, Tzu Chi volunteers, in coordination with the Philippine Air Force, managed to get permission to use a military plane to transport the machines, other equipment and supplies from Manila to Ormoc airport.
Members of the 124th Philippine Air Force Reserve Unit Affiliate also volunteered to help load and unload the equipment before dawn on 6 November.
"We believe in Tzu Chi Foundation's advocacy and they have really helped a lot," said unit commander Lieutenant Colonel Jun Llave. "Typhoon 'Yolanda' (Haiyan) was a massive disaster that happened in the Philippines. We want to be part of this commemorative activity as well."
On 7 November, Tzu Chi Eye Center's medical and non-medical volunteers as well as volunteer dentists and surgeons from Manila arrived in Ormoc via Tacloban airport. Everyone was eager to continue nurturing the seeds of love that were sown on this land 10 years ago. They shared a welcome dinner with local volunteers, Tzu Chi scholars, aid beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
A short program during dinner showcased Tzu Chi's works in Ormoc in the past decade, including building houses for "Yolanda" (Haiyan) survivors, providing educational assistance and caring for the health of Ormoc locals.