The Department of Education (DepEd) and San Miguel Corporation’s Magnolia Healthy Beverages recently launched the “Healthy Drink Choices” advocacy project at the Chateau 1771 in El Pueblo, Pasig City.

The joint project will produce inspiring and engaging elementary school activity books and interactive modules to help teachers instill the value and benefits of choosing healthy drinks among their pupils. These books shall be given away free initially to over 200,000 children from selected schools nationwide on the first year of the project.

“It’s an honor for the Department of Education to be given this wonderful gift from Magnolia Healthy Beverages because we don’t have such kinds of materials,” said DepEd Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano during the affair. “We understand that our children really need to develop this kind of healthy drink choices at an early age.”

For his part, Magnolia Health Beverage’s top executive Bernard Marquez thanked the Department for the partnership. “We’re glad to be part of the curriculum that promotes health and wellness among children in our school system as our way of giving back to the community. There are a lot of advocacies and programs on healthy food choices,” he remarked. “And we think it’s already time we also advocate healthy drink choices such as juices and teas that are rich in nutrients and minerals essential for a growing child because drink is as important as food.”

The “Healthy Drink Choices” project is part of Magnolia Healthy Beverages’ over all thrust of promoting a sound mind and healthy body among the youth. Just recently, Magnolia also concluded the “Sayaw Barangay” dance competition as an alternative and productive activity among the “batang pinoy”. The “Iba Ang Sigla” school caravan, meanwhile, is an on-going activity for some 160 public schools in Luzon, Cebu, and Davao. The caravan uses interactive games, lectures and the Magnolia Fruitdrink and Healthtea mascots to promote the products’ nutritional value.

SMC launched its line of affordable and ready-to-drink Magnolia teas and juices to give children and health-conscious consumers in general with a nutritious alternative. These products are packed with vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, and B9 and low in sugar.

Aside from Magnolia Fruitdrink and Healthtea, the company’s other non-alcoholic beverages include: Magnolia Purewater, and Magnolia Lifedrink in Papaya and Four Seasons flavours. Magnolia Lifedrink Four Seasons is loaded with Pycnogenol, a premium herbal supplement that result to healthier cells and stronger immune system. Magnolia Lifedrink Papaya, meanwhile, contains glutathione, which helps the skin achieve a youthful, radiant glow.

Also present in the gathering were Magnolia Healthy Beverages’ Executive Assistant Jun Medrano, Sales Manager Manny Factor, Group Product Manager Cecille Caling, and Mary Lindbert International’s CEO Erlinda Legaspi, and Albert Rosal.