The NNC-Region III finds it but fitting to honor the dearly departed members of the nutrition community this All Souls Day who have been faithful and committed to their mission of “Nurturing the Filipino Towards a Stronger Nation” while still here on earth.

Firstly, we honor and pray for the soul of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the man behind the creation of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) when he signed Presidential Decree 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines on 25 June 1974 declaring nutrition as a priority concern.

This decree likewise created the NNC Governing Board (GB), which was then composed of the following:

The Secretary, Department of Education and Culture
The Chairman-Coordinator, National Food and Agriculture Council
The Secretary, Department of Health
The Secretary, National Science and Development Board
The Secretary, Department of Social Welfare
The Secretary, Department of Local Government and Community Development
The Chairman of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines
President, Philippine Medical Association
One other representative of the private sector to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.

The role of the NNC as the highest policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition and in orchestrating improvements in nutrition cannot be over emphasized without the guidance, indefatigable passion and steadfast commitment of its early leaders, who were true nutrition champions.

To our departed and past NNC GB Chairpersons, thank you for the wisdom, the support to NNC Secretariat and for leading the way to where we (NNC) are now.

+ Arturo R. Tangco, Jr. (1974-1984)
+ Salvador H. Escudero III (1984-1986; 1996-1998)
+ Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. (1986-1987)
+ Mita Pardo de Tavera (1987-1988)
+ Roberto S. Sebastian (1992-1996)
+ Edgardo J. Angara (1999-2001)

Except for Honorable Mita Pardo de Tavera, who was the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development during her short stint as NNC GB Chairperson from 1987-1988, the names of NNC GB listed above are Secretaries of Agriculture.

On 30 November 2005, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 472, transferring the NNC as an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Health. DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III assumed chairmanship of the NNC GB from 2005-2009 and currently is now on his second term as NNC GB Chair.

We are also grateful to our dearly departed and past NNC Executive Directors who were visionaries, more hands on in instilling discipline and in honing the skills of the early pillars of nutrition, provided inspiration and have driven NNC closer to achieving its nutrition goals for the country.

+ Dr. Florentino S. Solon (16 July 1974 to 31 December 1979)
+ Dr. Josefina A. Salvaňa (1 April 1986 to 24 August 1987)
+ Dr. Dulce Laurel-Bocobo (25 August 1987 to 28 February 1989)
+ Asuncion L. Macalalag (15 August 1996 to 8 July 1998)

To the former dearly departed Regional Nutrition Program Coordinators, who showed zealousness and dynamism in orchestrating efforts toward nutrition improvement at the regional level. We salute you for your inspiration and sacrifices.

+ Milagros Perez (NNC-Cagayan Valley)
+ Ofelia T. Santiago (NNC-Central Luzon)
+ Noli Majarucon (NNC-Central Visayas)
+ Dr. Roberto Briones (NNC-Eastern Visayas)
+ Zenaida Tondares (NNC-Northern Mindanao)
+ Jose Vistal (NNC-SOCCSKARGEN)
+ June Fallancy (NNC-CAR)
+ Delia Jimenez (NNC-NCR)

NNC-Region III also extends its prayers during this Commemoration of the Dead to our dearly departed members of the NNC Technical Committee, colleagues from NNC Central Office and Regional Offices and member of their families, NUTRITION ACTION OFFICERS, DISTRICT/CITY NUTRITION PROGRAM COORDINATORS, BARANGAY NUTRITION SCHOLARS, PARTNERS in nutrition community, who committed and devoted their time and efforts to improving the nutrition situation in their respective localities in order to achieve the country’s goal and commitment to global community.

Thank you for your hardwork, dedication, persistence and inspiration . . . and for touching our lives and the lives of those you served.

Let us remember to pray for all those holy men, women and children of God who have gone before us. We are all saints in training. (Quote taken from website of Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School, Arlington, Texas)

Eternal rest grant to all souls, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.