On Jan. 19, Master Hsing Yun (星雲), founder of Taiwan's Fo Guang Shan Monastery (佛光山), departed the Philippines for Taiwan Monday after a three-day visit mainly to inspect the progress of a tuition-free college that is being established by his Buddhist charity organization.
Hsing Yun said the promotion of culture and education, especially higher education for disadvantaged people, are ways that religions can contribute to society.
"Americans used to set up universities in our country, and now we are also able to set up universities in other countries," he said proudly.
Fo Guang College in the Philippines is the fifth tertiary school to be established by the charity organization, following Fo Guang University and Nanhua University in Taiwan, University of the West in the United States and Nan Tien Institute in Australia.
The Philippine college, which opened for enrollment in 2014, has three departments -- arts, dance and Buddhism -- and 39 students, all of whom are exempt from tuition and accommodation fees.
The students are having classes and staying at the Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple in Manila until the college building in Tagaytay is completed.
According to Helen Correa, president of Fo Guang College, enrollment is a challenge for the Buddhist college because the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country.
Although the school has its own values, its students are not required to practice Buddhism, Correa said.
www.chinapost.com
