They are certainly extraordinary women. Not only did they make their country proud when they won in international sporting events, they also served as role models to young mothers who want the best care for their babies.
The Department of Health (DOH) recently hailed former Olympians Christine Jacobs-Sandejas and Bea Lucero-Lhuillier as this year’s Breastfeeding Idols during the National Breastfeeding Month Celebration in SM Mall of Asia. Also present during the event were country representatives Dr. Soe Nyunt-U of WHO and Dr. Davis Colin of UNICEF.
DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque presented Christine and Bea with gold medals for being outstanding athletes with successful and inspirational breastfeeding practices.
"We recognize Christine and Bea not only for their contribution to Philippine sports, but also as wonderful mothers who achieved the gold standard of infant feeding," Sec. Duque said.
Both exclusively breastfed for six months and provided appropriate complementary foods with continuing with breastfeeding their babies.
Knowing the benefits
According to Christine, mother of four kids, she knows how important breastfeeding is for her babies’ health and development. This is why she breastfed all her kids.
"My second child Gabby was almost always attached to me for almost a year and a half because he refused to take teats," says the former swimming sensation. Christine brought home two gold medals in the 1983 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore and competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Christine and Paco are expecting their fifth child due early next year and for sure, she will again breastfeed.
Healthy start in life
Bea acknowledges how breastfeeding gave her kids a healthy start in life.
"All my children were exclusively breastfed for a year," Bea said. "They never touched formula or even powdered milk."
Before Bea became a mother of three with businessman husband Jean Henri Lhuillier, she was known as the Filipina gymnast who grew up before the country’s eyes.
After winning numerous medals in gymnastics at the SEA Games, Bea turned to taekwondo and became a member of the national team. She later won a bronze medal in the featherweight division of the taekwondo competition at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
"We salute Christine, Bea, including Tessa for being an inspiration and model to other mothers," Dr. Soe said. "There is no question that when it comes to their children’s health, they trust breastfeeding to provide the essential nutrients needed for optimal growth and development."
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