PALO,Leyte- The vegetable garden project established by Gary Mosquito proved to be helpful to the students enrolled at the public school in Barangay Cabarasan Daku, this town, after super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ leveled the town in November 8,2013.
“My advocacy program is called Project LIFE or ‘Lifelong Interventions Through a Finest Environment,’ an innovation in which I enhanced the implementation of the ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ program to sustainable organic vegetable production in school for malnutrition alleviation,” said Mosquito, 34.
Since 2014, Mosquito led in planting vegetables using organic farming for their 345 pupils at the Cabarasan Daku Elementary School, Palo II District.
“The harvest goes to a feeding program to alleviate malnutrition in school and improve academic and non-academic performance of children,” he said while thanking his fellow teachers in implementing the project.
The excess harvest are sold in the community with the proceeds going to special programs and projects of the school like reproduction of test materials, Christmas party of the pupils and school beautification, Mosquito said.
The project would free the students from the burden of finding money for their school projects and other expenses, he added, noting that the majority of their students are children of ordinary farmers.
Mosquito was selected as Visayas winner in the prestigious 2019 Bayaning Gurong Pilipino of the ABS-CBN Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards at the ABS-CBN Station in Mandaue, Cebu City on June 1.
He was awarded “for setting aside personal interest, pursuing excellence in all endeavors, and dedicating his life in the service of fellow Filipinos.”
Accompanying him during the awarding ceremony was Dr. Melfe Sanchez, principal-in-charge/district supervisor of Palo II District in Leyte Division.
Mosquito, who has been teaching for 13 years already, recalled that the difficulties in finding a sustainable source of food and livelihood after Yolanda inspired him to launch the Project LIFE.
Seeing the success from the school-based vegetable garden project, Mosquito extended his advocacy to the community as their livelihood program, calling it “Gulayan ha Kabablayan Program.”
“I believe that solution to malnutrition should start at home,” Mosquito said.
“According to Mother Teresa, everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated and passionate about what they do. The plaque that you received is an evidence of how great you are and portrays the best version of yourself as a public servant,” said Sanchez as she lauded the “selfless efforts” of Mosquito.
“You really made a difference in the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” she added.
Meanwhile, Mosquito thanked the support of Sanchez, his seven other fellow teachers at school, Leyte division officials, and local leaders for their full support.
The annual Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards” is named after the late Don Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr., founder of ABS-CBN Corporation, the biggest television network in the country.
It is now on its 25th year. (RONALD O. REYES)
