Anton Mari H. Lim

Anton Mari H. Lim, DVM, better known as Doc Anton Lim, is a Filipino veterinarian, businessman, public figure, and humanitarian, and a frequent speaker, organizer, and community volunteer throughout the Philippines as he advocates for the disadvantaged. Coordinator of Tzu Chi Foundation, Zamboanga Liaison Office, where he began volunteering in 1998, he co-founded the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation in 2010, 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,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. 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 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. In July 2016, Dr. Lim was named one of Forbes Asia’s 2016 Heroes of Philanthropy. Later in 2016, Dr. Lim was named CEO of The Bag of Dreams Project, the giving arm of Bag943.com.

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.

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.

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 whose main task is to perpetuate the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution by developing an army of volunteers for nation building.

His current activity often involves collaboration between Tzu Chi and the Yellow Boat Foundation, which Lim co-founded with Jay Jaboneta. 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. 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.

The Yellow Boat Project was Jaboneta and Lim’s first try to restore hope and empower entire communities. In less than two years the Yellow Boat project had 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.

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

• "Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Inc". Yellowboat.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24. 
• Layag-Layag, Brgy. Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City
• Isla Mababoy, Brgy. Guinhadap, Monreal, Masbate
• [Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur]
• [Cagayan de Oro]
• [Zamboanga Sibugay]
• Island of Roma in EB Magalona Enrique B. Magalona, Negros Occidental,
• Matabas Island, Sagay City in Negros Occidental
• [Zamboanga del Norte|Siayan and Dipolog City]
• [Subanon, Zamboanga Peninsula]
• [Maluso, Basilan]
• [Davao Oriental]
• [Tarlac]
• [Cotabato City|Timaco, Brgy Kalanganan 2, Cotabato City]
• Pampanga, Angeles City, Luzon
• [Sarangani]
• Rizal
• [Palawan]
• [Tacloban]

In mid-2012, Dr. Lim became the caregiver of Filipino hero dog, Kabang, 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.