Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines About Tzu Chi

Tzu Chi is a non-profit charitable organization founded by the Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Hualien, Taiwan in 1966. Mesa.
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Official page of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Eye Center Philippines, a non-profit ambulatory surgical clinic providing quality vision care for the economically-disadvantaged. At that time, Hualien was undeveloped and impoverished. The master and her disciples sewed baby shoes, made candles and encouraged their followers to save 0.30 NT$ every day for charity. During her charity visits, Dharma Master Cheng Yen realized that many families became poor due to illness or vice versa. She concluded that, to end poverty, illness needed to be taken care of first. She founded a free clinic in 1972 which provided medical services to the poor twice a week and then set out to build a hospital. Today, the Master’s compassion has resulted in the establishment of seven Tzu Chi hospitals across Taiwan. Shortly after a local Tzu Chi chapter was established in the Philippines in 1995, a group of Tzu Chi volunteers and local doctors held a free clinic in Baguio. Thus begun Tzu Chi’s medical work in the country. In 2007, the Tzu Chi Clinic was established in Bacood, Sta. It offered free dental and eye care services to indigent patients from across the Philippines. In 2016, the establishment underwent renovation and was renamed to Tzu Chi Eye Center. Today, it is a three-floor structure that features four operating rooms that are equipped with the most advanced ophthalmic technology, and diagnostic rooms as well as a roster of ophthalmologists from a variety of sub specializations. In 2019, the Tzu Chi Eye Center received its accreditation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

"Pure water needs to surge from everyone's heart to cool the overheating Earth."
17/09/2026

"Pure water needs to surge from everyone's heart to cool the overheating Earth."

The Philippine Tzu Chi Eye Center team sent prayers and help to Nepal following the devastating flash floods and landsli...
14/09/2026

The Philippine Tzu Chi Eye Center team sent prayers and help to Nepal following the devastating flash floods and landslides that wiped out communities in the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26. Doctors, volunteers, and staff joined their hearts together in praying for the survivors' recovery.

Since August 28, Tzu Chi volunteers in Nepal, and later from Singapore and Malaysia, have been on the ground, distributing relief goods and providing medical services. They have recently finished helping cleanup Baireni Hospital in Nepal's Dhading District, one of the most affected towns, allowing it to resume operations. Meanwhile, cleanup continues in the nearby school, helping students move closer to returning to class. Tzu Chi is now moving towards medium and long-term recovery efforts.

Founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen calls on everyone to sincerely pray for the safety of the world in the face of increasingly powerful disasters. "Each person's tiny sincerity, when joined together, will create strength," Master Cheng Yen said.

For those who also wish to help, visit: https://tinyurl.com/Donate-Nepal-Relief

"Parents are role models for their children."
13/09/2026

"Parents are role models for their children."

Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto visited the Tzu Chi Eye Center in Sta. Mesa, Manila on September 9. The visit was aime...
10/09/2026

Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto visited the Tzu Chi Eye Center in Sta. Mesa, Manila on September 9. The visit was aimed at exploring collaboration that will benefit underprivileged Quezon City residents suffering from eye diseases.

Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines President Dr. Antonio Say, CEO Alfredo Li, and Eye Center Medical Director Dr. Bernardita Navarro, together with Tzu Chi volunteers, gave the Vice Mayor a tour of the facility, while explaining its services and the Foundation's history.

The principle behind the use of top-of-the-line equipment and medical supplies to serve disadvantaged Filipino patients left a deep impression on the Vice Mayor. "The equipment alone costs a fortune and the medicines are all given for free! We agree with [founder] Master Cheng Yen's teachings that if you were to help, why don't you go all in with that help?" he said.

CEO Li further explained, "Our mission is not to make money. Our mission is to restore sight. The patient's smile when they could see clearly and walk with confidence again is enough payment already."

After hearing this, Vice Mayor Sotto thanked the volunteers for their dedication to serving humanity. He and his team left that afternoon with hearts inspired and eager to work together in restoring the sight of Quezon City residents.

"It's really an eye-opening experience," Vice Mayor Sotto said. "What they're doing should open the eyes of the people on how to really help in even the smallest way, just like how the Foundation had began with 30 housewives and a coin bank. You can really tell that if you help without expecting anything in return, the seed of love that you plant is much more meaningful."

"Our accomplishments in life are built on the words and actions we make every day -- thus, we must be discreet in our da...
10/09/2026

"Our accomplishments in life are built on the words and actions we make every day -- thus, we must be discreet in our daily speech and behavior."

08/09/2026

Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines Vice President Dr. Robert Sy led a group of general surgeons in offering free minor operations to Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City residents, freeing them from years of suffering from benign cysts and warts.

Two residents of the Filipino-Chinese Home for the Aged Women, who had long endured impaired vision from cataracts, have...
07/09/2026

Two residents of the Filipino-Chinese Home for the Aged Women, who had long endured impaired vision from cataracts, have regained clear sight following recent surgeries at the Tzu Chi Eye Center.

On the morning of July 29, volunteer ophthalmologist Dr. Alex Sua, anesthesiologist Dr. Joanna Liu, and the rest of the surgical team gently settled the elderly patients into the operating chair, one after the other. The process proved difficult for one of them, an 80-year-old grandmother showing signs of growing forgetfulness. Her curved spine made it impossible for her to lie flat on the operating bed. A special bed, which can be configured to suit each patient’s needs, donated to the Tzu Chi Eye Center helped overcome this ordeal. However, a second challenge soon followed: overwhelmed by confusion, the grandmother resisted lying down. The volunteer anesthesiologist's calm presence eased her distress, and the surgery proceeded without further incident.

The surgery of another patient, 74-year-old Perla Tan, likewise proceeded smoothly.

Perla had devoted her healthier years to caring for her aging mother and an older sister who had special needs. In doing so, she forwent marriage and a family of her own. After her mother and sister passed away, she found herself alone. As her own health declined, she grew increasingly dependent on others for care. Her former students brought her to the Home for the Aged in Malinta, Valenzuela City, where she could receive proper support. There, she also eventually found relief from her failing eyesight.

Reflecting on this chain of kindness, Perla said after the surgery: "So many good hearts have helped me. I am deeply grateful."

Early in June, the Filipino-Chinese Home for the Aged Women approached the Eye Center to request assistance for its residents' eye health. Eight elderly residents subsequently underwent thorough consultations and screening under Dr. Alex's care. Conchita Yu, the care facility's treasurer, expressed gratitude for the prompt response: "This is like a second life to them. They can now see things so clearly, thanks to the help of the Tzu Chi Eye Center."

"The Buddha teaches us that our life is like a dream."
06/09/2026

"The Buddha teaches us that our life is like a dream."

05/09/2026

The Philippine Glaucoma Society (PGS) recently visited the Tzu Chi Eye Center to observe doctors and evaluate clinical training environment as part of the official accreditation process for Cardinal Santos Medical Center's (CSMC) Glaucoma Fellowship Program. CSMC's fellows and volunteer physicians also actively serve patients at Tzu Chi.

Address

1000 Cordillera Street Corner Lubiran Street, Bacood, Sta. Mesa
Manila
1016

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

Website

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