Mga Tunay na Bayani - Derrick Ian Lim

It was an unusual concept for me, mainly because as a man I can only understand up to such a degree, the significance of breastfeeding and the connection it creates between mother and child. So arriving at the grounds of the AFP really got me searching and trying to understand the message of who I’ll be taking portraits of.

Upon entering the lobby we were introduced to a company of happy and very energetic ladies (we could hear them laughing from the other room), at first glance looked like any other person you’d meet in your everyday life, but upon hearing their stories later on and why they are participating in this photo shoot project by Breastfeeding Pinays, I realized I’m surrounded by strong women.

During the shoot, my mind struggles to wrap around the idea that someone whose occupation requires them to be tough can have loving care of a mother, it seemed like opposite ends to me. But each one would share to us their stories that range from difficulties of taking care of the family while working for the army, to challenges they encounter while on the field. There was even one who was sharing her story with me while she was breastfeeding her baby while we were seated on the barrel of a tank! The motherly instinct seems to emerge, and these mothers in uniform show us that working and breastfeeding can go together.

I am proud to find that the Philippines is one of the few countries to have a law on breastfeeding at the workplace (RA 10028). A photo exhibit of the same title was held in AFP Medical Center in V. Luna in Quezon City.

A few months ago I got message from a friend that the project we did with Breastfeeding Pinays was featured by UNICEF, Yahoo, and also a mini gallery done by a correspondent in Australia.