25 June 1974. Then President Ferdinand Marcos signed the Presidential Decree 491 which declared that nutrition is a priority program of the government. This law authorized the creation of an agency that will create nutrition policies and coordinate, monitor and evaluate nutrition programs in the country. Thus, the National Nutrition Council was born.
Forty years later, employees, personnel, clients and partners all over the Philippines converged to celebrate this momentous event in the history of nutrition in our country. The weeklong celebration, on 23-27 June 2014, held at the NNC Central Office, Taguig City, involved the following events:
A Regional Exhibit where each region in the country, from regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, CAR, CARAGA, ARMM, and NCR, displayed the products of their respective regions, from food, crops, and other major produces to handicraft and fashion items. Each regional office also showed their major accomplishments (from the beginning to the present) proudly displayed) in a 2ft. x 6ft. tarpaulin proudly displayed ( situated) in front of their respective tents all throughout the 3-day exhibit on 23-25 June 2014.
A Team Building Activity on 24 June 2014, where competence, friendship, and camaraderie were the center of the whole-day activity. The atmosphere was happy and joyous with the different games and activities that the whole NNC family eagerly participated. (Different) The group was divided into 5 teams. (Staff from (different) various regions were distributed into 5 teams to give everybody the chance to meet and work with everybody else). Everyone showed their competent side but cooperation and determination to complete the tasks given were very much evident throughout the day. After each activity, group assessments were made and application to daily work was identified. (how the tasks can relate to their daily work in the office).
25 June 2014 was the highlight of the weeklong celebration. Former NNC employees, including the 1st NNC Executive Director, Dr. Florentino Solon, former Nutrition Evaluation Team members, former Nutrition Committee members, and other former partners and stakeholders, and present NET and NC members, partner agencies, stakeholders and other nutrition officials and personnel were invited to the Regional Exhibit and later to the mass and program in the afternoon to celebrate the date that started it all. Former employees, partners and stakeholders were recognized for their important contribution to the agency. Present NNC employees who have served for 10, 25, and 35 years were also honored. Regions and employees who have exhibited exemplary jobs to the Web page of the council were also awarded.
Talents and creativity overflowed on the fourth day. Each region actively participated in the NNC Got Talent in the morning of 26 June 2014, be it a solo song/acting performance or group dance choreography. NNC Bicol’s staff, Ms. Marlyn Beldad, won 2nd place with her soulful rendition of “Isang Lahi”. The group from NNC Caraga was the 1st place with their mini-show of Caraga’s culture through songs and dance. The past, the present and the future of NNC was the theme of the NNC Pasiklaban in the afternoon. The group was divided into 5 clusters which represent the 5 periods of NNC history: South Luzon for 70’s, North Luzon for 90’s, Mindanao for 80’s, NNC-CO for 2000, and Visayas for beyond 2000. Each group presented in a musical show or drama the important milestones of NNC through the years and the path that the agency will take into the future towards zero malnutrition of the country. All the groups received cash awards. The best performance was the Mindanao group. The Webby Awad came next with NNC Region VII receiving all major awards. After a day of competition, the staff let down their hair during their socials which overflowed with drinks, songs, laughter and friendship.
27 June was all about learning. The NNC family left the office early in the morning, transported via a 7-bus convoy and returned very late in the evening. The destination was the province of Laguna. First stop was the City hall of Calamba, Laguna, where a big group of BNS, members CNC and officials of Calamba led by its Vice Mayor Rizal welcomed the NNC group. Souvenir mug and bag from Calamba were each promised and later provided to the NNC family. At the Rizal Shrine, the group had a reawakening of nationalism spirit. One interesting feature seen in the Rizal Museum was a part of Jose Rizal’s clothes worn when he was executed in Bagumbayan, now Rizal Park. A visit to Dr. Jose Rizal’s shrine further made us realize our national hero’s exceptional life and works.
From the historic house of Dr. Jose Rizal, the group had a running tour of UP Los Baños followed by a stopover at IRRI. Dr. Ziegler, Director of the Institute and his team warmly welcomed the group to their facility. A mini-technical presentation on their present researches particularly along fortification of rice with Vitamin A, zinc and iron were presented to the group. Indeed, collaboration between NNC and IRRI towards making healthier rice will surely be sustained. A tour of the rice gallery came next where different rice planting techniques, harvesting, milling, different varieties of rice, the life cycle of a rice plant and different rice products around the world were featured.
At the provincial capitol of Laguna, in Sta.Cruz, the group met Governor Hernandez where together with the Provincial and municipal NAOs, the group was briefed on the nutrition program of the province.
Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery was next in the list of areas to be visited by the group. Again, Nagcarlan Mayor Osuna and its MNAO were there to welcome the group. Imagine visiting an underground cemetery. We were informed that up until 1981, this was where the who’s who of the municipality was being buried. It is now a historical site under the management of the National Historical Institute.
Shopping for cheap but good quality shoes, sandals and other footwear came next, this time in the nearby municipality of Liliw, Laguna. Everyone left with a pair or two of slippers and sandals. Some of us even brought home bottles of the ginataan santol bought from the food peddler located in one of the corners of the “shoes and sandals street”.
Food was plenty during the whole week. Particularly on that last day of the weeklong celebration, the group had lunch at Palaisdaan where packed lunch of rice, tomato, itlog na maalat, lechon kawali and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves were served in nipa huts surrounded by waters connected by bamboo bridges amidst different animal and cartoon character sculptures, including kinking, the minions, even a security guard asleep on his sea. What amazed many of us was the life-size sculpture of President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle sitting cosily together in one part of the resort. Photo taking was seen everywhere. It was indeed a feast to the stomach and the eyes.
This memoire would not be complete without a spot on the sumptuous dinner held at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, in the municipality of Bay. Everyone enjoyed a dinner buffet of grilled tilapia, karekare, sinigang, pork inasal, green mango with bagoong, and assorted fruits. It was a feast and reward after a tiring day of travel and learning.
After dinner, a short but very meaningful program was held to formally close the weeklong celebration. Each staff from all 17 regions finally had the chance to introduce themselves to the whole NNC family. Just as she did during the first day, Asec Bernie Flores thanked everyone for actively participating in all activities throughout the week. She expressed her happiness over the success of the celebration, even with a short preparation period. She wished everyone a safe trip back home and congratulated all for a successful anniversary celebration.
They say, “All work and no play make Juan a dull boy”. The week-long celebration gave everyone a break from work, a chance to build camaraderie and friendship, an opportunity to have a glimpse of NNC’s past, and be motivated to work towards NNC’s success in the future. It gave everyone the feeling of importance and inspired all to perform better in their jobs because the agency never turns a blind eye on a job well done. Something to look forward to in another 40 years.
