Trust the youth to surprise us with their innate wisdom. One can never underestimate what they may be capable of doing, including sharing their thoughts on matters that some people may perceive as “for adults only.” Truly, the oft-repeated adage, “Youth is wasted on the young,” proved otherwise last July 25 when the 3rd Inter-High School Oratorical Contest was held as part of the celebration of the 37th Nutrition Month at the Sangguniang Panglungsod Session Hall of Dumaguete City.
Sponsored by the city government of Dumaguete through the City Nutrition Council in coordination with the National Nutrition Council, it was also supported by the Department of Education Dumaguete City Division through its OIC-Supt. Dr. Ramir Uytico. The contest this year yielded 14 orators representing private and public high schools, a remarkable improvement in their participation. Theme of this year’s contest is Isulong ang Breastfeeding — Tama, Sapat, at EKsklusibo (TSEK).
The winners are: Kimberly Hermosa, Catherina Cittadini-St. Louis School, 1st; Jara Cristaj Carballo, Foundation University High School, 2nd; and, Mark Dave Amado, Hermenegilda F. Gloria Memorial High School, 3rd.
Hermosa, in her piece, said that the campaign on breastfeeding gravitates around the manner it is done. She exhorted everyone that as citizens of this country, it is our obligation to at least send our concerned family members or relatives or friends and neighbors to health care units where they can be given the proper orientation on breastfeeding. “This includes, first, the right food to eat for expectant mothers, the proper dietary allowance for breastfeeding mothers and even simple, yet important points like proper positioning in breastfeeding, getting the baby in the right sucking position, and more,” Hermosa expounded. She also mentioned statistics from the World Health Organization Global Data Bank on infant and young child feeding reported in 2008 where the entire Philippines rated 87.7 percent in total breastfed ever and in the Visayas region, we clinched 90.8 percent, enough to declare, according to Hermosa, that “we are aware, we are informed, we are committed to transform the face of the Philippines towards a healthy and sound lifestyle.”
Carballo shared that 14 years ago, she was just a minuscule conglomeration of tiny arms, tiny feet, tiny head, and a tiny body. “However, my mom, despite her busy schedule, had the wisdom to breastfeed me because she knows that ‘breast milk is best for babies.’ She also knows that the more I sucked for milk from her, the more that we are bonded forever,” she shared her experience. Today, as Carballo added, she is a “batang may laban,” as she is doing very well in school, an active worker in church, writes for the school paper, and dreams of making it big someday.
Amado, for his part, said that it important that, once in a while, the need arises to re-educate parents and everyone altogether about the magnitude of benefits and the significance of breastfeeding. He laments, “In this world we are living now, especially in this present generation where everything is fast-paced, even feeding a newborn is made with a decision not carefully thought of. Moms, because of their desire to help in providing for the needs of their children, opt for an easy way out from the time-consuming routine that breastfeeding requires.”
City Administrator William Ablong welcomed everyone on behalf of City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria. Also present to give encouragement to the orators and to laud the efforts and cooperation of the school principals was OIC-Superintendent Dr. Uytico. City Nutrition Officer III Lourdes Taburaza acknowledged the perseverance and hard work of all those who made the oratorical contest a huge success.
The rest of the orators were: Mary Courtney Anne Saycon, St. Paul University; Mia Elaine Diez, Camanjac National High School; Kim Deirdre Lynn Castro, Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial-Dumaguete Science High School; Kenanaiah Joseph Jo, Dumaguete Mission School; Marace Bonalos, Taclobo National High School; Leonard Ubaran, St. Louis School-Don Bosco; Cedrick Louis Antiquina, Silliman University High School; Jelly Candia, Piapi High School; Cherry Ann Lanciso, Junob National High School; Calyn Marian Macarubbo, Living Word Christian School; and, Sehu Callet, Saceda Youth Lead School.
The board of judges was composed of Dr. Pablito dela Rama, SU Instruction director; Dr. Lourdes Ursos; and Dr. Maria Cecilia Genove, dean of the SU College of Mass Communication. (PR)
