Long before sunrise in Roxas City, a cook is already busy in the kitchen, stirring large pots and arranging meal trays. Having grown up helping in his family’s small eatery, cooking came naturally to him. Yet, his work took on deeper purpose during the hardships of 2021, when he started volunteering at the Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) central kitchen. Seeing children on the streets pushed him to turn his lifelong kitchen experience into a full-time mission.
He shared what moved him to step up: “Naawa ako sa mga batang nasa kalye, hindi pumapasok dahil sa hirap ng buhay. Nang malaman ko ang BLT, hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip.” (“I felt bad for the kids on the streets who couldn’t go to school because of poverty. When I learned about BLT, I didn’t think twice about joining.”)
Today, he coordinates with parent volunteers and staff to prepare nutritious meals for public school students through the Department of Education’s school-based feeding program. Everyone takes on a clear role to ensure meals reach classrooms on time.
“Lahat kami may assignment. May taga-luto, taga-deliver, taga-kuha ng ingredients. Kailangan tulungan talaga,” he explained. (“All of us have our assignments—someone cooks, someone delivers, someone sources ingredients. We really have to work together.”)
This shared effort addresses a pressing challenge, as hunger often prevents children from staying in school and focusing on their lessons. Studies show that regular school meals improve cognitive performance by up to 16%, giving students the energy to participate actively in class. Since its inception, the centralized feeding model led by the Jollibee Group Foundation has expanded across the country, serving tens of thousands of learners and easing the daily burden on teachers. In Roxas City, a second central kitchen facility stands ready to expand this support to even more schools.
For the kitchen team, the daily work centers on care for the community and its youth. This effort demonstrates how local action creates lasting impact for vulnerable children.
If a dedicated group of volunteers and partners can build a sustainable feeding system that keeps hundreds of children nourished and learning, you and your friends, workplace, or organization can take action too. Consider starting a community drive, supporting local hunger relief efforts, or volunteering with school initiatives in your town today.
