T'is the season to be jolly, to be merry and bright and in line with this are the wide spread of festive dishes for you and your family to savour and share. But it is also a season of giving, caring and love. Not to spoil the good vibes but a lot of our fellow Filipino's won't have any food for their tables. Lucky us the only problem we were into is what menu to prepare for Christmas and New Years' Eve, as for others, even preparing a decent meal is so hard and most of the time, "itinutulog na  lang". Sad Truth it is. 

Holiday season's good vibes are at its best when shared.  Did you know that the simple act of ordering a dish can help alleviate malnutrition in the Philippines? From November 15, 2016 to January 15, 2017, international non-government organization Action Against Hunger together with partner restaurants and top chefs are bringing to life the Restaurants Against Hunger campaign. This campaign aims to save the lives of malnourished children in the Philippines through ‘DISHES THAT FEED MORE’ in participating restaurants. When ordered, proceeds from these dishes go to Action Against Hunger’s programs in alleviating extreme malnutrition across the country.


This is already been happening for the past 40 years in nearly 50 countries. Action Against Hunger has led the global fight against hunger. Committed to ending world hunger, work to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. Ensuring that the marginalized and most at risk have access to clean water, food, training and healthcare. Enabling communities to be free from hunger. Here in the Philippines, Action Against Hunger has helped more than 500,000 people directly in 2015 alone. Of the 500,000, more than 30,000 were helped with nutrition programs – particularly saving lives via the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, in particular during and following disasters and conflicts.

Action Against Hunger continues to respond to these pressing issues and we want to reach more people to help and support us as we unlock children’s potential and possibly give them something to look forward to in the future, - says Javad Amoozegar, Country Director for Action Against Hunger Philippines.
Hoping to raise more funds for ending hunger in the Philippines, Action Against Hunger is following the footsteps of its global counterparts by launching the Restaurants Against Hunger this 2016. Tracing back its roots from World Food Day in France back in 1998, Restaurants Against Hunger was also launched in UK, US, Canada, and Spain. The campaign is also currently running in Italy, Germany, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia. Joining the roster of multi-awarded chefs from around the globe, including the world’s star chef John Roca, the Philippines own Chef Roland Laudico is a proud ambassador for the worthy cause.  
Restaurants Against Hunger makes me realize that our craft goes beyond mere cooking, it also transforms into a stronger cause that enables us to have a chance to make someone’s future healthy, - says Chef Roland Laudico

There are over 103 establishments currently enlisted and participating through this campaign which also includes their other branches. Action Against Hunger hopes that more restaurants sign up before December 15. 
It’s high time that we address this issue together and put up an advocacy that really encourages people to help fight malnutrition in their own ways— a simple act of ordering a dish can make a big difference, - says Amoogezar.

In March 2016, Action Against Hunger released a report on the Socio-economy of Chronic Malnutrition in the Philippines. The Philippines, a lower-middle income country, is among the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia. However, sustained economic development has not manifested in a significant reduction of high stunting prevalence: 33.4% of children under-5 years old nationwide in 2015. This means that 1 in 3 Filipino children below five years old is too short for their age. Failure to achieve optimum child growth and development is attributed to several factors including poverty.
High national stunting prevalence rates in the Philippines, along with very modest progress in stunting reduction over time, makes stunting one of the biggest challenges the country faces as it economically develops.  Stunted growth is not only about what we can see with our eyes but it also about poor intellectual development.  Stunting is more than just a health issue as it has an impact on adult productivity and Philippines’ future. As stunting is a big challenge, it calls for a big effort among all Filipinos. Each one can make a meaningful contribution, - says Amoozegar.

Through this campaign is set in channeling the Filipino passion for food into life-saving impact against hunger and child malnutrition. Next time you'll dine in these participating restaurants, order their DISHES THAT FEED MORE, and give children a healthier future: 

8 Cuts, Beni’s Falafel, Chelsea Grand Café, Chelsea Kitchen, Chotto Matte,  Corazon, Crisostomo, Crying Tiger, Cyma, El Cabrito, El Chupacabra, El Corazon, Elias, Feast, Felix, Florabel, Green Pastures, Grilla Filipino Cuisine, Guevarra’s, Izakaya Sensu, Kabila, Manam, Melt Grilled Cheesery, Mexicali, Museum Café, OK Café, Ooma, Potts Point Café, Providore, Saboten, Señor Pollo, Simple Lang, Stella & Rocket Room, Terraz Bistro & Meetings, Terry's Bistro, The Café Mediterranean, The Corner Tree Café, The Old Spaghetti House, The Shrimp Shack, and Wild Ginger. 
Together, let’s make every dish truly count.  

For more information about the organization, follow the official Facebook page @ActionAgainstHungerPH and visit the website www.accioncontraelhambre.org/es/filipinas.

Campaign period starts November 15, 2016 and ends on January 15, 2017.  
Registration for restaurants is open until November 30, 2016.  
To register and get more information about the campaign, visit their website.  
For updates, follow the campaign in 
Facebook @RestaurantsAgainstHungerPH; 
Instagram @RestaurantsAgainstHungerPH; 
Twitter @EndHungerPH.  
 #RestaurantsAgainstHungerPH.