WHEN MEMBERS of the Tsu Chi Foundation visited Albay after Supertyphoon “Reming” devastated the province in 2006, they wanted to help the Tabaco National High School (TNHS) by renovating its old building with a P2-million budget.

But when they informed their founding head, Master Cheng Yen, about their plan, he wanted nothing of it.

“He said we must give them a new building because the children are the hope of all parents and education is the hope of all children, so we have to give the best to the school,” explained Tony Tan, Bicol coordinator of the foundation. The Taiwan-based nongovernment organization has members from the Chinese-Filipino and Chinese communities in the Philippines and in Taiwan.

Turnover

On June 26, the foundation turned over a typhoon-resistant and quake-proof building to the TNHS.

“The school building can withstand typhoons of up to Signal No. 6, if there is such a thing, and earthquakes as strong as Intensity 8 or 9. That is why we built this not just for the children but to also serve as an emergency shelter to the residents around the area during strong typhoons and other calamities,” Tan said.

“We call this typhoon-proof and earthquake-proof building because that was really the concern of our master: That no one should be hurt, whoever stays in this building,” he explained.

The building’s foundation is strong and its strength customized, according to engineer Alfredo Li, president of the Buddhist Compassion Relief of Tsu Chi.

A Taiwanese, Li said the materials and processes used were strictly followed based on structural design specifications.

Center pagoda

The building has a floor area of 1,450 square meters and houses 10 classrooms, two offices, four toilets and a center pagoda to serve as a convergence hall.

Construction started in June last year and was finished last May.

“This is the first school building we donated in the Philippines,” Li said.

“We have donated rehab centers and eye center and also have our own clinic in Manila but for school, this is the first time in the Philippines and we hope this will not be the last,” he said.

He disclosed that funds for the school building, as well as the foundation’s other projects across the country were donated by kind-hearted people all over the Philippines. One of the major donors is Liberty Commercial Center (Licomcen), a chain of malls and express markets in Bicol.

Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro, who attended the turnover ceremony, said Tabaco City was very lucky to have such assistance.

Tan encouraged the city residents to also share the love to their fellowmen. “Our objective is to continuously spread the seed of love and kindness, while we are still capable.”