END HUNGER !!! NATIONAL NUTRITIONAL COUNCIL /DOH

“End hunger!” was the battle cry during the concert organized by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) of the Department of Health on 19 July 2013 at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia. The event raised awareness on the hunger situation in the country and the actions that can be done by everyone. The concert is one of the major events in this year’s Nutrition Month celebration keeping in line with its theme, “Gutom at malnutrisyon, sama-sama nating wakasan!” With over 1,000 attendees, the two-hour concert gathered various stakeholders who pledged to work together to put an end to hunger and malnutrition. According to NNC Executive Director Assistant Health Secretary Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, the concert is the first that the NNC has organized. “We believe that we can unite people to end hunger through the universal language of music.” Flores added that “we need people to know that many go to bed hungry and that each and everyone, not just the government, can do something to end this injustice.” Singer Nikki Gil together with Luis “Lucky” Manzano served as the event hosts. Guests “Aleng Maliit” Ryzza Mae Dizon danced to her hit song “Chacharap” and folk singer and composer Noel Cabangon sang the National Year of Rice theme song to promote the conservation of rice and use of rice alternatives. Acoustic singer Princess Velasco also entertained the audience and pledged her own commitment to end hunger. The Dancing DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag also graced the event with his pop dance and the Palay Dance as part of the National Year of Rice campaign. The concert came in full blast as singer Bamboo Mañalac brought the house down with his hit songs. One of the highlights of the night’s affair was the showing of video clips of solidarity for the End Hunger campaign from Senator Grace Poe, Senator Pia Cayetano, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Association of Nutrition Action Officers of the Philippines President Carmencita Abalos, and National Capital Region Barangay Nutrition Scholars Federation President Concepcion Benosa.