PRESIDENT Arroyo has conferred the title ?Breastfeeding Queen of the Philippines? to German doctor Susann Roth, who has been living here and promoting breastfeeding to fight malnutrition and hunger.

She also awarded the ?Breastfed Princess? title to Mikaela Fudolig and Sierra Isabelle Castillo, and the Breastfed Prince title to the Tagala brothers, all of whom were not exposed to formula milk.

The President said she also breastfed Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo, and Luli Arroyo-Bernas. She underscored the importance of breastfeeding to ensure children?s well-being, emotional stability and intellectual development.

Roth, 32, is finishing her Masters in Public Health at the University of the Philippines. She breastfed her two children?four-month old Lillan Julie and two-year-old Joelle Sophie?simultaneously.

Fudolig made history when she graduated summa cum laude from the same school in 2007 at the age of 16. She was only 11 when she entered college, and she is now teaching at the university?s physics institute.

UP student Castillo, 20, is a soprano of the world-famous UP Singing Ambassadors. She was breastfed by her mother and grandmother.

The Tagala brothers comprise the band Vegeterian Voices and Violins. Daniel plays the cello, David the viola, Jimmy Jr. and Samuel the violin, and Jonathan the flute, saxophone, guitar and piano.

Health Department data show that the Philippines is among many countries where the death of children under five years old is prevalent.

The department says those deaths could have been prevented if the children had been breastfed during the first six months after birth, given complementary feeding for six months, and continued to be breastfed for at least two years.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has signed an agreement with the Children for Breastfeeding Inc. to promote breastfeeding in schools.

?Breastfeeding is the most far-reaching and cheapest poverty alleviation strategy,? he said.

The Philippines celebrates National Breastfeeding Awareness Month every August and observes World Breastfeeding Week in all public schools from Aug. 1 to 7. Joyce Pangco Pa?ares