“Tagai ang tawo og isda, og mapakaon nimo siya karing adlawa. Tudloi ang tawo mangisda og mapakaon nimo siya hangtod hangtod sa kinabuhi”, so the famous saying goes in Bisaya. In the same manner, “Give a man vegetables to feed him for a day, Teach a man to plant to feed him for a lifetime.” but if we “Teach a man to farm, Feed His Family for Life.”
Nutrition Month is a yearly campaign held every July to create greater awareness among Filipinos on the importance of nutrition. Presidential Decree 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines mandates the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to lead and coordinate the nationwide campaign.
Every year, the NNC Technical Committee chooses a theme to highlight an important and timely concern in nutrition. This year, the selected focus of the Nutrition Month campaign is on food gardening. The NNC conducted a theme writing and logo design contest where the best entries were shortlisted and submitted to the NNC Technical Committee for referendum. The chosen theme is “Ugaliing magtanim, sapat na nutrisyon aanihin!” The entry of Ms. Julie Ann Q. Colipano of Valencia City, Bukidnon was chosen out of 142 entries generated nationwide. For the logo, the entry sent by Architect Ricky R. Mojica of Indang, Cavite was chosen. The logo depicts a family cultivating a family food garden, a picture that the NNC hopes Filipinos would turn into reality.
The Nutrition Month campaign aims to contribute to improved nutrition through improved food access by increasing the number of households, schools, and communities engaged in food gardens. Specifically, it aims to:
1. Encourage development of food gardens among families and in communities, schools, government offices, and workplaces; and,
2. Mobilize various stakeholders to provide a fostering environment for sustainable food gardens.
To celebrate, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University – School of Medicine's Team Camul in partnership with the Tampilisan Rural Health Unit and Camul Elementary School, the Team had purposely conducted an Opening Program for the Nutrition Month. In the morning, the teachers and students gathered in the Function Room since the weather was not good outside. There was a short Parade of Vegetables followed by the first part of the program wherein the students presented songs, poems and dances about Nutrition. The students and teachers were very enthusiastic and creative in their presentations.
Moreover, a short yet concise inspirational message was imparted by the team's very own leader, Lorenz Aldrich Guevara on the importance of Food Gardening and by making FAITH (Food Always In The Home) and GPP (Gulayan sa Paaralan Program) of Department of Education and Department of Agriculture. The School Principal, Sir Ivan R. Napigkit also emphasized on the availability of the produce, and that by the small School Food Garden that he, the teachers, students and their parents have just started would make the students realize its importance and inculcate in them the attitude of planting produce and be healthy. The team together with the School Principal and teachers then had a sumptuous and nutritious lunch after the program.
In the afternoon, the Team Camul Medical Students conducted a Nutrition Quiz Bowl. The topic was all about the Talking Points for this years Nutrition Month emphasizing on Food Gardening. There were about 8 teams who joined but only three teams emerged to have spots and brought home prices. The winners are as follows, Grade VI-A, 3rd Place, Grade V-B 2nd Place and Grade VI-B grabbed the 1st place with high points. However, no team lost since everyone took home new ideas and lessons to keep and to apply at home.The students also got the chance to watch short videos of the Department of Health on the 10 Kumainments, Nutrition, Immunization, Deworming, Vaccination of Pets and Rabies Prevention. This 44th Nutrition Month surely had a very big impact on the lives of the people who have listened and applied this year's theme of “Ugaliing magtanim, sapat na nutrisyon aanihin”. Team Camul is excited to see the progress of the School's Food Garden and so with the different home food gardens started by the students and their families all in hope of Nutritious Food for Life.