Every child needs proper nutrition to cope up with their academic and extra-curricular activities. Cuneta Elementary School has benefited from  sponsors such s DepEd and Kabisig to enhance its Feeding Program. The school also utilizes the canteen fund for the usage of the said program. However, Cuneta Elementary School still yearns for more concerned stakeholders that would lend their help for the improvement of pupils’ health. Fortunately, Manila Friendship Lion’s Club came to bring further benefits for the Feeding Program.

On December 19, 2017, Manila Friendship Lions’ Club visited Cuneta Elementary School with gifts and humongous food supply that would feed 628 CES pupils which is the total population that covers morning and afternoon shifts. This  The Club members discusses the benefits of the schoolwide feeding program and laid out realistic expectations regarding the partnership. Cuneta Elementary School’s current state was also discussed to analyze further beneficial interventions in the future.

The following members were present on the event: Previous President Mr. Ansong Ong, President Sally Wang, Vice resident Jackie Tiu, President Wen Yong Lim, Secretary Sensen Yang, Treasury Chun Yung Cah, President Yang Yi Shi, Vice President Chun Leh Lim, Treasure Liam He Hong, Secretary Qing Kai Lim, Secretary Qing Kai Lim, Secretary Fang Fang Liv, Vice President Qiung De Hong, President Chao Yang Cah, Hong Lou Shi, Jun Fen Hong, Wang Lu De, Cai Zhizhe, Xiu Za Hua.

Manila Friendship Lions’ Club was also briefed about CES current project called ZeDro. Mrs. Genalin S. Ong presented the goals of the project which is Zero Drop-Out but in order to address the causes of drop-outs, the school must conduct interventions. One of them is Feeding Program. The goals of the Lion’s Club proves to be in line with school as the club aims to help through providing fund for food, health and other necessities for every citizen. The club’s sponsorship covers the feeding program for twenty days. This entails fund for  the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and added number of beneficiaries.

After the welcoming of the club’s members, they visited each classroom of  Cuneta Elementary School to personally oversee the feeding program. They started in the classes of Kindergarten and Grade I that were situated on the school’s ground floor. The members entered the classrooms to see each pupils already holding their plate full of food. The pupils verbalized their gratitude by saying their thank you’s to the visitors. The club members were also able to hand out their gifts to the pupils that consists of helpful school supplies.

The members then went to the second floor of the school where they met more eager pupils that wanted to show their gratitude. Each member  had the opportunity of handing out gifts on their own. CES pupils ate joyfully while excitedly receiving the school supplies from the kind sponsors. Afterwards, each class posed for a meaningful picture with all the Lion’s club members.

After each visitation, the club members proceeded to the schools’ Multi-Purpose Hall to be greeted warmly with more CES pupils. Mrs. Genalin S. Ong welcomed the guests officially on her opening remarks. She encouraged them to continue helping because it would mean a lot for the beneficiaries. She also emphasized the importance of the Feeding Program in ensuring that CES pupils are motivated to come to school regularly. By providing fund for the school’s feeding program, the school would be able to cater to more beneficiaries.  At the end of her remarks, she showed a slideshow of the Lion’s club milestones in partnership with CES.

Manila Friendship’s Lion’s Club previous president Lion Ansong G. Ongstood next to greet the audience of pupils and teachers alike gathered in the hall. He discussed the vision and mission of the club regarding helping those in need. He also explained the reason of choosing Cuneta Elementary School and  the impact that the pupils managed to give their members. Through his explanation of the duration of the sponsorship, he was able to assure the CES pupils that the club would continue to support the school’s current project called ZeDro to ensure a zero drop-out at the end of the school year.

PDG George Ong Tan also expressed his gratitude in return for the warm receive that their club had gotten from CES He started his speech by recognizing the effort of the school community in ensuring the success of the program.  He also gave a brief introduction of the history of Manila Friendship Lion’s Club and their organization structure. Furthermore, PDG George Ong Tan  regarded the CES teachers too by promising them of the club’s help in terms of  vision.  He applauded the efforts of Mrs. Genalin S. Ong in securing sponsors that would help the school goals and promised continuous support for the benefits of CES pupils.

The program ended with the showcase of talents from Grade V and Grade VI pupils. Grade V pupils demonstrated a traditional folk dance called Carinosa while Grade VI pupil sang together to hype the spirit of Christmas. For the closing of the program, Manila Friendship Lions’ club awarded the school with additional fund and give-away t-shirts for the pupils.