Grains of Love Program Continues to Sail Nourishment in Inabanga

Following the success of the recently concluded Jing Si Multigrain Supplement program to the children of Sagbayan in February 2026, the Tzu Chi Foundation Bohol has expanded its nutritional outreach program to the municipality of Inabanga on June 28,2026. As children and their parents arrived the covered court of Barangay Cagayan, volunteers conducted registration and recorded each child’s height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference to establish their initial health status.

Prior to the program’s official launch, Tzu Chi volunteers conducted home visits on April 11–12, 2026 to verify beneficiary information and assess each child’s nutritional condition from four barangays in Tungod, Ondol, Lawis, and Sto. Niño. During the visits, volunteers learned about the children’s eating habits and the kinds of food they regularly consumed to better understand their nutritional needs. There are 75 undernourished children identified from the home visit to benefit from the program. Each child received 4 packs of 500 grams Jing Si Multigrain Powder, a pack of chocolate flavored milk, meal kits, and a shirt bearing the Grains of Love project logo. The children also adopted Tzu Chi coin cans and were taught to practice “One good deed a day” at home.

Spearheaded by Tzu Chi Commissioner from Manila, Sister Caroline Uy, the multigrain program aims to keep the children away from truancy in school so they can pursue their aspirations. “The hope of the future rests in our children. When we help them build a strong, healthy body and a grateful heart, we are also helping them move closer to their dreams,” she shared.

She further explained that the Jing Si Multigrain Powder were made and prepared by the monastics at the Jing Si Abode in Hualien. Rich in dietary fiber and plant-based protein, the multigrain is recommended for intake twice daily to support children’s growth and boosts overall health.

Tzu Chi Youth Floss Carmelli Daquio, who previously joined the Sagbayan project, returned this year because of her desire to work with children. She observed that both the children and their parents were eager to learn, especially during the Jing Si Stories sharing. “I realized that we could share what we have learned from Tzu Chi through simple storytelling. Even in small ways, we can give children meaningful lessons,” she shared.

For mother Losita Estose, volunteering is a way of giving back. Her husband previously worked as a carpenter for Tzu Chi’s Happy Home Project, which supported their family during difficult times. Now serving as a volunteer while her own children receive the multigrain, she expressed gratitude for the foundation’s continued assistance. “My wish is that my children will gain more weight and become stronger through the help they are receiving from Tzu Chi” she said.

The program’s impact is also reflected in the experiences of participating families. On June 29, a day after the program’s launch, Tzu Chi volunteers visited the home of sisters Jerlin (7 years old) and Jeralyn Niño (6 years old), both attending Grade 1.

Their mother, Rosalina Niño, recalled how volunteers first visited their home and invited her underweight daughters to become beneficiaries of the program. “I was very happy that we were chosen to be part of the project.” she shared.

Jerlin shared her excitement about receiving the multigrain. “We hope that we will no longer be thin, that we will gain weight and become healthier through the multigrain.”

Another beneficiary, 11-year-old Ma. Lylanie Estose who is a grade 5 student, also expressed optimism. “I am thankful to Tzu Chi because I have been able to taste the multigrain.”

The Jing Si multigrain nutritional program will run for six months through November 2026, with multigrain supplement replenishments and weight and height monitoring every 28 days.

As the Grains of Love continues to sail in Inabanga, volunteers, parents, and beneficiaries share a common hope—that consistent nourishment, regular height and weight monitoring, and community support will help more children grow healthier and build brighter futures.