In line with the nationwide celebration of this year’s Nutrition Month, Karangalan Elementary School in Cainta, Rizal joined thousands of school children all over the country in a simultaneous vegetable planting last July 2, 2012.PICT6479
A foot parade which was participated in by school children from kinder to Grade VI, teachers, personnel and parents of the said school formally opened the event. During the foot parade, school children wore vegetable costumes such as hats decorated with different kinds of vegetables, vegetable masks, and vegetable mascots; some of the children also brought with them baskets loaded with vegetables, posters and slogans with messages about vegetables.
The foot parade, was followed by a short program done at the covered court of Karangalan PICT6526Elementary School. The program was highlighted with the messages given by Principal Fe F. Maala of Karangalan Elementary School and NO II Julius Cesar P. Alejandre of
National Nutrition Council Region IV. Principal Maala emphasized that children should start eating vegetables at an early age because vegetable consumption supports the proper physical growth and mental development of children. She also shared their school’s contribution in nourishing the school children through their school canteen’s effort of providing nutritious, clean and safe food to the school children. NO II Alejandre on the other hand, explained the theme for the 2012 Nutrition Month which is, “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain.” He gave details on the benefits and importance of eating vegetables and further expounded the significance of Nutrition Month to Filipinos.
Song renditions, dances and speech choir by the school children made the event more exciting.
PICT6543The vegetable planting followed right after the program. One hundred thirty school children from Grade VI joined the planting of various vegetable seedlings such as okra, bush sitao, pechay and mustard in ten plots prepared by Karangalan Elementary School. They were assisted by their Edukasyong Pantahan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) teachers. Ms. Maala invited the National Nutrition Council Region IV to visit the vegetable garden after a month to see its improvement and status of the planted vegetables. Aside from the vegetables given by Department of Agriculture (DA) thru National Nutrition Council; malunggay, ampalaya and upo was also planted in the same garden.
The National Nutrition Council Region IV fervently hopes that the activity will strengthen its campaign of encouraging schools, families and communities in putting up vegetable gardens to ensure vegetable supply and eventually increase the consumption of vegetables here in the Philippines.
