Grade 3 student from Sultan Kudarat only has soy sauce, rice for her school lunch

A Grade 3 student from Sultan Kadarat is making do with just rice and a packet of soy sauce for her lunch in school.

As seen in an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Layca Manguda buys a sachet of toyo worth P3 before heading to her classroom.

“Kinder pa lang po ako, dahon na ng saging ang baunan ko,” she said. “Hindi po ako kumakain kapag may mga tao, kapag wala akong ulam. Lumalayo nalang po ako.”

“Araw-araw, kapag wala akong ulam, ‘yan po ang ulam ko - sachet ng toyo,” she added.

[Since I was in kinder, my lunch would be wrapped in banana leaves. Sometimes I would feel embarrassed because I would only have rice and soy sauce for lunch].

Her teachers Kinneth and Joseph said they noticed how Layca would shy away from others.

Layca is the eldest among four siblings. Her parents do not have a means of living, but they always try to find ways to buy rice.

Like Layca, many children from her school also do not have the money to buy food.

According to Dr. Akifa Guindo, eating food that isn't healthy has effects on a child’s way of learning.

“Kapag maalat, toyo lang ang kinakain natin, ang nakukuha lang natin diyan is usually sodium talaga. Walang ibang nutrients which is yung mga kailangan natin,” she said.

[Aside from sodium, we really don’t get much nutrients from soy sauce.]

Despite having a hard time, Layca continues to do her best to finish her studies. A huge proof to this is the fact that she walk for hours a day just to go to school.

“Araw-araw masakit ang aking paa sa paglalakad. Napapagod din po pero nagtitiis ako upang maka-tapos ng pag-aaral,” she said. “Gusto ko pong makatapos kaming lahat na magkakapatid.”

[My feet would hurt from all the walking. But I really want to finish school. So I persevere. I want my siblings to finish school too.]

“Gusto kong maging maestra para makatulong sa mga kapwa ko mahirap,” she added.

[I want to become a teacher so I could help poor kids like me.]

Inspired by her story, several groups have reached out to help.

The KMJS team also arranged for the school children to have a nutritious lunch— with fish, vegetables, and chicken adobo. Lyca also received a scholarship grant from the local government.

Meanwhile, Nurse Johan Temen from the Department of Education shared the programs that they have for children like Lyca.

“‘Yung school-based feeding program, isa po ito sa programa ng Oplan Kalusugan ng DepEd at pinagpapatuloy po ‘yung pag-implement nito,”

“Sa katunayan, hindi po talaga siya sapat kasi very limited. And alam naman nila na ‘yung feeding program sa DepEd, supplemental lang,” she added.

[We have school-based feeding programs under the Department of Education. However, this is not enough to sustain these children because this program is only meant to be supplemental.]

For those who wish to help, you can send your donations through:

Landbank
Account Name: Kinneth Flores Goroy
Account Number: 5146362097