“More Milk, Please!” with LANDBANK and their Employee Wellness Program

There’s always something inspiring about companies or organizations that actively pursue (and not just promote) the welfare and well-being of their people. I discovered that one such organization is LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, when they recently had me as main guest speaker for their breastfeeding forum at the LANDBANK PLAZA.

I’m here at the LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES main office in Manila for their Breastfeeding Forum… “More Milk, Please!”

I found the title of the forum “More Milk, Please!” cute and very catchy. Apparently, the forum was formerly held annually in August during breastfeeding month but was soon approved to be held more frequently on a semestral basis. The forum was also part of LANDBANK’s ILive Wellness Program, a platform for giving their employees opportunities to achieve optimum health and an environment conducive to the pursuit of wellness.

I was more than glad to be on-board this project. Interestingly, the organizers just got my name from Google, and was able to reach me after placing only several calls. See, I am not that hard to find! I learned later on that since the last breastfeeding forum in August, there was a strong clamor coming from the employees to hold another one.I realized there really is a big gap that needs to be filled as far as breastfeeding education is concerned. There will always be new moms out there, even the ones on their second or third baby, who will need answers and guidance.

Overseeing the proceedings (and making me feel welcome) were Dr. Michaela Ramos, an Internist, and Head for LANDBANK’s Employee Wellness Unit and Ms. Gemma Sanchez, Employees Department Assistant and Coordinator for the ILive Wellness Program.

So this most recent forum had 29 mom-attendees. The most attended by far, as what I was told. Out of the 29, four were expectant moms and the rest were still lactating (expressing milk and nursing at night).

The forum in full swing

LANDBANK, obviously, is also a big supporter of breastfeeding or mother’s milk for infants.Their facility comes with a 2-cubicle breastfeeding station. Moms have access to this station if they need to express milk and there’s a freezer to store them. What more – they have a day care center in the premises. Employees who cannot afford to leave their kids at home can bring them to work and relegate their care to the teachers there. I couldn’t help but admire the extent they go to just to meet the wellness, recreational and (even) spiritual needs of their employees.

I moved around so everyone can experience my touch and the relaxing feeling that comes from getting their ‘lactation points’ pressed. I was instantly rewarded when I heard them said, “Masarap! Relaxing!” Everyone was saying “I will teach my husband/my older kids to do this to me!”

Yours truly (seated holding the certificate of appreciation I received from LANDBANK) with the forum organizers and employee-participants.

Also, joining me were my super supportive sponsors: VMV HYPOALLERGENICS AND PASCUAL LAB (PROLACTA AND POTEN-CEE).

Top photo shows one of LANDBANK’S glam-mamas expressing milk at the Breastfeeding Station right after attending the breastfeeding forum. Right photo shows the Station’s freezer for storing the expressed milk. Below, I am beside an announcement poster for their breastfeeding forum!

I’d say we had a very engaging and lively forum. I was able to share a lot of invaluable points about breastfeeding, and again, seeing the looks on the moms’ faces, they must have picked up a lot too! What an exhilarating experience! To God be the glory!

GALLERY