Institutionalizing the National Celebration of World Breastfeeding Week
On July 18, 2005, a dinner was hosted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang (the President’s Official Residence) for the Henares family.
On July 18, 2005, a dinner was hosted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang (the President’s Official Residence) for the Henares family.
Both Henares–Esguerra and Castillo presented their credentials to the President as International Board Certified Lactation Consultants to introduce a new profession to help mothers perform their nurturing roles and pledge their commitment to help the country. The two IBCLCs took the opportunity to talk to the President about the breastfeeding situation in the country. The President was initially skeptic citing that breastfeeding can lead to diarrhea, not knowing that it was the normal stool of a breastfed child.
The IBCLCs mobilized UNICEF’s former Country Representative Dr. Nicholas K. Alipui and Department of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III for the dinner. All of them respectfully answered the President’s questions and the group was able to convince her to declare World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) on August 1, 2005 in Malacanang with a Presidential Proclamation. Since then, the President became an ardent supporter of the breastfeeding advocates, utilizing her Presidential powers to muster all the necessary support for the cause.
The IBCLCs rounded up their organizations Children and Youth Action for Breastfeeding and Nurturers of the Earth to prepare for the grand event within ten days. About 700 participants showed up, a record-breaking crowd since the Rizal Ceremonial Hall can only accommodate 500 guests.
The event broke protocol in the Palace. Mothers with their babies, dressed in house clothes and slippers and fathers in denim pants and rubber shoes arrived at the gates of Malacanang and the presidential guards promptly refused them entry. Dr. Henares-Esguerra cajoled the guards and asked the crowd to pray with her. She told the guards that the affair was intended for the mothers and babies and eventually was able to convince the protocol officer to allow the breastfeeding families in.
It was a touching program where mothers got teary-eyed as they listened to prayers, speeches and songs to honor and encourage them in pursuing their nurturing role. Older breastfed children offered roses to the mothers and the President.
The Presidential Proclamation specified that the organizers of World Breastfeeding Week celebration from hereon will follow the international standard of ethics set forth by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the initiator of the celebration observed in 120 countries. WABA encourages all organizers of WBW not to co-sponsor any activity with companies producing milk and related equipment like bottles, teats and pacifiers and babyfood products.
Presidential Proclamation No. 884 was declared on July 29, 2005 and was amended with Presidential Proclamation No. 1113 the following year.
To know more about our activities for this year’s celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) or how you can celebrate it in your school, office or community, click here to register.
You can also download the Philippine’s Presidential Proclamation below.
Presidential Proclamation No. 1113
The IBCLCs rounded up their organizations Children and Youth Action for Breastfeeding and Nurturers of the Earth to prepare for the grand event within ten days. About 700 participants showed up, a record-breaking crowd since the Rizal Ceremonial Hall can only accommodate 500 guests.
The event broke protocol in the Palace. Mothers with their babies, dressed in house clothes and slippers and fathers in denim pants and rubber shoes arrived at the gates of Malacanang and the presidential guards promptly refused them entry. Dr. Henares-Esguerra cajoled the guards and asked the crowd to pray with her. She told the guards that the affair was intended for the mothers and babies and eventually was able to convince the protocol officer to allow the breastfeeding families in.
It was a touching program where mothers got teary-eyed as they listened to prayers, speeches and songs to honor and encourage them in pursuing their nurturing role. Older breastfed children offered roses to the mothers and the President.
The Presidential Proclamation specified that the organizers of World Breastfeeding Week celebration from hereon will follow the international standard of ethics set forth by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the initiator of the celebration observed in 120 countries. WABA encourages all organizers of WBW not to co-sponsor any activity with companies producing milk and related equipment like bottles, teats and pacifiers and babyfood products.
Presidential Proclamation No. 884 was declared on July 29, 2005 and was amended with Presidential Proclamation No. 1113 the following year.
To know more about our activities for this year’s celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) or how you can celebrate it in your school, office or community, click here to register.
You can also download the Philippine’s Presidential Proclamation below.
Presidential Proclamation No. 1113