MDFI’s Sagip Talento program honoured 17 gifted children and youth in support of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education’s (PCGE) biennial search for Mga Bagong Rizal – Pag-asa ng Bayan.

This year’s awardees include Danielle Ajoc, Shekinah Espina, John Estillore of Agusan del Norte; Abigail Bagabaldo of Quezon City; Ian Casapao of Batangas; Kizziah Claveria of Pangasinan; Suwaidi Ebrahim of Maguindanao; Emmanuel Enriquez of Bataan; Mark Fernandez of Isabela; Robert Leung of Baguio City; Icyl Lucero of Sultan Kudarat; Michael Morales of Albay; Marybeth Sato of Cebu; Adrian Serapio of San Juan City; Euclid Soringa of Surigao del Norte; Sophia Tunguia of Iloilo City; and Rochelle Valdez of Bulacan.

By giving them recognition, MDFI hopes to motivate them to serve the country as they pledge to follow in the footsteps of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, in espousing his principles of love for God, love for country, integrity, valor, and excellence in creating impact in their respective fields.

A two-day leadership seminar preceded the awarding ceremony.

Over 200 residents of Mandaluyong City availed of the free health services provided by MDFI through its Bantay Kalusugan-Alamin at Sugpuin program. Held at the Office of the Senior Citizens' Affairs, the activity started with a lecture on non-communicable diseases (NCD), followed by free screening for blood pressure, random blood sugar, and cholesterol. The residents also benefitted from the free medical consultations and medicines for NCD.

The all-out support of partners – DSWD, the local government of Mandaluyong City, Colgate Palmolive, Nestle, Philusa and Torrent Pharma – made the activity a success.

MDFI conducted another Smart Parenting activity to teach women about responsible parenthood, childcare, women’s health and hygiene. Done in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Population, the local government of Manila and MDFI partners Colgate Palmolive, Medical Center Trading, Philusa, Unilab and Unilever, the activity benefited some 140 women of reproductive age.

Held at the Cecilio Apostol Elementary School in Manila, the activity also provided free screening for blood sugar, blood pressure and bone density, as well as free counseling on family planning and other services related to reproductive health.

MDFI adds a new dimension to its programs through the Tibayanihan Upcycling Project. A joint project with Nestle Philippines and the Department of Education, the project recycles Bear Brand foil packs into Tibay chairs that will be donated to classrooms in dire need of chairs.

The turnover activity at Bacood Elementary School symbolizes the concerted efforts and commitment of all stakeholders to provide a more conducive environment for public school learners. Altogether, MDFI is sponsoring 500 chairs in this collaborative project.

Thirty-seven students of Santolan Elementary School were brought by MDFI to Kidzania today to experience interactive and hands-on play. The students, aged 5-12, participated in various role-playing activities wherein they were given the chance to “work” in different professions. In doing so, they were exposed to the ins-and-outs of several jobs. They were also able to interact with kids from other schools in a safe and relaxed environment, thereby promoting cooperation and teamwork.

This activity is part of MDFI’s Share Joy program which helps enrich the lives of underprivileged children to gain applied knowledge and experience educational entertainment outside of the classroom.

KidSigla was launched at Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Manila today, rounding up the 2019 implementation of the program. Three other schools – Hulo Elementary School (Pililla, Rizal); Paaralang Elementarya ng Lucban 2 (Lucban, Quezon) and Tagaran Elementary School (Cauayan, Isabela) started the supplemental feeding program earlier, after the launch at Bagbaguin Elementary School (Meycauayan, Bulacqn) last August.

Altogether, 150 undernourished children are enrolled in KidSigla for this school year, with the goal of improving their nutritional status through nutritious meals to be provided for 120 days during school days. Parent-volunteers and the school faculties oversee the smooth implementation of the daily feeding activity and monitoring of height and weight for the duration of the program.

Program partners, Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation and the Department of Education, help ensure the sustainability of the program.

Contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of promoting good health and wellbeing by reducing the maternal and neonatal mortality ratio, MDFI conducts its Smart Parenting activity teaching women about responsible parenthood, childcare, women’s health and hygiene.

Benefiting from this activity were 186 women from Valenzuela City. Aside from the lectures, free screening for blood sugar, blood pressure and bone density were also done. One of the participants, Dhang Soriano, shared, “napaka-ganda po at marami kayong natutulungan…share po namin yung aming natutunan sa mga kasama namin sa church” [it was nice that you were able to help a lot of people…will share what we’ve learned with our churchmates].

The activity is a collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Population, and the Population Management Office of Valenzuela City. Support from Asia Brewery, Colgate Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, Medical Center Trading Corporation, Philusa and Unilever added to the success of the activity.

MDFI launched today its KidSigla supplemental feeding program at Bagbaguin Elementary School in Meycauayan, Bulacan, in partnership with the Department of Education, Kabisig ng Kalahi, Alaska Milk and Nestle.

The program will benefit 30 undernourished schoolchildren who will enjoy nutritional meals prepared for them during the school days. Their nutritional status will be monitored regularly over six months to ensure that they overcome their malnutrition and poor health for perfect school attendance.