Ateneo's Blueplate program to help slay 'poverty monster'

MANILA, Philippines - The Ateneo de Manila University’s Blueplate for Better Learning feeding program, spearheaded by Ateneo’s Center for Education Development (ACED), is now feeding 12,000 public school elementary children in and around the metro. The areas where the feeding is taking place are in Quezon City, Parañaque, Bagong Silangan, and, most recently in Cainta and Valenzuela.

The program is supported by the Ateneo Professional Schools (which includes the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Ateneo Law School, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health and the Ateneo School of Government) recently had the blessing of its new central kitchen at the Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School last Aug. 25. The feeding programs in Cainta and Valenzuela are supported by their respective local governments while the feeding program in Parañaque is supported by PICPA and GE (General Electric) volunteers.

Both Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ and Mel Oracion, director of ACED remarked that the feeding program is “part of killing the poverty monster with the many hearts.”

For his part, former Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ commented that “we’re happy about the kitchen, but we are even happier that they (parent volunteers and Blueplate program staff) succeeded even when times were difficult.” The old kitchen of the program was very small and used to flood, he added.

Ateneo’s vice president for social development Atty. Jaime Hofileña added that “if the youth are the hope of the country, the parent volunteers and other volunteers are the hope of the hope of the country.” 

Everyone is enjoined to help the Blueplate program in his or her own way. For a minimum amount of P11.50, one can feed one child for a day. For P1,495, you can feed one child for a whole school year.

Help fight the poverty monster and feed one child or more. Ensure a better future one blue plate at a time.

For more information, you may contact ACED at 4266001 local 4028 or 4029 or email [email protected].