Inspite of the work load in Zamboanga City, the Tzu Chi Great Love Physical Rehabilitation and Jaipur Foot Prosthesis Manufacturing Center in cooperation with the Zamboanga City Medical Center found the time in joining Tzu Chi Zamboanga in holding the 19th foot camp at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City last July 23, 2009 and the 20th foot camp at Oro Physical Rehabilitation Center at Tagbilaran, Bohol last July 24, 2009.

The distribution of prosthesis were for those whose mold was taken June 6-7, 2009. Even though this was Tzu Chi ‘s 4th time in Cebu and 2nd time in Bohol there seemed to be no end in the number of recipients waiting in line for their prosthesis. Tzu Chi Zamboanga Jaipur Foot Camp first extended its services to Cebu City in cooperation with Tzu Chi Cebu Liaison office last April 2007. With the economic crisis on-going; there seemed to be an extreme urgency to reach out to more indigents in order to help bring back hope and mobility to those in need of prosthesis. Each prosthesis in the Philippines cost anywhere from PhP60,000.00 up. A lifetime of saving for some, but an impossible dream for most! It is because of this need that Tzu Chi Zamboanga volunteers work very hard in raising funds to make sure the mission of Tzu Chi Great Love Physical Rehabilitation Center to RESTORE HOPE..REBUILD LIVES WITH GREAT LOVE...ONE FOOT AT A TIME can go on most especially during this time of the economic hardships!

Even though we have been doing this for the past 6 years, Tzu Chi volunteers still get goose bumps every time we see recipients walking with both hands raised up in Thanksgiving to God for the first time in their many years of existence. It never fail to warm the hearts of the Tzu Chi volunteers and make all the hard work and long hours away from work and family very worthwhile. Seeing the determination written all over their faces of the recipients as they took their first step, the volunteers always share in their excitement and fears as they lovingly held their hands and offered their shoulders for them to literally lean on. But in just a few minutes....miracles do happen!

Transforming the worried and tentative look on the faces of the recipients into broad smiles as the volunteers join them in their victory walk not on four like animals but on two legs with head raised up with dignity restored! For the first time in their lives they can now face their lives with renewed enthusiasm and hope. Almost all of them now very excited in going back to school or finding work to provide for their families once again. Their smiles are priceless!

Tzu Chi Zamboanga wishes to express its gratitude to Tzu Chi Cebu volunteers, local hosts Dr. Lohindren Adorable in Cebu, Mr. Mateo S. Quilas of Bohol Federation of Disabled Persons, Inc. and most especially to Tzu Chi Zamboanga TIMA medical volunteers whose hard work and sacrifices in moulding the plastics into prosthesis with their hands gave Tzu Chi the rare opportunity to answers the prayers of 23 recipients in Cebu and 21 in Bohol as they give meaning to their mission to Restore Hope and Rebuild Lives with Great Love…One Foot at a Time!”