On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2026, the walls of the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City opened to a different kind of visitor. Seventy medical professionals, staff, and volunteers from Tzu Chi Philippines arrived to conduct the foundation's 287th large-scale medical mission. For the women living behind these bars, the day was not defined by their past mistakes, but by the care and dignity they received through specialized medical services.
Compassion beyond the gates
The mission provided a comprehensive range of services, including internal medicine, gynecology, dentistry, and ophthalmology, benefiting 1,245 patients. Before entering, volunteers attended a briefing led by Mark Vincent Dayang, a Tzu Chi staff member, to understand the strict security protocols of the facility.
The atmosphere initially held a touch of apprehension. General Coordinator Rosa So (郭麗莉) reminded the team of the facility's regulations, noting that many residents were serving sentences for serious offenses. However, as the team passed through two rigorous security checkpoints—including inspections by sniffer dogs—the tension dissolved into a warm welcome.
LEFT: On International Women’s Day 2026, Tzu Chi Philippines volunteers and medical staff visit the Correctional Institute for Women for a medical mission. RIGHT: The mission brings healthcare and a sense of being remembered to those behind bars. | Photos: Correctional Institute for Women Staff
Inside the courtyard, a drum team in orange uniforms and a band in blue and white provided a festive welcome. Among them, a tall woman from China danced with infectious energy. The volunteers observed that within the walls, life carried a semblance of a community, complete with a bakery, a gallery, a handicraft shop, and even a hair salon.
Specialized care for women
The medical team worked tirelessly from morning until mid-afternoon. Internal medicine saw the highest demand, with five doctors treating 417 patients. Many residents sought help for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
For the first time at CIW, Tzu Chi introduced gynecological services. Six young doctors provided consultations and ultrasound exams for 164 women. Among them was Dr. Quolynn Yvonne Uy (龔瑜琳), daughter of volunteer Chiang-Chiang Kung (龔強強). It was the first time the father and daughter served together on a mission.
In my eyes, they are no different from any other patient. They all need care and respect.— Quolynn Yvonne Uy, Gynecologist
LEFT: Tzu Chi is the first organization to provide specialized gynecological services at the Mandaluyong women's facility. RIGHT: Doctors tirelessly write prescriptions and consult with patients throughout the day. | Photos: Correctional Institute for Women Staff
In the dental section, the work was physically demanding. Dentists remained on their feet for hours, performing extractions and checkups. Volunteer Si-quan Xie (謝思荃) worked in a cramped, pungent sterilization room, meticulously cleaning instruments to ensure every patient’s safety.
"No one is born bad," Xie reflected. "Most are shaped by their environment and life encounters."
Finding inner peace
While the doctors healed bodies, other volunteers focused on the spirit. In a narrow corridor, emcees Jane Sy (施雅潔) and Levy Yao (洪麗煝) shared stories of the "Bamboo Bank" era and "Jing Si Aphorisms"—short nuggets of wisdom from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
For some residents, the connection was deeply personal. One 35-year-old woman from China, who has been incarcerated for seven years, sought help for scoliosis. While her physical condition was complex, she found solace in a conversation with volunteer Rong Hua Yan (顏榮華) about the Buddhist concept of cause and effect.
LEFT: Dentists work through the day, providing professional care and extractions for the residents. RIGHT: Volunteer Si-quan Xie (left) ensures all dental equipment is sterilized and safe for use. | Photos: Correctional Institute for Women Staff
"Seeing Tzu Chi volunteers cross borders to care for us makes me feel so warm inside," she said, her eyes welling with tears. She expressed a hope to one day reconnect with Tzu Chi in China.
Another resident, who has been vegetarian and practicing chanting for ten years, noticed a strand of prayer beads on volunteer Susie's (翁淑理) wrist. Seeing the woman's longing for a source of spiritual stability, Susie immediately took them off and gave them to her. The woman’s joyful smile in return, Susie noted, made the entire mission meaningful.
A language of love
Melanie Mapili, a Tzu Chi vocational training graduate who now works at the prison, noted that this was the largest medical mission ever held at the facility. She observed how much the residents and staff enjoyed the sign language performance of the song "One Family."
"Filipinos naturally love music and dance," Melanie said. By the end of the day, the residents were using the sign for "family," a silent but powerful testimony to the bond formed.
General Coordinator Pue-Chin Lee Chua (李伯慈) added that the mission required two prior site visits to set up temporary plumbing and improve sanitation for the medical stations. Through these practical efforts and empathetic listening, the volunteers hoped to leave behind more than just medicine; they hoped to leave a light of hope.
Written by Si-quan Xie (謝思荃), Rong Hua Yan (顏榮華), Susie Weng Co (翁淑理), and Anqi Cai (蔡安琪)
