At seven in the morning, at least five parents gather at the Mayasang Child Development Center not just to send off their children to the daycare center.

Marissa Regublo, for one, has another goal–that is to start preparing food for the day’s feeding program of 43 children. Like the rest of the parents, Marissa gets away from her usual chores at home for this very important activity.

“Ang target po namin, dapat mga 8AM, tapos na kami magluto para makapagsimula na ang feeding,” shared Marissa.

The Mayasang Child Development Center, located in Brgy. Mayasang, Lemery, Batangas, is currently on the 12th cycle of implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP).

The SFP is a program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in partnership with the local government units, that provides hot meals to children enrolled in child development centers for 120 days to help maintain or improve the nutritional status of children.

Working together for the children

Teacher Nerissa Sebulino, the child development worker of the said center, has always been grateful for the support of parents like Marissa in their daily feeding activities.

“Napakahalaga ang pagtulong ng mga nanay dahil sila ang naghahanda at nagluluto ng mga pagkain para sa mga bata. Sila po ay laging handang tumulong dito. Kahit bakasyon ang mga bata, willing silang tumulong,” shared Teacher Nerissa.

Marissa shares that parents like her understand the importance of the feeding program for their children.

“Dito po kasi, tinitimbang ang mga bata para makita kung may improvement sa mga bata. Napakahalaga po na maiwasan ang malnutrisyon para hindi nagiging sakitin ang mga bata sa kanilang paglaki,” shared Marissa, who added that children tend to be more active in school when they are fed well and are healthy.

Teacher Nerissa added that the SFP also helps the parents, especially those from low-income families.

“Malaki na rin ang natitipid nila sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na gastos kapag may feeding program. Hindi na nila aalalahanin ang pagkain ng mga batang kasali sa feeding,” Teacher Nerissa shared.

Taking home friends and lessons

Marissa happily shares that their volunteer work for the feeding program opened opportunities for the parents to bond with each other.

“Nakakapagk’wentuhan kami, nakakapagbigay ng advice sa isa’t isa,” she shared.

Other than finding new friends, Marissa is happy to bring home lessons she can apply at home as a parent.

“Kaming mga magulang ay natututo din. Nagkakaroon kami ng kaalaman sa paghahanda ng mura at masustansyang pagkain,” she shared.

She added that she has always practiced preparing a menu for a week at home, which she learns from their 120-day menu in the program.

“Kapag may menu, mas madali. Hindi na problemado kung ano ang iluluto dahil nakaplano na, naka-budget na,” she shared.

Teacher Nerissa added that she makes sure that the parents also learn safe food preparation from their daily feeding activities.

For parents like Marissa and Teacher Nerissa, being involved in the SFP brought so much more than just ensuring that the children have food for 120 days.

For them, working together for the children has opened ways for new friendships, worthwhile lessons, and increased commitment to ensure that their children grow up healthy.#