“A good meal nourishes more than the body — it brings families together and gives hope for a better tomorrow.” This was the message of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos as she joined the participants of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) cooking challenge at Quezon City Hall on Monday.

The First Lady was joined by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian at the event where they sampled dishes prepared by regional finalists and handed out awards.

Marcos praised the DSWD’s “Walang Gutom” Program, saying it not only provides nutritious meals to vulnerable Filipino families but also helps them build healthier and more secure lives.

“This is what the ‘Walang Gutom’ Program is all about — helping Filipino families build healthier, more secure lives, one meal at a time,” she said in a social media post.

Gatchalian announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the First Lady awarded each participant in the cooking challenge a P100,000 cash grant.

The “Walang Gutom” Program is the Marcos administration’s flagship anti-hunger initiative aimed at raising food security among low-income households.

Gatchalian expressed hope the competition would inspire more families to participate in livelihood and nutrition programs that could improve their quality of life.

“Hopefully, you can serve as an inspiration for all the families that are looking to improve their lives,” he said.