TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Taiwan’s Dharma Drum Social Welfare and Charity Foundation and the
Rotary Club of Taiwan, through Mr. Philipp Tseng has already turned
over more than P3 million as part of the total P9 million commitment
to the orphans of the Guinsaugon tragedy.
On June 1, 2007, Mr.
Philipp Tseng personally distributed checks totaling to more than
P800,000.00, flashlights and P500.00, to each of the 30 scholars at
San Juan Municipal Gym. He was joined by the Mayor of San Juan, Hon.
Boy Mortera, the partner clubs, the Rotary Club of San Juanico, the
Tacloban Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the
coordinating agencies and some members of the media.
The checks represent
the amount needed by each scholar in order to pay their tuition fees,
buy books and school projects, uniforms, subsistence allowance,
transportation and board and lodging allowance. Each of the scholars
has bank accounts which they opened jointly with Mayor Mortera
considering that 75% of the orphans are studying at the municipality
of San Juan.
During the short
program, the scholars presented intermission numbers dedicated to Mr.
Tseng and the other visitors. Many observed that the orphans have
greatly changed from the withdrawn and sad orphans right after the
tragedy to vibrant talented students.
Mr. Tseng, during his
inspirational talk, told the students not to dwell in their miseries
but to continue living and striving to improve their lives. He said
every time they feel sad, the orphans should look up at the site and
look up at the mountains and feel that they can aspire of great things
as high as the mountains. He assured the scholars that the Dharma Drum
Foundation and the Rotary Club of Taiwan will continue to fulfill
their commitment until the youngest scholar has already finished his
college education.
Mr. Francisco Darang,
the incoming president of the Rotary Club of San Juanico urged the
scholars to study hard and to use the money which their benefactors
are giving them.
Mayor Virgilio Mortera
of San Juan lauded Mr. Tseng for strongly recommending the project to
the Dharma Drum Foundation and the Rotary Club of Taiwan. He also
commended the Rotary Club of Taiwan and the Dharma Drum Foundation for
their sincere commitment to help their fellowmen across the world.
PIA Director Olive Tiu
who delivered the message in behalf of the partner government agencies
exhorted the scholars to consider themselves lucky because even if
they lost their entire family to the Guinsaugon tragedy, they acquired
a new family in the Dharma Drum Foundation and the Rotary Club of
Taiwan which accepted responsibility to provide them with all their
needs. She said the blessings they received is a manna from heaven
which not all young students like them receive. The best way, they can
show their gratitude for the blessing and the gift they have received
is to live their lives to the fullest, by giving their best in all
their endeavors and in their studies.
Director Tiu
congratulated Mr. Tseng for discovering the wonder law of nature that
in order to achieve the three important things in life which men crave
for – happiness, freedom and peace and mind, one must give them first
to others.
Director Tiu also
acknowledged that the project would not have materialized without the
coordination and support of Mr. Henry Yaokasin, the president of
Tacloban Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She
recalled that it was during the despedida party for the Taiwanese
rescuers when Mr. Yaokasin introduced her to three members of the
Dharma Drum Foundation and asked her suggestion as to how the
Foundation will be of help in Guisaugon. Having heard of the orphans
which Bishop Canillas of the Diocese of Maasin housed at the Saludo
Beach, Director Tiu and Mr. Yaokasin decided to suggest that the
Foundation take care of the welfare of the orphans.
After one week, Mr.
Tseng was sent back to the Region to interview the orphans. The rest
is history.
