September 19, 2026
Veg-Up! expands to Lakan Dula High School as second partner school
By Thania Florendo
High school students at Lakan Dula High School (LDHS) in Tondo, Manila, crowded the Veg-Up! booth on September 17 as Tzu Chi staff and volunteers introduced plant-based versions of familiar Filipino favorites—salpicao, tocino, and Bicol Express. In less than two hours, every tasting sample was gone.
Following its July launch at Philippine Normal University, the Good Food Shift movement expanded to its second partner school, bringing its 40% plant-based menu initiative to LDHS.
Held alongside the LDHS club fair, the Veg-Up! booth drew students eager to taste the dishes and take part in interactive games centered on sustainability and caring for the Earth.
The event offered a simple introduction to plant-based eating: familiar flavors, a new way of preparing them, and a chance to see that eating more vegetables can be both accessible and enjoyable. The photo booth and pledge board encouraged students to reflect on their food choices and express their willingness to take part in the movement.
For parent Anne Apdua, 40, who has two children in Grade 8, the plant-based dishes offered a practical option for families. She shared that she tries to limit processed food in her children’s meals.
After tasting the samples, she particularly liked the tocino. “It will be a good option for my children when buying lunch, especially on days when I can’t prepare nutritious meals for them,” she said.
Grade 10 student leader Hayley Diaz Palmes also saw an opportunity to bring healthier food choices into student activities. As vice president of Future Homemakers Philippines, a co-curricular club focused on home economics, practical livelihood skills, and culinary arts, she hopes to incorporate healthier eating habits into the club’s future products and events.
“Eating vegetables and supporting this plant-based movement will benefit us students. We can have more energy since we do a lot of stuff the whole day, and we can live longer,” she said.
For teacher Emily Q. Mesina of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, the initiative hits close to home. As a parent of two, she said getting her children to eat vegetables can be a challenge, making school an important venue to introduce them to healthier food choices.
“The students are receptive to this, and we will definitely support this. I hope that in the future, Veg-Up! will be present in more schools,” she said, while looking forward to improved service and a wider menu.
The plant-based viands will soon be available at the LDHS canteen, giving students the chance to make them part of their everyday meals. As Veg-Up! reaches more partner schools and young people, each tasting booth opens the door to a bigger shift.
Adding more vegetables may seem like a simple choice, but what we eat can be one of the most powerful climate actions within our reach. Veg-Up! hopes to show students that choosing plant-based food doesn't have to be difficult or restrictive. It can be flavorful, filling, fun, and a choice they can make every day.
Veg-Up! moves to its second partner school, Lakan Dula High School in Tondo, Manila, opening the door to influence the food choices of hundreds and potentially thousands of students.
The Veg-Up! team poses for a group photo during the preparations for the booth ahead of the school’s club fair.