AS depression heightens to levels never seen before in the middle of this pandemic, true leaders stand out to plant and nurture hope.
In San Pedro City, such hope sprung out from ideas of mothering mothers, Lagunanays, a concept that focuses help to mothers of families, most of them deprived of healthcare, and worse of income to sustain life in the family.
Championing women’s cause
“Lagunanays” is a project of Laguna Board Member Ann Matibag, who from the very outset of her public service career has championed the cause of womenfolk in Laguna’s First District with her “Three K’s” program: Kababaihan, Kabataan at Kalusugan.
Her own experiences as a mother to her two children have inspired her to champion the cause of women’s health through programs that will ensure that mothers in Laguna will be taken care of, both physically and economically.
Matibag founded the “Breastfeeding Lagunanays” group, which aims to promote a sustainable culture of childcare among Laguna’s mothers.
And to spread further her advocacies of championing the welfare of women and mothers in the First District, she organized the “Buntis and Breastfeeding Congress” for Laguna’s mothers, starting in 2019.
Online event
While this year’s “Buntis and Breastfeeding Congress” was held online (via Zoom and Facebook Live) due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, Matibag spared no expense in ensuring that Lagunanays who participated in the event will still reap the benefits of her programs.
This year’s forum brought together experts from the field who shared to participants the importance of breastfeeding, especially amid the pandemic.
Dr. Kristine Anne Lapus, chairman of the Breastfeeding Committee of the Medical City in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, and Nurse Joyce Ann Martinez, a certified lactation consultant, both assured mothers and expectant mothers that breastfeeding is safe for both mothers and infants and can even give them a health boost amid the pandemic.
“Napapasa sa isang ina ang antibodies ng Covid-19 sa kanyang sanggol sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasuso,” Dr. Lapus explained.
“Ayon sa ebidensiya, mababa ang tsansa na maipasa ang virus sa pamamagitan ng gatas ng ina. Sa halip, naipakita ng mga pag-aaral na ang gatas mula sa isang ina na nahawaan ng Covid-19 ay naglalaman ng antibodies laban sa virus na maaaring makaprotekta sa ating mga sanggol laban sa Covid-19,” she added.
Entrepreneurial expertise
Matibag also brought to the conference the entrepreneurial expertise of Michelle Alcantara-Alivia (owner of Love Mama) and Rina Navarro (owner of Unfiltered Skin Care), who gave tips on how to efficiently run a business while at the same time fulfilling their duties as a mother.
This is in line with the board member’s goal to provide sustainable livelihood for Laguna’s women, most especially to mothers.
This was also the thrust of another of Matibag’s pioneering projects, “The Promise,” in which sampaguitas – the Philippines’ national flower and once the mainstay of the economy of San Pedro City – were turned into avant-garde jewelry and accessories.
This project aims not only to revive the once thriving sampaguita industry but also provide a stable source of livelihood for San Pedro’s womenfolk who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sharing experiences
Lagunanays, aside from having a chance to win various prizes (which included gadgets and child care equipment), also got a chance to share their own experiences with breastfeeding their offspring.
Mothers who were able to share their own insights on Matibag's social media page attested to the benefits of breastfeeding during the pandemic.
"Hindi ka na gagastos para bumili ng formula at gatas sa panahon ngayon [kaya] kailangan nating tiyagain ang magpasuso ng sanggol," netizen Ztek Lehc commented.
Other mothers also posted pictures of their children whom they reared through breastfeeding.
"Maglilimang taon na ang baby ko, [pero] breastfeed pa rin siya sa akin," Rosee Gonzalez shared. "Napakalusog niya at matakaw kumain."
More than the prizes and the expert information shared during the event, however, Matibag also assured “Lagunanays” that she will be at hand to raise their concerns and advocate for them at the provincial level.
“Sa mga Lagunanay, kaisa ko po kayo sa aking samahan ng mga maasahang kababaihan. Patuloy po nating itaas at ipagdiwang ang ating mga pwersa ng kababaihan, para sa ating mga karapatan at para sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. Makakaasa po kayo na mayroon po kayong 'Nanay' sa kapitolyo na itataguyod ang inyong mga pangangailangan," she pledged.