An opening line of a book “The Perfect Meeting” of author David Sharman says “No organization can really function without meetings”. Meeting is considered as one of the essential communication tools at NNC-Region III. It serves as a venue for rapid decision making, disseminating information, internal changes, external changes, exchange of ideas and developing teamwork.

For NNC-Region III, Aha! moment or the sharing of “good things” that happened to one or two members of the team has always been part of the agenda or a starter prior to discussion of serious matters. This is to create an atmosphere of openness and positivism during the meeting.

During the 2 October 2018 meeting, Nutrition Officer III Angelita M. Pasos shared that her Aha! Moment was her discovery of the very touching and meaningful “Sulat ni Tatay at Nanay” written in Module 10: Nutrition among Older Adults of the Trainer’s Manual for Continuing Education for the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs). The discovery took place during the last day of the Training on Basic Course for the BNSs on 24-28 September 2018. NO III Pasos recalled that she first read the poem during her visit at the EMAUS Home for the Aged located in Malolos City, Bulacan many years ago. The poem was shared with the participants of the training. Majority of the female participants (27) of the training exclaimed that they were also moved into tears upon reading the poem.

During the meeting, Administrative Aide VI Dulce Santos also shared her Aha! Moment during her participation in the celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week (with the theme: “Kilalanin at Parangalan: Tagasulong ng Karapatan at Pangangalaga Tungo sa Lipunang Mapagkalinga”) on 1 October 2018 at the Event Center of the Robinson’s Starmills, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, was requested to read the poem. As a mother and a senior citizen herself, Ms. Santos was touched by the message and made the group teary-eyed. OIC-NPC Rosaldo reflected that each one has somehow hurt our parents intentionally or unintentionally and may therefore do some amend while there is still time.

As NNC-Region III’s way of paying tribute to the Elderly Filipino parents, please click on the link “Sulat ni Tatay at Nanay “ by Reverend Father Ariel F. Robles of St Agustine Church, Sta.Maria, Bulacan.

Authors:

Angelita M Pasos, Nutrition Officer III

Ana Maria B. Rosaldo, OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator