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| In photo (L-R): Quezon City Health Department's Nutritionist-Dietitian Alexandra L. Cuyugan, photographer BG Marie Tendencia-Valencia, Breastfeeding Pinays President Abie Co-Floreza, National Nutrition Council's Nutrition Officer III and Trainer on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) from the National Nutrition Council Emerenciana L. Francia, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Manager Alice Nkoroi, SM Cares Program on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers Program Director and SM Supermalls AVP for Corporate Compliance Atty. Pearl Jayagan Turley (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/SM Supermalls) |
SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, culminated its National Breastfeeding Month awareness campaign with a forum and announcement of winners of the "Free To Feed" photography contest with the theme “Free to Feed: Championing Safe Spaces for Breastfeeding at SM” held at SM City North EDSA.
Gracing the culminating activity were Quezon City Health Department's Nutritionist-Dietitian Alexandra L. Cuyugan, Breastfeeding Pinays President Abie Co-Floreza, National Nutrition Council's Nutrition Officer III and Trainer on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) from the National Nutrition Council Emerenciana L. Francia, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Manager Alice Nkoroi, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Deputy Program Manager for Operations Rosalie Dagulo. From over a hundred photos about breastfeeding mothers featured in a month-long series of mall roadshows and online exhibit, the winners of the "Free To Feed" photography contest are Angelo Clement T. Yap with his “Nurturing Bonds: A Mother’s Love and the Gift of Breastfeeding” picture featuring Jennifer J. Macoco as grand winner, followed by “Safe Haven” from Reu Dawner A. Flores featuring Robella Joyce E. Flores in second place and “SM: A Safe Space, Anytime, Anywhere” from John Ray Panes featuring Karen Kate Sully A. Susmiran in third.
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| The winning entries of SM Supermalls' "Free To Feed: Championing Safe Spaces For Breastfeeding At SM" photography contest (L-R): “Nurturing Bonds: A Mother’s Love and the Gift of Breastfeeding", Angelo Clement T. Yap picture featuring Jennifer J. Macoco (1st); “Safe Haven”, Reu Dawner A. Flores featuring Robella Joyce E. Flores (2nd); “SM: A Safe Space, Anytime, Anywhere”, John Ray Panes featuring Karen Kate Sully A. Susmiran (3rd) (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/SM Supermalls) |
The Free to Feed exhibit roadshows were held in select SM malls in Davao, Pampanga, Dasmarinas and Iloilo. To further educate the public on the needs of breastfeeding mothers, the exhibit showcased a breastfeeding station mock-up and tips on workplace and family support according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), International Labor Organization (ILO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) guidelines. SM Cares also conducted breastfeeding sensitivity training for nearly 5,800 mall frontliners during the World Breastfeeding Week. “By capturing how mothers can breastfeed openly today, be it through the lens of the camera or through dialogue, we can better create an inclusive experience that welcomes the role of families, colleagues and the general public as a whole in making such a journey a successful one. The exhibit and forum reflect our dedication to nurturing the spirit of togetherness and empathy that defines SM Cares. Together, we can create a world where every mother feels supported, empowered, and free to feed her child,” said SM Cares Program on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers Program Director and SM Supermalls AVP for Corporate Compliance Atty. Pearl Jayagan Turley.
The SM Cares Free to Feed Forum was supported by the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Nutrition Council, UNICEF Philippines, breastfeeding advocate groups and Local Government Units. The Free to Feed initiative was developed in line with SM Cares’ Program on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers. The project supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), particularly “SDG 2: Zero Hunger” and “SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being”. The Free to Feed campaign highlights lactation stations in support of breastfeeding mothers according to global guidelines and Republic Act (RA) No. 10028. SM malls nationwide have provided breastfeeding stations to customers and employees since 2006, welcoming over 1 million mothers to date. The SM Cares Program for Women advocates for breastfeeding and encouraging the public to create safe and welcoming spaces for mothers to breastfeed their babies wherever they may be.
