The Life News Agency
May 25, 2023

On May 15th, teachers from Cadiz City and Bacolod attended a teachers workshop in the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist temple. The training focused on teaching the Three Acts of Goodness, which are scientifically proven to lead to significant reductions in mobbing and school drop out rates if implemented in schools. Renown guest speakers such as Prof. Cecilia Manikan from Manila and Dr. Maje Purino from Cebu as well as Dr. Josette Balandra were invited to teach the 120 attending teachers.

The "three acts of goodness" are to do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts. Prof. Manikan provided scientific background on how these deeds connect to Buddhist practice – which she sees as a life philosophy and not a religion - and why all of us, independent of our religion, would do well to engrain them more deeply in our lives. She spoke about how they have the potential to decrease corruption in our political system. One of life's truth is that we are all interconnected, interdependent and impermanent. COVID19 has shown us that we are interconnected and interdependent – one person sneezing on a plane leads to the entire country with COVID a week later. We are also impermanent – it is a truth that we were born and we will die. When we understand this truth we also recognize the truth in her words that "when I hurt you, I also hurt myself."

Prof. Cecilia Manikan shared her experiences with implementing the three acts of goodness. photo／Yuan Thong Temple

The Fo Guang Shan order was founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who developed humanistic Buddhism, a Buddhism for the living, instead of one worshiping the dead. Dr. Maje Purino introduced the participants to the life of the venerable master and how his belief systems were shaped. Most important is ofcourse what we can learn from his life and teachings to help our students excel. Venerable Master Hsing Yun grew up with a drive to learn. As his family was poor his only means of getting an education was through a monastic life. The Fo Guang Shan order there aims to provide children and young adults with opportunities to learn.

Dr. Josette Balandra introduced us to one of the programs the Fo Guang Shan order provides: a 10.000P grant to implement the three acts of goodness in schools. Interested teachers can apply for grant funding. Dr. Maje Purino provided information on how to best write a technical proposal. In addition to programs for pupils of schools, such as this grant program, the Fo Guang Shan also has universities for which it provides full grants: tuition, boarding and material to interested students. The Guang Ming college in Manila was founded with the aim to provide students with education so that they in turn can lift their families from poverty. Interested young adults can fill out an online application.

Dr. Josette Balandra introduced us to one of the programs the Fo Guang Shan order provides: a 10.000P grant to implement the three acts of goodness in schools. photo／Yuan Thong Temple

At the end of the day Principle Viola from Cadiz city shared her experiences with implementing the three acts of goodness in her school, a very inspiring journey. Cadiz City district supervisor Madam Erah S. Ardo expressed her gratitude of being able to join with 99 teachers from her district, although officially only 69 had signed up. Interest to learn more about the three acts is high. The second Cadiz city  district supervisor Madam Heide Hofilena stated that "this is only the beginning". Which is true, let's spread the three acts further and positively touch our students lives. Finally the principle from Domingo Lacson High School – Madam Cheryl J. Tondo stated her aim to do more research and put the acts into action. She could already see the rippling effects of in her school.

Madam Cheryl J. Tondo, principle of Domingo Lacson High School, stated her aim to do more research and put the three acts of goodness into action. photo／Yuan Thong Temple

This teacher's workshop represents the planting of a seed, now each and every teacher needs to diligently water and fertilize this seed in order to harvest the fruits along with their students in the future.