There are many acts of discrimination against mothers who breastfeed in public. Simultaneous breastfeeding started out as a protest that mothers resort to when they are admonished as they fulfill their nurturing role. The act’s popularity rose in countries like USA, Canada and Australia to become a form of celebration during occasions like World Breastfeeding Week.
In February 2005, UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Nicholas K. Alipui overheard Sec. Ignacio Bunye over the radio that the Number 2 consumer commodity in Metro Manila was formula milk. Aware of the deaths and diseases associated with formula feeding, he issued a plea to concerned citizens to avert this trend and called the formula milk menace a “death sentence to Filipino children.”
In February 2005, UNICEF Country Representative Dr. Nicholas K. Alipui overheard Sec. Ignacio Bunye over the radio that the Number 2 consumer commodity in Metro Manila was formula milk. Aware of the deaths and diseases associated with formula feeding, he issued a plea to concerned citizens to avert this trend and called the formula milk menace a “death sentence to Filipino children.”
The two new International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, MD, FPDS, FABM, IBCLC, RPh and Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC immediately responded to his call. Previously, they tried to present their innovative ideas on how to promote, protect and support breastfeeding to several people in power but it was Dr. Alipui who truly listened to them. They presented their credentials to him and immediately moved with urgency.
During the preparations for the first celebration of World Breastfeeding Week in Malacanang, the IBCLCs, with the help of Hilarion M. Henares, Jr., Dr. Henares-Esguerra’s father approached Mayor Lito Atienza of the City of Manila and challenged him to break the Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding. Without any hesitation, the Mayor who is known for his pro-life advocacy promised the Malacanang crowd and the President that he would break the USA record. He proudly announced it during the program celebrating World Breastfeeding Week in Malacanang.
During the preparations for the first celebration of World Breastfeeding Week in Malacanang, the IBCLCs, with the help of Hilarion M. Henares, Jr., Dr. Henares-Esguerra’s father approached Mayor Lito Atienza of the City of Manila and challenged him to break the Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding. Without any hesitation, the Mayor who is known for his pro-life advocacy promised the Malacanang crowd and the President that he would break the USA record. He proudly announced it during the program celebrating World Breastfeeding Week in Malacanang.
To educate mothers en masse on the benefits of breastfeeding and create public pressure against milk companies and US officials’ move to suppress advocates and the Philippine health officials, the IBCLCs mobilized their organization Nurturers of the Earth, Inc. On May 4, 2006 with their partners, The City of Manila, Department of Health (DOH) and UNICEF Philippines, the country broke the USA record of 1,130 mother-child pairs at Berkeley, California with 3,541 mother-child pairs.
It was a peaceful, awesome event. The 3,541 children were calm and quiet while breastfeeding in their mothers’ tight embrace.
During the event, the IBCLCs made sure that mothers of children aged four and five years old were breastfeeding onstage when the countdown began. They also gave an award to the oldest breastfeeding mom, Rosanna Robles who at the age of 51 was still breastfeeding her 5-year old daughter. They challenged the crowd if there was an older breastfeeding mother than Robles as well as an older breastfeeding child but Robles and her daughter remained unbeaten.
It was a peaceful, awesome event. The 3,541 children were calm and quiet while breastfeeding in their mothers’ tight embrace.
During the event, the IBCLCs made sure that mothers of children aged four and five years old were breastfeeding onstage when the countdown began. They also gave an award to the oldest breastfeeding mom, Rosanna Robles who at the age of 51 was still breastfeeding her 5-year old daughter. They challenged the crowd if there was an older breastfeeding mother than Robles as well as an older breastfeeding child but Robles and her daughter remained unbeaten.
A mother who breastfed while pregnant and mothers who pursued breastfeeding while working outside the house were interviewed during the affair to debunk breastfeeding myths. There was also a parade of slings to popularize its use as an aid to breastfeeding.
Before the event, the IBCLCs gave orientation seminars to the health workers of the City emphasizing their core messages and the objectives of the affair. They also ensured that all give-aways for the participants will not contain any product of milk companies by explaining it through letters and dialogues with the City employees and the Mayor himself.
During the program and the press conference, the IBCLCs explained to mothers that there is an international boycott of Nestle’ products. They also exposed industrial errors including the contamination of 30 million liters of formula milk affecting 5 countries in Europe in 2005. They warned mothers against accepting free milk donations.
Before the event, the IBCLCs gave orientation seminars to the health workers of the City emphasizing their core messages and the objectives of the affair. They also ensured that all give-aways for the participants will not contain any product of milk companies by explaining it through letters and dialogues with the City employees and the Mayor himself.
During the program and the press conference, the IBCLCs explained to mothers that there is an international boycott of Nestle’ products. They also exposed industrial errors including the contamination of 30 million liters of formula milk affecting 5 countries in Europe in 2005. They warned mothers against accepting free milk donations.
