Wives of top military officials launch cookbook on camote

MANILA, Philippines - The wives of top military officials will launch a cookbook on camote or sweet potato to support the schooling of the children of ordinary soldiers.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the proceeds of the cookbook would go to the AFP Ladies’ Club fund intended to bankroll the educational needs of soldiers’ children.

The AFP Ladies Club is a social group composed of the wives of military officials.

Burgos said the endeavor seeks to “promote good health and encourage people to make use of sweet potatoes as ingredients to some of the most-loved Filipino recipes.”

The fund-raising project will be led by Concepcion Oban, wife of AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.

“We are targeting to launch it in November so it can be given as gifts this Christmas,” she said in a statement released by the AFP Public Affairs Office.

“I am praying for the success of this cookbook foremost, because we believe in the advocacy. It will be our vehicle for our information campaign about camote. It is good for us, good for our health (and) good for our country.”

Oban said the Ladies Club can only afford to give P8,000 per year to 95 children of enlisted personnel. The aim of the project is to augment the assistance given to the beneficiaries, she said.

Meanwhile, the AFP Ladies Club in cooperation with the Mama Sita Foundation yesterday held a camote festival, planting and cook-off at the Daza Park in Camp Aguinaldo.

The aim of the activity is to provide livelihood opportunities and extra income to the dependents of soldiers. The dishes included in the cook-off would be included in the cookbook.