The officers and board members of the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars of the National Capital Region together with NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Mila Federizo and Nutrition Officer I Bea Menorca went to the Province of Marinduque for their annual Lakbay-Aral and Team Building on April 25-29, 2016.
The Province of Marinduque, also known as the “Heart of the Philippines”, is a 2nd year CROWN (Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition) Maintenance Awardee vying for the 2015 Nutrition Honor Award. It also boasts of having a BNS who was a runner-up in the 2014 Search for Regional Outstanding BNS.
The group visited the Provincial Capitol at the Municipality of Boac and had a courtesy call with Governor Carmencita Reyes. They were welcomed through the traditional "Putong" by selected employees who sang, danced, and crowned the visitors. Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Ms. Robie Apiag and staff gave the group a quick tour of the Provincial Nutrition office and accompanied them to several tourist spots in the province. They also met Mayor Russel Madrigal of the Municipality of Buenavista when they visited Radyo Kamalindig, one of NNC’s Nutriskwela community radio stations. Anchorperson Mr. Elvin Vitto interviewed RNPC Federizo and gave everyone a chance to greet the radio listeners.
In the Municipality of Mogpog, the group was welcomed by acting MNAO Elinor Lustania and given the traditional “Putong”. They had a lively interaction with Mayor Senen Livelo, Jr. and inspired by his commitment to achieve zero malnutrition in his municipality. They were also oriented on the municipality’s nutrition programs and projects by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Edzel Muhi.
To observe the good nutrition program management practices at the barangay level, the group went to Barangays Butansapa and Magapua where they were warmly welcomed by the Barangay Nutrition Committees led by the Barangay Chairpersons Nonito Mogol and Arturo Leynes, respectively. The group was oriented on the barangay nutrition programs and innovative projects by Bgy. Butansapa BNS Marites Cubrador and Bgy. Magapua BNS Julia Lancion. The group noted that despite financial constraints, the BNCs are able to mobilize resources and harness community participation.
For their teambuilding, the group went to Maniwaya Island together with DNPC Cathy Logatoc and Sta. Cruz MNAO Richard Roho. The team building activities facilitated by RNPC Federizo and NO I Menorca were anchored on the theme, “Unity in Action for Nutrition #PUSHpaMORE#achieve”. Several exercises were done to strengthen the group’s unity and teamwork as well as foster camaraderie among them. The exercises/games were all followed by processing and sharing of insights.
The group was inspired by the learnings and experiences they got from their Marinduque trip. They traveled back to Manila with renewed passion, dedication and commitment to become catalysts of change for nutrition improvement in their respective barangays. (MABRM/MEVF/NNCNCR)
