Tzu Chi volunteers fan out across the island during the street fundraiser and with a respectful 90-degrees bow, sincerely offer their thanks to those who make a donation. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest typhoon ever recorded in the history of mankind, made landfall in central Philippines on 8 November 2013. The central and eastern regions of Philippines were left seriously devastated, and as of now, tens of thousands of the affected are still homeless.
Since 12 November 2013, Filipino volunteers have been organizing relief distribution and free clinics. Worldwide, volunteers from more than 20 countries have responded to Master Cheng Yen’s call to initiate street fundraisers. The Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) received official approval to proceed with a street fundraiser from the relevant authorities on 25 November 2013, which was also the period where volunteers were busy with the final leg of preparations for the “Dharma as Water”stage adaptation. In view of this, Tzu Chi initially collected donations at a few of its designated premises, and volunteers went about collecting individual amounts with their donation cards.
Apart from cash donations, Tzu Chi also hoped to inspire an outpouring of love for the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. In particular, on the 14 and 15 December, during the period that the stage adaptation was in progress, many members of the public followed a vegetarian fast and made their heartfelt contributions into the donation box.
During the 2013 Tzu Chi Year-End Blessing Ceremony, both participants and audience offered sincere prayers and donations from their heart for the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
Bringing Comfort with Every Step
At the conclusion of the “Dharma as Water” stage adaptation on 15 December 2013, Singapore volunteers tirelessly embarked on yet another undertaking and kicked off the “Typhoon Haiyan Street Fundraiser”as they fanned out across the island to solicit donations from members of the public. As Guo Zhu Ming, main coordinator for the street fundraiser said: “Participating in the stage adaptation is to advance the causes of Buddhism; carrying out fund raising is to benefit our fellow beings. I hope that everyone can take the first step with enthusiasm.”
The day before street fundraising began, the night of December 18 saw more than 400 volunteers attending the pre-event briefing at the Jing Si Hall though it was pouring heavily outside. When attendees saw scenes of the devastation flash across the video screens and heard Deputy CEO Khoo Kean Yee talk about his experience helping out at the disaster zone, they started signing up for the three-day street fundraiser one by one.
Straight after the successful completion of the Year-End Blessing Ceremony, the “Dharma as Water”stage adaption teams immediately started work on the street fundraiser posters. (Photo by Lim Chwee Lian)
Though there was heavy rain on 18 December 2013, close to 400 volunteers still turned up to attend the briefing session for the Typhoon Haiyan street fundraiser. (Photo by Ong Soh Chin)
From 19-21 December 2013, more than 800 volunteers were out on the streets in shifts as they worked to raise funds for the rebuilding efforts in the Philippines. Though the 22 December 2013 was a Sunday, and there were also two “Seeds of Hope”bursary award ceremonies to be attended to that day, volunteers carried out their mission with joy; dressed neatly in their Tzu Chi uniforms, holding posters and donation boxes, they stationed themselves at the larger markets, malls and MRT stations in groups of three.
On 19 December 2013, volunteers commenced their street fundraising efforts for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
Young and Old Give of Their Love
Willyn Padilla, a domestic helper who hails from Ngi Ngi Bingawan Ilo Ilo in the Philippines, was having breakfast at the Bedok hawker centre with her employer early that morning. Upon spotting Tzu Chi volunteers, she came up to them to find out more. Willyn shared that though her little wooden house back home could not escape the typhoon’s destructive force, she was grateful that her family members were all safe and sound. Arriving in Singapore just three months ago, she did not have much money yet still managed to make a donation of two dollars. Willyn expressed her hope that more people would extend their love and care and encourage the typhoon affectees to get back on their feet again. She was confident that everyone would be able to surmount the problems together if they looked forward to the future with open hearts and not submit to their current worries.
Volunteer Guo Xiu Hua, who had reported continuously three days in a row at Bedok, had been Buddhist for many years but could not take part in much Tzu Chi activities due to work commitments. This year however, she was retrenched and had seized the opportunity to take part in the stage adaptation. Upon the conclusion of the adaptation, Guo had the chance to contribute to the street fundraiser and expressed how she was filled with the joy of Dharma. She said that though her efforts were small, many affectees could be helped. With a radiant smile on her face, she said that spending her time this way, she did not have a single worry and was very happy.
On a busy Sunday, Bugis was bustling with shoppers and seven-year-old Lin Jing Heng was with his parents and little sister. Seeing volunteers holding up posters, he pulled at his mother’s hand and asked if he could donate to the victims of the disaster. “They don’t have anything to eat and nowhere to live; I want to help them,” he remarked with childlike innocence. The little boy even earnestly expressed how he hoped that the affectees would take good care of themselves and wished them well.
Helping Others is a Source of Joy
In total, there were 21 Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) volunteers who participated in the street fundraiser. Sixty-two year old Peggy Sie is a retired dental assistant and shared how this was a year of many firsts for her: it was the first time that she had gone to Taiwan to participate in the yearly TIMA conference and met her spiritual guide, Master Cheng Yen; the first time she had participated in the stage adaptation as a chorus member; and the first time that she was contributing her efforts towards a street fundraiser.
Being out on the streets was a learning moment for Peggy – in the past she would decline to donate if she should meet with street fundraisers, but now she understood that being in the position to give to others is a source of joy. Having the rare opportunity to be engaged in benefic acts and to experience the joy in doing so, she was keen to cherish every moment and be of help to others.
TIMA member, Xu Yu Zhu (centre), is glad for the opportunity to participate in the street fundraiser, a first for her. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
Volunteers both young and old gave of their best in the fundraising endeavour. They exhorted passersby to give their love to the Philippines, and with an earnest 90-degrees bow, thanked countless members of the public. Grandma Wu
Mei Ni, stationed at the doors of the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street, is already 67 years old this year and suffers from heart disease and diabetes. However, she is firm about her efforts to help others, saying that at her age, if she does not engage in good deeds, it would be too late if the law of impermanence should catch up with her first. Wu got to know of Tzu Chi and its activities through her daughter, a TIMA member, and expressed how grateful she is to Master Cheng Yen for the chance to be of service to others.
Wu Mei Ni, a grandmother in her sixties, suffers from heart disease and diabetes, but feels that she must cherish the time she has left and maximize her opportunities to do good deeds. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
Madam N. Kamachi is one passerby who was touched by the sincerity of volunteers. Arriving at the Indian temple in Waterloo Street for her prayers, she saw volunteers soliciting donations from members of the public. She decided to walk over to make a donation as she was leaving the temple, and though she felt that she did not have much to give, what was important to her was her heartfelt wish to help the needy. Saying that we should not draw borders, Madam Kamachi feels that everyone should help one another and share their blessings as we are all a part of this same world.
N. Kamachi (left), a member of the public, feels that we should not make distinctions between ourselves and others as we all live on the same earth; we must all do our best to help the survivors and pray for them. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
The milk of human kindness exists despite the disasters and suffering in our world; one hopes that survivors of the typhoon can receive the love and kind thoughts from countless strangers as they strive to rebuild their homes in the shortest time possible.
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