TZU CHI VOLUNTEER AMY YU, 62. A LIFE WELL-LIVED; A LIFE WORTHY OF EMULATION

[ Read the personal testimony of Marietta Uy of Tzu Chi Cebu on the late Sis. Amy ]

When Tzu Chi Zamboanga got the beloved founder of Tzu Chi Foundation Master Cheng Yen’s blessing to set up the 15.5M TZU CHI GREAT LOVE EYE CENTER at the Zamboanga City Medical Center early last year; one of the very first donors was Sister Amy Yu, a Tzu Chi volunteer from Cebu City. In the Tzu Chi world, donating money to a noble project is nothing new, but the circumstances surrounding her life at the time of her donation deeply touched the hearts of Tzu Chi Zamboanga volunteers and inspired them to work even harder to be worthy of her trust and confidence or even to repay her act of kindness at the very least.

Sister Amy Yu was a very private person with a very gregarious nature; conflicting traits that best describes her. Because of her very gregarious ways she is always tasked to introduce Tzu Chi to the recipients during the numerous medical outreach missions and programs in Cebu. A spark plug of a volunteer, she is a constant fixture in all Tzu Chi Cebu activities. She is the type of volunteer who put her heart and mind to her assigned task whatever that may be. She can be funny at one time and quiet the next. As one of the pioneer volunteer of Tzu Chi Cebu, she was one of the pillars, a source of strength or an extra pair of hands you can always depend on anytime. Life was perfect for her, for she was simple, contented and very humble; so humble that she did not mind going around SM CEBU with a donation box in hand just to give more people the opportunity to help the calamity victims in Infanta, Quezon City. As a teacher she was deeply respected. Molding the future of her students was right along her alley, simply because she practice what she preaches.. Hers was truly a simple, contented yet very fulfilling and joyful life until June 2005.

June 2005 was a very fateful day for her. Mortals like you and me would have been struck down and hope broken on this fateful day. This month was when she learned she has Stage IV breast cancer. A very private person, she want her family to keep it a secret. She did not want anyone to worry or feel sorry for her. She did not only grapple with the Capital C monster by the horn, she stared directly into its face and never blinked. While ordinary mortals would sulk, have self pity, question God….why me? Or even grasp at loose straws and try to find a cure even when there none just to lengthen one’s life…Sister Amy accepted it bravely! Having lived a full and fulfilling life for others, she refused the “useless” treatment but instead focused on what she can do with her remaining life on earth. Sister Amy was clearly looking at her remaining life as half full and never as half empty! She worked even harder as a Tzu Chi volunteer determined to make a difference in the lives of others. When she learned that Tzu Chi Cebu will be helping Tzu Chi Zamboanga raise funds for the TZU CHI GREAT LOVE EYE CENTER, she donated her hard earned money knowing that their effort will restore not only the sight of countless indigents but eventually restore hope and rebuild lives of those who will eventually benefit from its establishment and not a cent for her treatment! When told by her doctor that she had more or less 8 more days left to live, her equally selfless brother Franklin asked her permission to donate the money she will be leaving for him to Tzu Chi Zamboanga instead; she immediately consented and issued the check dated November 4, 2006 to time with the Annual Tzu Chi Manila Charity Bazaar to benefit the Tzu Chi Great Love Eye Center at Tzu Chi Missions Complex. Unfortunately, she breathe her last October 30 and was buried the next day in a very Tzu Chi way. Private and simple…. just like how she was when she was alive.

Master Cheng Yen has always likened a Tzu Chi volunteer’s heart to a lighted candle. You burn yourself to give light and hope to others even when you know that by doing so; you will eventually burn yourself out. Sister Amy was that and more… she took to heart Master Cheng Yen teaching that “A fulfilled life is not measured by the length or how long you live but how many lives you touch during your stay on earth!” A short but meaningful life should be the envy of all. Sister Amy was at peace and must have taken comfort in what Master have preached. Because of how she lived her life, her memory and her deeds will live forever in the hearts of people she helped and cared for. People whose sight and hope will be restored because of her GREAT LOVE! Thanks Sister Amy for the live’s lessons you have shared with us and leaving the world a little better than when you were born….