Rotary Club of Makati, Philippines

Ninety children suffering from malnutrition started a 6-month supplemental feeding program last Saturday, 18th September, in Nasugbu and Calatagan, Batangas under Pasiglahin ang Estudyanteng Pinoy (PEP), a school-based nutrition project that is jointly implemented by Kabisig ng Kalahi and Club, through the Family Health & Nutrition Program committee chaired by PP Freddie Borromeo. The feeding program has expanded to include, aside from preschoolers, children in grade school.

They assembled at the Starbucks café at the SLEX Petron station at 7:30 AM for the drive to the first stop, Balay Tigue in Nasugbu. During the program, they met school principal Justino Samontañez, asst. division chief Sarah Lope, and district supervisor Dr. Gregorio Meneses and were entertained by the children who danced the Singkil. PDG Tony, PP Freddie. PE Rene and Dr. Meneses each delivered a brief message, while Mrs. Elvie Espinelli, president of the Parents’ Organization, and 6th-grade student Ylaisa Sobremonte, on behalf of the parents and pupils, respectively, expressed their gratitude for and appreciation of the program. Mrs. Espinelli also appealed to her fellow parents for cooperation to ensure the success of the program. The officers of the PEP Supplemental Feeding Organization (PSFO) were sworn in by Mr. Samontañez.

The morning was capped with a sumptuous lunch of lobster, ribs, chicken pastel, pancit and pinakbet, sweetened with turon and fresh fruits and washed down with wine and soft drinks, a feast hosted by PDG Tony & Angela at their vacation house in Punta Fuego. Anns Angela and Lu Limjoco are both stalwarts of the Kabisig organization.

The team, now richly nourished, motored on to Calatagan for the second leg of the launch, at the Santiago Zobel Elementary School in Brgy. Balitoc.

After the invocation, a group of pupils from Santiago Zobel performed a dance number to entertain their benefactors. This was followed by a series of brief messages by PDG Tony, Ms. Lope, Dr. Guillerma Adan, Dep-Ed Medical health Admin Officer, and PP Freddie. As in the morning program, PP Freddie spoke about the project and its benefits, appealed to the parents to cooperate and take full advantage of it, and thanked everyone for showing support for the project with their presence. He also spoke about the sacrifice of Rotarians, parents and pupils, and lauded everyone involved for their hard work, perseverance and patience in seeing the project through. For their part, Mrs. Felicidad Cruzado, a mother whose child is enrolled in the feeding program, and Erica del Rosario, a beneficiary, were profuse in their thanks to the Club, Kabisig, Zobel Foundation and all the organizations involved in the project.

Representatives of the partner organizations affixed their signatures on a memorandum of agreement to seal the deal, after which the milk and check were turned over to the parents’ association leaders. The funds are from the Club, while the powdered milk is supplied by long-time corporate sponsor Mead Johnson Nutritionals. There was also a turnover of books donated by Jolyon Tiglao.
The designated implementors are two project partners—Roxas Foundation, represented by Executive Director Roy Luntayao, for the Nasugbu module, and E. Zobel Foundation, represented by executive director Jose Rodriguez, for the two modules in Calatagan.
Barring another destructive and disruptive calamity like Ondoy, all three modules are expected to be completed in mid-March 2011.

The day ended by the stable of the Borromeos, where a hearty merienda cena was laid out for the guests--roast lamb, bean-sprouts lumpia, green salad, papaitan, and pita bread, paired with wines and sangria, and for the teetotalers, soft drinks.

It was a day of meaningful service and great fellowship for RC Makati.