MANILA, Philippines — A nutrition milestone turned into a magical celebration for hundreds of children in Tondo as charity organization GoodZone marked the first month of its feeding program with a special weigh-in party joined by stars from the fantasy series “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre.”
Around 200 children and their families gathered June 10 at the Project PEARLS community center in Helping Land, Tondo, for GoodZone’s first-ever Weigh-In Party, a celebration recognizing the progress of children enrolled in the organization’s 90-day feeding initiative.
The event featured actors Mikee Quintos and Mikoy Morales, who portray Lira and Agnem, respectively, in the television series Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre.
According to GoodZone, the visit was inspired by a moment during the program’s initial weigh-in when children were seen reenacting scenes from the show while waiting to be assessed. The footage was shared with Morales, who later invited Quintos to personally meet the children.
During the celebration, Quintos and Morales joined feeding activities, encouraged participants in health-related games and personally distributed gifts to children enrolled in the program.
A highlight of the event was a graduation-style weigh-in ceremony led by licensed nutritionist-dietitian Joanne Cruz-Baill, where each child’s weight progress was announced before family members and community residents. Organizers said the ceremony was designed to recognize improvements in nutrition and encourage continued participation in the program.
Children who posted significant gains in weight and nutritional status over the first four weeks received certificates of recognition. Participants also received food packs, school supplies and new slippers.
“Every child in this program has been showing up, eating well, and growing stronger every single week,” the GoodZone team said in a statement. “Today was our way of saying — we see you. We are proud of you. And we are not stopping.”
GoodZone said the event underscored the broader goals of the feeding program, which seeks not only to address child malnutrition but also to provide support and opportunities for children living in underserved communities. Organizers noted that parents have reported positive changes in their households as a result of the initiative.
The feeding program is being implemented in partnership with Project PEARLS and supported by DigiPlus Foundation. It provides 200 malnourished children in Helping Land with nutritious meals four days a week over a 90-day period under the supervision of licensed nutritionist-dietitians.
Founded in 2010 by Melissa Villa, Project PEARLS serves children and families in underserved communities in Tondo, Bulacan and Naic through programs focused on education, health and community development.