MORE than 70 mothers from all over Cagayan de Oro City have gathered in Centrio Ayala Mall to participate in the global synchronized breastfeeding event to promote the normal practice of breastfeeding and its importance.
The event, dubbed as "Hakab Na" or "The Big Latch On," involved groups of breastfeeding women coming together at registered locations around the world to “latch on” their kids at a certain time.
With their babies on their arms, some 73 mothers made history as they simultaneously feed their babies around 11:30 a.m. last Saturday, August 4.
"We want to make a stand for breastfeeding and what better way to show it than to show off on how many mothers come together to breastfeed at the same time," Nadine Angelica Casiño, the founder of Modern Nanays of Mindanao (MNM), said.
Casiño added that this is also an avenue for mothers who are not comfortable or ashamed to breastfeed in public to find solace in other moms.
"There are many mothers who feel they are inadequate but when they find mothers nga (that) they can identify with na 'wala gani sya na shy (she's not shy about it), why should I too?'" she said.
"Pero (But) we do not judge anybody kung (if for) example the mom wants to feed covered, you don't have to tell them na 'take that off to normalize breastfeeding,'" Casiño added.
In the afternoon of the same day, talks and group activities were conducted for moms that made them learn and make friends with their fellow mothers.
"Ang pinaka (Our main) theme namo for amuma 2018 is to let mothers be part of the tribe. So naay mga (there are) tribe games or group activities for the moms for them to learn about each other, know about each other and hopefully make new friends," Casiño said.
She added that apart from their advocacy to normalize breastfeeding, they also want to emphasize how important it is for women to find their tribes.
"Kay maka (Because it can) lessen sa stress, maka long life if you find genuine friendship with other women. Mao na ang among gusto buhaton ani nga event (This is what we wanted to happen in this event)," the MNM founder said.
Apart from that, Casiño said the Modern Nanays of Mindanao are also promoting cloth diapering and baby wearing.
According to Casiño, this October, the MNM is planning to celebrate the International Baby Wearing Week, wherein mothers will be "wearing" their babies together.
She also shared their desire to reach out to the communities to spread their advocacies and help the mothers in terms of giving nourishment to their babies.
"Gusto gyud mi moadto sa community, maka reach mi sa kato gyu'ng kailangan like example teenage mothers, or kanang mga 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), to help sa nutrition gyud. So unta, makaabot gyud mi ana nga mga places (We want to go to the community, to reach our those who are in need like the teenage mothers or those who are in the 4Ps, in terms of nutrition. So I hope we will be able to reach them)," she said.