The town’s 43rd celebration of Nutrition Month, in line with the nationwide celebration per Presidential Dccree 491 s. 1974, was calculated to catch the attention of all Bayambangueños and draw strong interest in the subject of proper nutrition and in the different activities slated for the month-long affair. This year’s theme by the National Nutrition Council is “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit for LIFE!”

The celebration began with a 6:00 AM motorcade which snaked around Poblacion to Burgos St. down to the national highway, then going as far south as Carlos P. Romulo Bridge at Brgy. San Vicente. With the supervision of POSO’s Col. Vivencio Ramos, the motorcade was participated in by Bayambang PNP, MDRRMO, Mayor’s Office staff, representatives of Bayambang Districts I and II, Sunbeam Methodist School, Bayambang National High School, Emmanuel’s Way Educational Institution, Asiana Learning Center, Liahona Learning Center, St. Vincent Catholic School, and Barangay Nutrition Scholars.

In the ensuing program at the Balon Bayambang Events Center, Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini A. Sagarino welcomed everyone by underlining the necessity of celebrating Nutrition Month, saying that “most of us don’t care about proper nutrition until we get sick because of our bad eating habits. … And I’m sure we all have heard the saying, ‘Bad habits die hard.’”

She revealed that this year’s celebration is different, with about 15 new different activities lined up for both the young and the old, including the Search for A1 Child, seminar on dieting, boodle fight, health food treats, video-making contest, jingle-making contest, play competition, storytelling, Best in Vegetable Gardening contest, and other events spread out throughout July.

Further she detailed the LGU’s holistic approach in nutrition, that is, looking at the issue through not just proper diet but also proper exercise. “To complement healthy dieting, we promote sports activities and Zumba dancing. Since last year, we also have been promoting a weight loss program, which is fun because it is inspired by the popular TV show “The Biggest Loser.” We also have different backyard gardening projects not just for the 4Ps members but also for barangay households. Recently, we have also put up the Kusina ng Balon Bayambang, a municipal canteen offering healthy nutritious meals to help sustain our feeding program for malnourished children.”

Pangasinan State University’s participation in the program came by way of two attention-getting Cordillera and Central Visayan folk dances by the PSU Matalunggaring Dance Troupe under the direction of Jordan S. Neri.

Fresh from his successful State of the Municipality Address, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao took time off from his much-needed rest to speak to the crowd. Met with a rousing round of applause from the audience, he said, “Ito ang unang Nutrition Month na idaraos sa ating administrasyon, kaya’t tiniyak nating ito ay isang espesyal na selebrasyon.”

To drive home the point that health is indeed wealth, MCTQ recalled what Steve Jobs said about his vast wealth in the face of debilitating disease: it is powerless in getting Jobs out of his bed of sickness.

He then proceeded to deliver some good news: “Ako ay natutuwa dahil ipagdiriwang natin ang Buwan ng Nutrisyon sa kabila ng magandang balita na ang Bayambang ay inalis na bilang No. 1 sa rehiyon sa listahan ng ‘Most Malnourished Towns.’ Sa 2017, wala na po tayo sa Top 20 list!”

“Tayo ay gumawa ng mga hakbang na ito upang maresolba ang problema: pinalaki natin ang health budget, naglaan tayo ng malaking pondo para sa nutrisyon, nag-appoint ng Municipal Nutrition Officer na si Mrs. Venus Bueno, naglunsad ng massive feeding program, nagpatayo ng kantina para rito na tinawag nating Kusina ng Balon Bayambang, at nag-training ng mga Barangay Nutrition Scholars. Naghikayat din tayo sa pilot barangay ng Langiran upang ang lahat ng bakuran ay magkaroon ng vegetable garden at upang magkaroon ng Barangay Nursery na kung saan libre ang mga taga-barangay na humingi ng buto at seedlings.”

Ever the visionary change-maker, he added, “Siguro maaari naman tayong mangarap ngayon na ang Bayambang ay maging Best in Nutrition sa taong ito. Tutal libre ang mangarap, siguro naman ay pwede nating pagtulong-tulungan ito ngayong taon o sa susunod pang mga taon.”

In closing, he acknowledged the combined efforts of those who made all this possible: “Gusto kong pasalamatan ang ating RHU kasama na ang Nutrition Office na pinamumunuan ni Mrs. Bueno, ang MSWDO/DSWD, at ang Department of Agriculture.”

The program’s keynote speaker was Dr. Michelle Flores-Dela Cruz, a well-accomplished pediatrician, who gave a lively lecture on what a healthy versus an unhealthy diet means, the importance of having proper nutrition, and the recommendations to achieve a balanced diet, including such national guidelines as the 10 Kumainments and Pinggang Pinoy.

The opening program was quickly followed by the Search for A1 Child. (See separate report.)