Hakab Na Laguna 2016

In my 18 months of breastfeeding my little Queen B, I was only asked not to nurse in an area once. It was during our visit in the National Museum last May when a security guard told me that breastfeeding is not allowed inside the gallery. Georgina, who was actually nursing under a cover, was almost done with her feeding back then so I no longer insisted on my right to breastfeed in public.

Here in the Philippines according to RA 10028, also known as the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, mothers are allowed to breastfeed in public. Other countries all over the world have a similar law. Yet every day, there are still nursing mothers who were discriminated, ridiculed, and shamed for breastfeeding in public. This is why on a course of two days during World Breastfeeding Week nursing women gather in various locations around the world to simultaneously breastfeed their children for 1 minute. This event is known as the Big Latch On. One of its aims is to normalize breastfeeding.

I, along with my little Queen B, attended the Big Latch On 2016 gathering organized by Modern Moms of Laguna, an online group of Laguna-based mothers who advocates breastfeeding as well as babywearing and cloth diapering. Hakab Na (Filipino for Latch On) Laguna 2016 was held last August 6, Saturday at the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna. The founders of Modern Moms of Laguna were the same beautiful and hardworking mothers who organized the previous year’s Hakab Na Laguna (Please read here for my Hakab Na Laguna 2015 experience.).

Most participants were pre-registered. The registration fee of 200 Php was inclusive of a baby t-shirt, a photobooth picture (I love the set-up!!!), a loot bag, a raffle stub, and the mommy’s packed lunch. Walk-ins were also welcomed though not all were able to receive a loot bag.

Treats for Mommy and Baby - our loot bag contents. 

Part of the program was two talks about breastfeeding. The first speaker is Mommy Rowi Rizala, a LATCH peer counselor. She shared to us her difficult yet very rewarding breastfeeding journey with her twins who were born prematurely. I honestly can’t imagine myself going through what she had gone through with her babies. She is indeed an inspiration not only to breastfeeding moms but to other mothers as well with her strength, resilience, and grace.

Mommy Rowa Rizala, babywearing one of her twins while sharing her experiences to us. What a supermom!

The second speaker is Dr. Ronet Cunanan. She discussed to us the science behind breastmilk and breastfeeding. She also talked about the common discomforts a nursing mother can expect on her first few weeks of breastfeeding. Dr. Cunanan also tackled the connection of breastfeeding with transmission of HIV. Based on various studies, the transmission rate of HIV via breastmilk is low and most breastfed babies of HIV-positive mothers do not become infected.

The most important part of the program is, of course, the latching of hundreds of babies and toddlers to their mothers. As I have experienced last year, it is very liberating to breastfeed in public without the use of a nursing cover. But like last year, my ever curious Georgina only latched for about 10 seconds. She was more interested in watching all the commotion around her. Well, that is why we need a nursing cover. My little Queen easily gets distracted!

There is also a mini-bazaar during the event. There are various sellers (majority are mompreneurs) of mommy and baby products. I was able to buy a world map sticker for my little Queen B’s room.

Babybits Playschool and Tutorial Center also have a play area set-up for the little participants. Georgina enjoyed her play time there with her cousin Ate Aki who accompanied us since Daddy J can’t. 

Our little Queen B's very happy face. 

Making the event more fun is the raffle draw. Majority if not all participants were able to receive a prize. This year, I won a cloth diaper for my little Queen B. Speaking for all the participants, thank you very much to all the generous sponsors of the raffle prizes.

Again, congratulations, thank you, and keep up the good work to the founders of Modern Moms of Laguna. The more than a hundred percent increase in attendance of the event is a testament to the hard work and diligence you have exerted. For sure, we will need a bigger venue next year. Even if my little Queen B is already weaned from the breast by that time, I will attend.

Knowledge, support system, determination, and prayers – for me these are the keys to a successful breastfeeding journey. The Hakab Na 2016 is a great avenue for one to enhance her knowledge in breastfeeding and to meet other breastfeeding mothers who can be part of one’s support system and maybe even become lifelong friends.

#xoxo