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Nona Andaya-Castillo has dedicated her life to health communication, focusing on safeguarding maternal and child health since 1997. Over the years, she has helped hundreds of thousands of parents achieve their infant and young child feeding goals. In 2004, Nona became the first and, to date, the only non-medical doctor in the Philippines to earn accreditation as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), an accreditation recognized by the US National Commission on Certifying Agencies since 1988.
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At that point, many Filipino mothers faced harassment when nursing in public. Nona’s groundbreaking events gained global recognition, featuring in local and international media outlets such as BBC, Time Magazine, Reuters, and AFP, with extensive coverage on TV, radio, and over 100 websites worldwide.
Beyond breastfeeding advocacy, Nona also promotes the consumption of indigenous fruits and vegetables to address malnutrition and supports other traditional nurturing practices. In 2011, alongside DOST Balik Scientist (Returning Scientist) and Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awardee Dr. Custer Deocaris, journalist Tessa Salazar, and Aries Espinosa of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nona spearheaded the Philippines’ Meatless Monday initiative, also known as Luntiang Lunes (Green Monday).
Nona was also part of the team behind the country’s successful breastfeeding campaigns. Together with “The Father,” Hilarion “Larry” Henares Jr., “The Daughter,” Dr. Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, and Nona, who was affectionately known as “The Holy Skeleton,” they bravely exposed the sale of four million cans of potentially contaminated formula milk. Despite the risks to their lives and the temptation of a 200 million peso offer from the milk companies, the team persisted in their fight for public health and safety.
She conceptualized and organized the following events and projects with her team from 2005 to 2013 to promote, support and protect breastfeeding.
Promotion:
Guinness World Records on Simultaneous Breastfeeding:
Proclamation of the Breastfeeding Queen, Princesses and Princes under the Office of the President
Photo Exhibits of Breastfeeding Mothers first displayed in the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace and toured in many places including the Congress, Senate, many branches of SM Malls, Philhealth, several hospitals and LGUs (2006 - 2010)
Support
Other Activities on Breastfeeding Promotion, Protection and Support:
Her baptism of fire happened when she managed the rehabilitation of severely malnourished infants and children rescued by Bantay Bata (Child Watch) Center in December 1997, overseeing and assisting 21 wet-nurses in tandem breastfeeding the rescued infants as well as their own babies. Since then, she has counseled parents on infant and young childcare as well as help ill individuals heal from lifestyle diseases.
Nona teaches earth-friendly parenting and lifestyle: natural family planning, joyful childbirth, extended breastfeeding, plant-based-nutrition and the Filipino nurturing practices using the latest evidence-based scientific information and adapting it in the Philippines’ unique culture especially in a resource-poor setting.
Prior to this calling, Nona worked as an information and advocacy officer for several non-profit organizations after she graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1983 with a degree in Broadcast Communications. Before she focused on health communication, she promoted peasant, human rights, and disaster response issues. Her work involved public information dissemination, event organizing, media networking; volunteer organizing, fundraising and project monitoring and evaluation.
Nona is a mother of a millennial and is wife of a mathematics and computer geek. The family has thrived on a plant-based diet since 1991.
Beyond breastfeeding advocacy, Nona also promotes the consumption of indigenous fruits and vegetables to address malnutrition and supports other traditional nurturing practices. In 2011, alongside DOST Balik Scientist (Returning Scientist) and Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awardee Dr. Custer Deocaris, journalist Tessa Salazar, and Aries Espinosa of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nona spearheaded the Philippines’ Meatless Monday initiative, also known as Luntiang Lunes (Green Monday).
Nona was also part of the team behind the country’s successful breastfeeding campaigns. Together with “The Father,” Hilarion “Larry” Henares Jr., “The Daughter,” Dr. Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, and Nona, who was affectionately known as “The Holy Skeleton,” they bravely exposed the sale of four million cans of potentially contaminated formula milk. Despite the risks to their lives and the temptation of a 200 million peso offer from the milk companies, the team persisted in their fight for public health and safety.
She conceptualized and organized the following events and projects with her team from 2005 to 2013 to promote, support and protect breastfeeding.
Promotion:
Guinness World Records on Simultaneous Breastfeeding:
- Single Site with the City of Manila, UNICEF and the DOH breaking the USA record with 3,541 mother-child pairs in 2006
- Multiple Sites nationwide with DSWD and TESDA (15,128 mother-child pairs) in 295 sites in 2007 (with a National Record of 22,500 mother-child pairs in 590 sites). The annual nationwide gathering mobilized the biggest record with 35,749 mother-child pairs in 1,000 sites in 2013 with UNTV
- Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide in partnership with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) with the participation of 16 countries (2007, 2008 and 2009)
- Breastfeeding Olympics in Beijing, China during the World Olympics (2008) under the Office of the President
Proclamation of the Breastfeeding Queen, Princesses and Princes under the Office of the President
Photo Exhibits of Breastfeeding Mothers first displayed in the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace and toured in many places including the Congress, Senate, many branches of SM Malls, Philhealth, several hospitals and LGUs (2006 - 2010)
Support
- Established the Breastfeeding Clinic at Makati Medical Center that served indigent patients (2002 - 2004)
- Website - www.breastfeedingphilippines.com - Number 1 in Google Search (since 2006)
- Established Breastfeeding Stations in all SM Supermalls nationwide that serves hundreds of thousands of mother-child pairs nationwide (2006). Through this policy advocacy, the establishment of lactation stations became a law in 2010.
- Set-up free online classes on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) since 2007
- Maintained a free hotline with 24/7 service (since 2004)
- Organized Continuing Medical Education (CME) on Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) for medical practitioners, highlighted in the 100th(2007), 101st (2008) and 102nd (2009) Anniversary of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), integration of optimal IYCF practices in school curricula in partnership with the Department of Education (2009), DOST (2010), CHED (2007) and the establishment of the Philippine Lactation Resource and Training Center with TESDA (2006 - 2012)
- Organized Senate and Congress hearings (2005-2011)
- Drafted a bill to strengthen EO 51 with Rep. Anna York Bondoc (2006-2011)
- Exposed the sale of 4 million cans of possibly contaminated formula milk despite the possibility of murder and an offer of P200 million pesos from milk companies to their team.
- Attended public hearings on the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) of EO 51 (2006-2007) and the meetings of the Inter-Agency Committee on EO 51 (2008-2010
Other Activities on Breastfeeding Promotion, Protection and Support:
- Awarded as the Primary Investigator/Project Leader of a scientific research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation form 2011 to 2013.
- Managed the rehabilitation of severely malnourished infants and children rescued by Bantay Bata (Child Watch) Center in December 1997, overseeing and assisting 21 wet-nurses in tandem breastfeeding the rescued infants as well as their own babies. Since then, she has counseled parents on infant and young childcare as well as helping ill individuals heal from lifestyle diseases.
- Monitored the implementation of the laws that protect breastfeeding under the project initiated by the International Babyfood Action Network (IBFAN) from April to July 1997 and continued monitoring and reporting violations even after the conclusion of the project.
- Acted as the researcher for the film project “Formula for Disaster” for UNICEF in 2006.
Her baptism of fire happened when she managed the rehabilitation of severely malnourished infants and children rescued by Bantay Bata (Child Watch) Center in December 1997, overseeing and assisting 21 wet-nurses in tandem breastfeeding the rescued infants as well as their own babies. Since then, she has counseled parents on infant and young childcare as well as help ill individuals heal from lifestyle diseases.
Nona teaches earth-friendly parenting and lifestyle: natural family planning, joyful childbirth, extended breastfeeding, plant-based-nutrition and the Filipino nurturing practices using the latest evidence-based scientific information and adapting it in the Philippines’ unique culture especially in a resource-poor setting.
Prior to this calling, Nona worked as an information and advocacy officer for several non-profit organizations after she graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1983 with a degree in Broadcast Communications. Before she focused on health communication, she promoted peasant, human rights, and disaster response issues. Her work involved public information dissemination, event organizing, media networking; volunteer organizing, fundraising and project monitoring and evaluation.
Nona is a mother of a millennial and is wife of a mathematics and computer geek. The family has thrived on a plant-based diet since 1991.
Watch Free Online Classes at Nanay Nona's You Tube Channel
Awards
2019 Glory Awards - University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication
Outstanding Alumna
https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/five-up-masscom-alumni-named-2019-glory-awardees/
www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/241198-awardees-glory-awards-2019
Grand Challenges Explorations – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Project HiLLs: Hormones in Lactation and Lifestyles, November 2011
Read more
I Love Nature
Parentin TV, 2010
Asian Fellow
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
Penang. Malaysia, November-December 2007
Gold Medal
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
Penang, Malaysia, November-December 2008
Happiest Pinoy, Top 7 Grand Finalist
2010 Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solution
http://www.happiest-pinoy.com/History.aspx
https://www.philstar.com/good-news/551229/happiness-rejoicing-despite-suffering
http://asianjournalusa.com/winston-maxino-happiest-pinoy-awardee-is-high-on-life-p8448-87.htm
Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding in a Single Site, May 2006
Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding in Multiple Sites, may 2007
Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Tree-planting, October 2007
With High Honors
Spelling Bee Champion, Provincial Level in Elementary and High School
Best Cadette
Colegio de San Pascual Baylon, Obando, Bulacan 1976-1979
2019 Glory Awards - University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication
Outstanding Alumna
https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/five-up-masscom-alumni-named-2019-glory-awardees/
www.rappler.com/bulletin-board/241198-awardees-glory-awards-2019
Grand Challenges Explorations – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Project HiLLs: Hormones in Lactation and Lifestyles, November 2011
Read more
I Love Nature
Parentin TV, 2010
Asian Fellow
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
Penang. Malaysia, November-December 2007
Gold Medal
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
Penang, Malaysia, November-December 2008
Happiest Pinoy, Top 7 Grand Finalist
2010 Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solution
http://www.happiest-pinoy.com/History.aspx
https://www.philstar.com/good-news/551229/happiness-rejoicing-despite-suffering
http://asianjournalusa.com/winston-maxino-happiest-pinoy-awardee-is-high-on-life-p8448-87.htm
Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding in a Single Site, May 2006
Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding in Multiple Sites, may 2007
Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Tree-planting, October 2007
With High Honors
Spelling Bee Champion, Provincial Level in Elementary and High School
Best Cadette
Colegio de San Pascual Baylon, Obando, Bulacan 1976-1979
