300 moms simultaneously breastfeed babies in Bohol

Wake-uppers:
Scene: Police Colonel Jonathan Cabal formally took over as Bohol Provincial Police Office director on Aug. 1, replacing Col. Julius Cesar Gornez, who was BPPO chief for six months. Cabal vowed to be more liberal and a result-oriented police director. “I will lead by example and I will always be fair,” he said.

Scene: The 10th birthday of Bohol Balita Daily News.

Scene: The alarming increase of suicide cases in Bohol has prompted the public discussion of the level of awareness on mental health issues in the province.  

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The second Global Big Latch On in Bohol. Photos:  Leo Udtohan

"Breastmilk is still best for babies," a statement we usually see and hear at the end of formula milk commercials, still holds true until today. 

Invited guests. 

More than 300 mothers from Bohol gathered at the BQ Mall on Saturday, Aug. 3, to breast-feed their babies simultaneously for one minute to join the Global Big Latch On.

The event, a second time in the province, was spearheaded by the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital for
the World Breast Feeding Month.

After the simultaneous latch-on, lactation experts, peer counselors, and breastfeeding advocacy supporters shared the benefits and importance of breastfeeding to the mothers.

There were invited guests like former beauty queen Ebone Cimafranca-Ong and Tagbilaran City Mayor Baba Yap and wife Jane.

“Kilay Doctor” Karla Tirol Magno, proprietor of The Brow Clinic and Beauty Lounge also shared her breastfeeding journey.

Participant Hannah Balite shared that each latch is an intimate moment “which keeps my heart falling in love with motherhood and the wonders a mother’s body can do.” She said she feels so blessed to exclusively direct breastfeed her little one since day one with a relatively smooth experience.

Police Colonel Jonathan Cabal. Photo:  Leo Udtohan

For Angelica Omus-Trigo, breastfeeding isn’t easy.  “Sometimes, I doubt about having enough mil for lil one because my breasts aren’t that engorged,” said Trigo, a mother of one-month-old Clian Gideon. “Nevertheless, I continue to exclusively breastfeed my son.”

Photo and glam mom/baby fashion show contests were also held to enliven the event.

According to a UNICEF global database, 34% of Filipino children were fed only breast milk, with no additional foods or liquids, before the age of 6 months. The organization cited data from 2008, the most recent available.

Many of the mothers are having difficulty with breastfeeding, and they don't really appreciate the benefits of breastfeeding because the media promotes formula milk.

"We need to really advocate breastfeeding," said Karla.

The World Health Assembly calls for an increase in the rate of global exclusive breast-feeding to at least 50% by 2025.

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