“Ayaw Ko Kalimti, ha?”

This scraggly boy was already in Plaza Sugbu even before the Sunday July 27th #Zero Hunger/Malnutrition Cebu event formally commenced.

He came with a number of colored rags he seriously/persistently offered for sale to just about everyone he met.

Even if you said no several times, he would again be at your side, determined to get you to buy his rags. He did this with all his other possible customers.

He carried a small torn paper which he showed to prospective buyers.

“Sige, og mabasa nimo ang nakasuwat dinhi sa imong papel, basig mopalit ko sa imong gibaligya.”

Then, he read what I pointed at – “usa (1) tag P35 pesos, tulo (3) tag P100.”

I gently told him to stay for the event that was for him and other hungry children, that there would be free food for them as well as games with modest gifts.

“Para ni ninyo ang giandam nga pagkaon og duwa.

Panawag og imbita pod sa lain nimong mga kauban, dad-a dinhi sa Plaza.”

Smiling, he quickly ran to fetch his family and friends who, in turn, also asked their family and friends to come for the feeding event dedicated for them.

Other walk-in visitors/passersby were also pleasantly surprised to be offered two types of Pospas and Moringenic-healthy juice, generously donated/prepared by our partners.

Interfaith participants, Ananda Marga and Hare Krishna and HealthyU Foods To Go also prepared very nutritious free food items in their booths.

Lapulapu Cebu International College President, Dr. Grace Gorospe Jamon and team kindly brought pack lunch good for 100 children.

Together with RCE Cebu’s banana leaf-pinutos-lunch, there was delicious, healthy lunch for 400+ children for that event!

This is how our partner, Amitabha of HealthyU Food To Go, described that July 27th collaborative #Zero Hunger/Malnutrition Event: “Plaza Sugbo was transformed into a joyful space for sharing food, laughter, and compassion.

Volunteer groups led interactive games, joyful exchanges, and heartwarming moments—proof that presence is nourishment, too.

Healthy U – Living Well, Living Healthy With the heartful mantra “Food That Loves You Back,” Healthy U sustains its wellness advocacy—nourishing body, mind, and spirit through healing cuisine and regenerative social impact.

The Greatest Love of All Is Love—And Food Is Its Most Tangible Expression.

Food given in love becomes: - Edible grace - A bridge between soul and body - A healer and n quiet teacher of devotion - An act of self-love and sacred giving.

Wellness, Wisdom, Good Food — Good Mood.

Eat Well — Live Well — Live Better.

Echoes of Inner Love: “Because the greatest love of all is happening to me, I found the greatest love of all inside of me...”

This event honored the powerful truth: wellness begins with love, and that love becomes real when we gather, cook, serve, and uplift each other.”

The smiles, gleeful laughter and squeals of the children at play (with USJ-R volunteer, Marilyn Patriarca, Ananda Marga’s Dada Dharma, Lapulapu Cebu International College Team composed of English Professor Mark Rhayen Anderson, Joemari Orbeso, Lyka Alvia, Hannah Canque, Pagtambayayong team and more) made the whole event precious, memorable and so worth it all!

Makabusog sa kasingkasing seeing the joy of serving/feeding, especially our hungry children, with our partners present for the event – our food producers (Agricooph Federation/ Pestales Agriculture Coop/Lamac Multipurpose Coop/Cebu City Farmer Association/more), our healthy-food-interfaith providers- (Ananda Marga/Healthy U’ Vegan & HU Foods To Go/ SPROUT COOP - Economic Well-Being), government agencies (DSWD-7/NNC-7), academe (Lapulapu Cebu City College/USJ-R/Philajames-Cebu), CSOs (Pagtambayayong/RCE-Cebu/All-R-UP/Akbayan), local/global-donors (Mark Chong-Cebu Landmasters, Inc., others), AND, government officials – Cebu Gov. Pam (represented by Atty Ed Lao)/Balamban Mayor Amos Cabahug/Tuburan-Former-Mayor Aljun Diamante/Asturias former-VM.

“Lipay ko kay busog na, nahalinan pa gyud,” Ivan, our Grade 1 child rag vendor shared.

Pinching my arm hard, his parting words to us all: “Ayaw ko kalimti, ha?”