Good education starts with a good meal.
In Matuguinao, Samar, education now begins with a warm meal and a hopeful heart.
On September 22, the fifth-class municipality launched “Edukain,” a feeding initiative that guarantees all 720 students of Matuguinao National High School a free breakfast every day.
For those who trek from distant upland villages, the program extends even further with complimentary lunch.
At first glance, bowls of arroz caldo may appear simple. But to the young learners who often arrive at school on empty stomachs, this steaming porridge rich with chicken, ginger, onion and rice is a promise that their community cares.
Hunger, after all, has long been one of the silent barriers to learning. A student who starts the morning on a full stomach is a student better prepared to focus, participate, and dream.
What makes Edukain remarkable is not its menu, but the values it embodies. Matuguinao is a small, fifth-class town with limited resources.
Yet its leaders, headed by Mayor Aran Boller and the municipal social welfare office under Arlyn Alegria, chose to invest in children not through grand projects, but through the daily act of nourishment.
Each sack of rice, each peso allocated for side dishes, and each consultation with a dietician reflects a commitment to the town’s youth.
More than a government initiative, Edukain feels like a community movement.
Parents, teachers, and local officials are bound by the shared belief that no child should sit in class hungry.
Even the distribution of tumblers to encourage hydration is a thoughtful touch, showing that the program is about wellness, not just feeding.
This small-town initiative also sends a powerful message beyond Matuguinao’s borders.
If a once-isolated community that was accessible only by long boat rides before road improvements can find a way to feed its students daily, what more can wealthier municipalities achieve?
Edukain proves that progress does not always begin with billions of pesos; sometimes it begins with a pot of porridge and the will to serve.
Most importantly, Edukain is an act of hope. It reminds the children of Matuguinao that they are valued, that their education matters, and that their dreams are worth feeding.
In a province long weighed down by poverty, this initiative shines as a beacon of possibility.
By filling stomachs, Matuguinao is also filling minds and hearts with the energy to learn today and the courage to imagine a better tomorrow.
NOURISHING MINDS. Learners at Matuguinao National High School line up for a free breakfast under the town’s ‘Edukain’ program, ensuring every child starts the school day with energy and hope.
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