Baseco community warmly welcomes Laki sa Gatas' Lakbay Tagumpay

MANILA, Philippines - It may be one of the hottest mornings of February, but the residents of the Nestlé GK Village in Baseco, Manila were all smiles in welcoming the Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink team as it launched Lakbay Tagumpay.

Lakbay Tagumpay is a nutrition education and self-help program that takes the mission started by Laki sa Gatas, the nutrition education advocacy initiated by Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, even further.

The highlights of the launch included the unveiling of the “Palaruan,” which is one of the key components of Lakbay Tagumpay. The playground comprises a set of play modules that incorporate simple nutrition facts suited for children.

“We at Nestlé are very happy to donate the Palaruan, which symbolizes our strong commitment to help Filipino communities,” said John Mil­ler, Nestlé Philippines Inc. (NPI) chief executive officer.

Once the playground was unveiled, the children excitedly tried out the huge slide, seesaws, and the other recreational equipment. Little boys in the community also started playing basketball in the area.

Jan Ashley Rosario, marketing promotions specialist, said Laki sa Gatas initiated Lakbay Tagumpay to help members of a community improve their current state.

“We believe that a community can progress with the help of nutrition and education,” he said.

Aside from the Palaruan, the program also includes Lakbay Tagumpay inspirational and tutorial sessions, a Nutri-Patrol program, and Lakbay Kabuhayan.

In the Lakbay Tagumpay inspirational and tutorial sessions, members of a community will receive free tutorial sessions in math and English from NPI employees along with their curriculum partner, MSA Tutorial, every second and fourth Sunday of the month.

The Nutri-Patrol, meanwhile, will see registered nutritionists conducting monthly house-to-house visits to ensure that mothers are encouraging their families to practice healthy eating habits.

Lakbay Kabuhayan, on the other hand, is a skills-based training for the residents in cooperation with Orange Day Spa. The participants will undergo training to learn different skills such as “massage” techniques, among others, which they can use to earn a living.

The Lakbay Tagumpay launch also included sessions for kids and moms that are similar to the ones conducted during the Laki sa Gatas school visits every year.

In the kids’ session, the children at the Nestlé GK Village were treated to an hour of educational storytelling and games led by Kuya Benjie and Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink mascots Mama Bear and Kuya Bear.

In the mothers’ session, moms were taught about the Go, Grow and Glow food groups and how they can include them in their families’ daily meals. A registered nutritionist conducted these sessions and made recommendations on how mothers can prepare balanced meals.

Miller was joined by Nestlé executives Eugene David, NPI business executive manager-dairy health and nutrition solution, and Edith de Leon, NPI senior vice president for corporate affairs, as well as Laki sa Gatas advocate Precious Lara Quigaman in the inauguration ceremony.

Showing their full support to the Lakbay Tagumpay launch were Jasmin Estacio and Tin Libarnes, consumer marketing managers of Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, and Javi Medina, marketing promotions manager.