Anton Mari H. Lim

Anton Mari H. Lim
Born	Anton Mari H. Lim November 22, 1965 Zamboanga City, Mindanao, Philippines
Alma mater	Zamboanga Chong Hua High School University of the Philippines-Diliman
Occupation	Veterinarian, businessman, humanitarian

Anton Mari H. Lim, DVM, better known as Anton Lim, is a Filipino veterinarian, businessman, and humanitarian, and a frequent speaker, organizer, and volunteer throughout the Philippines as he advocates for the disadvantaged. Coordinator of Tzu Chi Foundation,^[1] Zamboanga Liaison Office, where he began volunteering in 1998, he co-founded the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation in 2010,^[2] which speaks to the needs of communities where (for example) students are often forced to swim to and from school. To provide support, he networks with local, national, and international nonprofits, private organizations, and committed volunteers. In addition to his veterinary practice, Dr. Lim is a licensed real estate broker, and is co-founder of Republika ng Filinvestor Movement, ^[3] President of the Filinvestor International Foundation, and Director for Business Development, Filinvest International Sales Group.

An active member of Rotary Club of Zamboanga City, Dr. Lim was an early winner of the TESDA-IX Kabalikat Awards in Western Mindanao.^[4] He also sits on the Board of Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippine Branch Office, and is a director of Rotary Club of Zamboanga City, as well as a past president, and has received numerous Rotary International awards^[5] and citations among which is the Rotary International Service Above Self Award, the highest award Rotary International can bestow to its members worldwide. He is considered the Chief Dreamer and Implementer for the Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids, which was the initial humanitarian movement of what is now the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation.

Early life and education

Lim grew up in Zamboanga City witnessing his parents, Antonio and Maria Yu Lim Bo helping other people without fanfare at crucial times in their lives. A graduate of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, he went on to attend University of the Philippines Diliman, graduating with a UPCVM in 1982. He went on to place among the Top 10 in the government licensure examination for Veterinarians.

Early career

Born November 22, 1965, in Zamboanga City Mindanao, Philippines, Lim began his career as a veterinarian, and later, after meeting the founder of Tzu Chi, Dharma Master Cheng Yen he was soon challenged to establish a liaison office in Zamboanga City, and eventually agreed. He has always been involved in community service, much of which is through the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City.

EDSA People Power Commission

A strong advocate for good governance and linking government with the people and civil society organizations, he sits as National Execom member of the People Power Volunteers for Reform and was recently appointed by Benigno Aquino, President of the Philippines as one of the 5 commissioners of the EDSA People Power Commission^[6] whose main task is to perpetuate the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution by developing an army of volunteers for nation building.

Tzu Chi Foundation

His current activity often involves collaboration between Tzu Chi and the Yellow Boat Foundation, which Lim co-founded with Jay Jaboneta.^[7] He is often found organizing and leading medical, surgical missions in the form of free services for indigents in the many depressed areas of Zamboanga City and neighboring cities and provinces. He also oversees assistance in the surgical needs of special cases; provisions of medical needs to residents in homes for the elderly, physically and sexually-abused children; other medical and health services in the community; and educational and economic needs that arise. In times of manmade and natural calamities, Lim is often seen leading Tzu Chi Zamboanga promptly, often with massive resources.

Dr. Lim spearheaded the establishment and now helps coordinate the Tzu Chi Great Love Physical Rehabilitation and Jaipur Foot Prosthesis Manufacturing Center and the Tzu Chi Great Love Eye Center.^[8] The centers are dedicated to alleviating the suffering of those who can be helped by physical therapy and rehabilitation. It restores hope of amputees by making them walk again by donation of FREE Jaipur Foot prosthesis nationwide through the numerous Tzu Chi-Jaipur Foot Camps it held in cooperation with local NGOs. Tzu Chi Great Love Eye Center help those with eye problems who can't afford the treatment or surgeries. Often an initial visit to a poverty-level potential Yellow Boat community reveals unusual medical needs, and plans begin to find a way to get these people the help they need at a Tzu Chi Free Clinic.

Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation (2010-present)

The Yellow Boat Project is Jaboneta and Lim’s first try to restore hope and empower entire communities. In less than two years the Yellow Boat project has grown into a national movement in many underprivileged communities. These are called Yellow Boat Communities, but it's often about more than boats: it's the Yellow Boat principle of helping others so they may learn, grow, and flourish on their own. There is now a registered foundation named Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Inc.^[9]

A strong believer in empowerment, education, community cohesion, and sustainability, Dr. Lim, Jay Jaboneta, Ofelia M. Samar-Sy and their fellow Yellow Boat associates offers transportation, medical help, economic involvement, and educational support. The goal is that by giving these communities the necessary tools to succeed, these communities will, in time, no longer need the Yellow Boat Foundation.

Communities served by the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation (December 2013)

1. Zamboanga Funds for Little Kids: Layag-Layag, Brgy. Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City^[10]
2. Masbate Funds for Little Kids: Isla Mababoy, Brgy. Guinhadap, Monreal, Masbate^[11]
3. ZamSur Funds for Little Kids: Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur^[12]
4. CDO Funds for Little Kids: Cagayan de Oro^[13]
5. Sibugay Funds for Little Kids: Sagip Bahay: Yellow Dorm Project: Zamboanga Sibugay^[14]
6. Negros Funds for Little Kids: Island of Roma in EB Magalona^[15] and Matabas Island, Sagay City in Negros Occidental^[16]
7. Zamboanga del Norte Funds for Little Kids: Siayan and Dipolog City^[17]
8. Monte Central Funds for Little Kids: Subanon, Zamboanga Peninsula^[18]
9. Maluso Funds for Little Kids: Badjao-Sanal community at Maluso, Basilan^[19]
10. Kinablangan Funds for Little Kids: Davao Oriental^[20]
11. Tarlac Funds for Little Kids: Labney, Tarlac^[21]
12. Cotabato Funds for Little Kids: Timaco, Brgy Kalanganan 2, Cotabato City^[22]
13. Pampanga Funds for Little Kids: Pampanga, Angeles City, Luzon^[23]
14. Sarangani Funds for Little Kids: Sarangani Province, Mindanao Island^[24]
15. Rizal Funds for Little Kids: Rizal, Calabarzon^[25]
16. Palawan Funds for Little Kids: Palawan, Mimaropa^[26]
17. Tacloban Funds for Little Kids: Adopt-A-Fisherman: Samar, Leyte^[27]

Kabang

In mid-2012, Dr. Lim became the caregiver of Filipino hero dog, Kabang,^[28] and in early October, accompanied her to the United States: University of California, Davis. On October 17, the university announced that doctors would not be able to close Kabang’s wound until she received treatment for a vaginal tumor and heartworm. They estimate it could be several months before Kabang will be ready to undergo dental surgery and facial reconstruction. Update: June 2013. The surgery is complete and Dr. Lim and Team Kabang accompanied her to the Philippines. She has had a great deal of publicity, and there are plans for her return to her normal life with Dr. Lim as an ongoing mentor.

Further reading

Publication	Title	Author	Date
Zamboanga Times[29]	City fetes 2011 Zambo Achievers	Breaking News	February 26, 2011
Southville Foreign University[30]	Recycling Tarpaulins, saving lives by sheltering Typhoon Pablo Victims	Anton Mari H. Lim	January 10, 2013
Inquirer News[31]	Canine hero Kabang gains instant celebrity	Julie Alipala	February 25, 2012
Zamboanga Times[32]	RCZC 64th joint induction ceremony with Rotary Anns	Breaking News	June 30, 2011
Manila Bulletin[33]	Happy little Soles	Rachel C. Barawid	January 20, 2012
Be'chol Lashon website[34]	Inventory of Boats at Layag Layag Yellow Boat Community	Anton Mari H. Lim	April 30, 2012
AMS Daily[35]	Success Story: Anton Mari H. Lim	Alpha Miguel-Sanford	July 7, 2012
Humaneity Magazine[36]	On Board the Yellow Boat of Hope	Judy Vorfeld	July 7, 2012
Jay Jaboneta Blog[37]	Open Invitations	Jay Jaboneta	July 8, 2012
	Hanging Vegetable Garden: Philippine Toy Library and Tzu Chi Zamboanga	Rick Passo	July 28, 2012
Team Jesse Robredo Website[38]	A true public servant	Anton Mari H. Lim	August 21, 2012
LitWorld Website[39]	Open Water and Open Hearts (Day 2)	LitWorld	August 26, 2012
Wikipedia[40]	Jay Jaboneta	Wikipedia	September 6, 2012
San Francisco Chronicle[41]	UC Davis to help disfigured 'hero dog'	Peter Fimrite	September 15, 2012
EMS1.com[42]	Calif. university to reconstruct 'hero dog's' face	Peter Fimrite	September 17, 2012
Tzu Chi Foundation[43]	TZU CHI FOUNDATION: Living Up to Its Name of Compassion and Relief	Francel Joy De Leon	Retrieved September 17, 2012
Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation[44]	The Bright Island Project (Matabas Island, Sagay, Negros Occidental)	Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation website	Retrieved September 24, 2012
Inquirer Global Nation[45]	300 pets attend Kabang’s ‘despedida’	Nina Calleja	October 8, 2012
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine[46]	UC Davis Website	Veterinarian Biographies	Retrieved October 11, 2012
Huff Post San Francisco[47]	Kabang, 'Hero Dog' That Lost Snout Saving Girls, Arrives In America	AP/The Huffington Post	October 12, 2012
San Francisco Chronicle[48]	Snout-less 'hero dog' Kabang arrives at UC Davis	Peter Fimrite	October 12, 2012
Riehl World News[49]	Kabang: ‘Hero Dog’ Lost Snout Saving 2 young Philippine children, now getting treatment at UC Davis thanks to web donations	DAN	October 13, 2012
Huff Post San Francisco[50]	Kabang Dog Update: Snoutless Canine Has Surgery Delayed	AP/The Huffington Post	October 16, 2012
San Francisco Chronicle[51]	Snoutless dog Kabang needs chemo	Peter Fimrite	October 16, 2012
The Sacramento Bee[52]	UC Davis vets have tough job treating snoutless dog	Cynthia Hubert	October 17, 2012
The Daily[53]	Win by a nose	Staff	October 16, 2012
Reader's Digest India[54]	Changing the Tide	November Issue	Retrieved November 29, 2012
JustMeans.com[55]	Two Remarkable Social Entrepreneurs and Their Yellow Boats of Hope	Sangeeta Haindl	December 21, 2012
SFU[56]	Recycling Tarpaulins, saving lives by sheltering Typhoon Pablo Victims	Anton Mari H. Lim	January 10, 2013
In Pinay's Footsteps[57]	The Road to Layag-Layag Yellow Boat Village	Pinay Ricamora	January 29, 2013
Veterinary Practice News[58]	UC Davis Veterinarians Nurse Disfigured Dog Back to Health	Clay Jackson	March 21, 2013
SunStarDavao[59]	Yellow boats of hope for Baganga	Jojie Alcantara	April 18, 2013
GMA News Online[60]	Hero dog Kabang to be released from US hospital next week	Andrei Medina	May 29, 2013
Rappler.com[61]	Hero dog Kabang back in PH	Rappler	June 8, 2013
FilAm Star[62]	Kabang journeys home	Federico Espiritu	June 8, 2013
GMA News Online[63]	Hero dog Kabang back in PHL after surgery in US	Agence France Presse/ELR, GMA News	June 8, 2013
New York Daily News[64]	Kabang: Dog that lost half her face returns home to hero's welcome in very own motorcade and award from mayor	AP/nydailynews.com	June 10, 2013
PhilStar[65]	Perseverance, peace, pursuit of happiness for Cobra Pinoy Heroes	Dexter Rodrigo Matilla	August 28, 2013
Daily Zamboanga Times[66]	2013 Cobra Pinoy Heroes – Dr. Anton Lim and Arizza Nocum	Dante Corteza	August 30, 2013
PhilStar[67]	Groups lament tighter rules for setting up NGOs	Rainier Allan Ronda	September 2, 2013
GMA News Online.[68]	Community heroes honored at Cobra awards	Samantha Teran	September 2, 2013
Daily Zamboanga Times[69]	Dr. Anton Lim and family – 2103 Jollibee Family Values Award	Dante Corteza	September 27, 2013
UPLB Alumni Association[70]	UPLB Alumni Association Awardees 2013	UPLB Alumni Association	October 9, 2013
Business World[71]	Blanketing the country with care	Jeffrey O. Valisno	October 10, 2013
CommuterExpress[72]	3rd Jollibee Family Values Awards honors remarkable families for noble deeds Making a world of difference at home and overseas	CommuterExpress	Retrieved October 18, 2013
Manila Standard Today[73]	Caring goes beyond lip service	Dinna Chan Vasquez	October 23, 2013
InPinaysCidudad[74]	THE ROAD TO LAYAG-LAYAG YELLOW BOAT VILLAGE @ ZC JANUARY 2013	Pinay Ricamora	October 26, 2013
Daily Zamboanga Times[75]	Yellow Boat ride to Layag-Layag	Dante Corteza	November 11, 2013
Rappler[76]	The ingenuity of the Filipino spirit	Anton Mari H. Lim	Retrieved January 5, 2014
BAG943[77]	BAG943 (Be A Giver) partners with Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation	Alita Hedoquio	January 9, 2014
BusinessMirror.com[78]	Foundation donated 300 boats to help schoolchildren go to school in 2013	Oliver Samson	January 12, 2014
Manila Times[79]	Goiter, hernia patients get help from APO alumni group and Tzu Chi Foundation in Zamboanga	Al Jacinto	February 18, 2014
Yahoo! News Philippines[80]	In these Yolanda-ravaged areas, each boat has a story	Kim Arveen Patria	February 25, 2014
Curly Bookworm[81]	An Encounter with a Bayaning Pilipino	Lailanie Antonio Fronda	February 28, 2014
Wall Street Journal[82]	Boatloads of Hope for the Philippines	Josephine Cuneta	March 9, 2014
Randolph Wicked Local[83]	Randolph High to honor Filipino culture, helps typhoon victims	RWL	March 10, 2014
Zamboanga Times[84]	Zambo’s Yellow Boat sails in Tacloban	Zamboanga Times	March 26, 2014
Inquirer.net[85]	Yolanda survivor Eduardo Zabala lost 11 family members but inspiring high hopes	Danny Petilla	March 30, 2014
FilAm Star[86]	Hope sails for fishermen in Typhoon Yolanda villages	FilAm Star	May 11, 2014

References

1. "Tzu Chi Foundation". Tzuchizam.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
2. "Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation". Yellowboat.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
3. "Republika ng Filinvestor Movement". Republika ng Filinvestor.org/. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
4. "TESDA-IX Kabalikat Awards in Western Mindanao". Tesda.gov.ph. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
5. "Rotary International awards". Rotary.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
6. "EDSA People Power Commission". Edsapeoplepower.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
7. "The Yellow Boat of Hope". Huff Post Impact. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
8. "Tzu Chi Great Love Physical Rehabilitation and Jaipur Foot Prosthesis Manufacturing Center and the Tzu Chi Great Love Eye Center". Tzuchizam.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
9. "Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Inc". Yellowboat.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
10. Layag-Layag, Brgy. Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City
11. Isla Mababoy, Brgy. Guinhadap, Monreal, Masbate
12. [Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur]
13. [Cagayan de Oro]
14. [Zamboanga Sibugay]
15. Island of Roma in EB Magalona Enrique B. Magalona, Negros Occidental,
16. Matabas Island, Sagay City in Negros Occidental
17. [Zamboanga del Norte|Siayan and Dipolog City]
18. [Subanon, Zamboanga Peninsula]
19. [Maluso, Basilan]
20. [Davao Oriental]
21. [Tarlac]
22. [Cotabato City|Timaco, Brgy Kalanganan 2, Cotabato City]
23. Pampanga, Angeles City, Luzon
24. [Sarangani]
25. Rizal
26. [Palawan]
27. [Tacloban]
28. "Kabang saved lives. Our turn to save hers.". careforkabang.com. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
29. Zamboanga Times
30. Southville Foreign University .
31. Inquirer News .
32. Zamboanga Times
33. Manila Bulletin
34. Be'chol Lashon website .
35. AMS Daily AMS Daily
36. Humaneity Magazine .
37. Jay Jaboneta Blog
38. Team Jesse Robredo Website .
39. LitWorld Website
40. Jay Jaboneta.
41. San Francisco Chronicle .
42. EMS1.com .
43. Tzu Chi Foundation .
44. Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation .
45. Inquirer Global Nation .
46. UC Davis School of Vet Medicine .
47. Huff Post San Francisco .
48. San Francisco Chronicle .
49. Riehl World News .
50. Huff Post San Francisco .
51. San Francisco Chronicle .
52. The Sacramento Bee .
53. The Daily .
54. Reader's Digest India Reader's Digest India.
55. JustMeans.com .
56. SFU .
57. In Pinay's Footsteps .
58. Veterinary Practice News .
59. SunStarDavao .
60. GMA News Online .
61. Rappler.com .
62. FilAm Star .
63. GMA News Online .
64. New York Daily News .
65. PhilStar .
66. Daily Zamboanga Times .
67. PhilStar .
68. GMA News Online .
69. Daily Zamboanga Times .
70. UPLB Alumni Association.
71. Business World .
72. CommuterExpress .
73. Manila Standard Today .
74. InPinaysCiudad.
75. Daily Zamboanga Times .
76. Rappler .
77. BAG943 .
78. BusinessMirror.com .
79. Manila Times .
80. Yahoo! News Philippines .
81. .
82. Wall Street Journal .
83. Randolph Wicked Local.
84. Zamboanga Times .
85. Inquirer.net .
86. FilAm Star .

External links

• Yellow Boat Of Hope AVP
• Soundbites of Dr. Lim: Kabang the dog's intake exam at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis, on Thursday, October 11, 2012.