TUAO, Cagayan, – In its aim to advocate proper nutrition especially among schoolchildren in this town, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 2 conducted one-of-a-kind nutri-kalesa painting contest on July 12.

Twenty teams composed of high school students competed in the nutri-kalesa painting contest with the theme “Ugaliing Magtanim, Wastong Nutrisyon ay Aanihin”.

Emerging as champion are students from Itawes National Agricultural and Technical School (INATS) Bulagao campus with their masterpiece depicting the long term benefits of food gardening.

According the NNC, it was the first time in the history of the Nutri-Kalesa painting competition that a student with special needs successfully competed in the contest.

Nurition Officer John Nestor Ballad said the participation of 12th grader Albert Caguiao of the INATS Alabug campus, who despite special condition conceptualized his team’s design entry.

Frank Daguio, his coach, said Albert is really creative and passionate in doing arts. Though Albert’s team didn’t win, he vowed to perform better next competition.

For her part, Ma. Gisella Lonzaga, OIC-nutrition program coordinator expressed appreciation to Caguiao for his participation.

“Art knows no boundaries,” Lonzaga said even as she encouraged students like Albert to join competitions and to come out into the open.

Other winners of the contest are students of Lyceum of Tuao, Itawes National High School, INATS Bulagao campus (Team B) and Tuao Vocational and Technical School-Main campus who placed second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

The painted kalesa paraded within the town proper of Tuao to showcase the masterpieces of the students who participated in the contest.

Since its launching, a total of 160 kalesa were already painted with nutrition-related advocacy materials. (MDCT/With reports from Benjamin de Yro/PIA-2)