For over three decades, Tina Negrillo Ramilloza, the dedicated and passionate Nutrition Officer of the Local Government Unit of Diffun, has become a household name in health and nutrition advocacy.
Fondly dubbed as TINA, short for Tailored Iconical Nutrition Advocate, she has tirelessly championed the cause of better nutrition and healthier lives for every Diffunian.
With unwavering passion and love for her work, Tina’s 32-year journey in nutrition began with a simple goal: to ensure that no one in her community is left behind in the fight against malnutrition.
Her commitment to nutrition started humbly as a preschool teacher in a private school in Nueva Vizcaya shortly after graduating from college. As a BS Industrial Education graduate majoring in Food Trades, Tina was already deeply concerned about the nutrition of the children under her care — paying close attention to food preparation, nutrition facts, and proper packaging to help prevent malnutrition.
“I always believed that a healthy body breeds a healthy mind,” she said.
When she joined the LGU Diffun as Nutrition Officer I in 1993 and was designated as Head of the Municipal Nutrition Office, Tina’s advocacy expanded. She soon realized that a healthy life begins even before birth. This insight led her to design and implement programs aimed at supporting pregnant and lactating mothers, ensuring that children would receive proper nutrition during their crucial first 1,000 days of life.
“When I assumed the role, I saw alarming numbers of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women, overweight government employees, and infants lacking adequate breastmilk. I knew we had to act,” Ramilloza recalled.
Despite limited resources, Tina did not falter. She mobilized community support, partnered with civic groups, and spearheaded innovative nutrition projects that would later become models for other municipalities.
Inspired by the biblical manna, food from heaven, Tina introduced the Project MANA (Mama at Anak), which aims to provide dietary supplementation for nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women. With high-protein food such as eggs, full cream milk, and folic acid distributed during the first trimester, Project MANA symbolizes a journey of health, hope, and new life.
“Every pregnancy is a journey to a promised gift — a baby, the bundle of hope in every family,” Tina expressed.
She was also behind the project W.A.T.C.H. (Weight Always Tells how you Care for your Health), a workplace wellness initiative that aims to reduce obesity and overweight cases among government employees, fostering a self-disciplined and health-conscious workforce.
“Overweight and obesity increase the risk of non-communicable diseases like heart ailments, diabetes, and some cancers,” she emphasized, echoing the World Health Organization’s findings.
With a caring heart for the newborns, she also led the Collection and Giving of Breastmilk Project, an initiative to collect surplus breastmilk from nursing mothers and store it in a dedicated breastfeeding room in the municipality. The project has saved lives — most notably Baby Athena Miracle Lapurga, an infant born via C-section moments after her mother succumbed to a snake bite. For six months, the breastmilk collected through this program became the lifeline of Baby Miracle.
The project also supports NICU babies, preemies, and infants with limited oxygen supply. Tina personally coordinates milk collection and delivery, ensuring no baby is left hungry.
A dedicated Facebook page, BreastfeeDIFFUN Mommies, was also launched to streamline donor communication.
Tina’s dedication has never wavered. From barangay visits to one-on-one mentoring with mothers, she remains grounded in her mission — educating caregivers and nurturing a healthier generation.
Her rise from Nutrition Officer I (1993–2017), Nutrition Officer II (2017–2022), to Nutrition Officer III (2022–present), and now as Municipal Nutrition Action Officer for Programs and Operations is a testament to her exemplary public service.
Tina’s efforts have earned her numerous awards such as Model Employee (Provincial Level) – 1997, Outstanding Municipal Employee – 1998, Outstanding Alumna in Nutrition (QSU) – 1998, Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator (MNPC) – 1997, Outstanding Regional MNPC – 2020 & 2021, National Contender for Outstanding Nutrition Program Coordinator – 2020, CSC Pagasa Award (Individual Category) – 2023, and Outstanding Constituent (Kailyan) Awardee – 53rd Araw ng Quirino.
Under her leadership, LGU Diffun also received the Green Banner Award (Outstanding Municipality) – 2017–2018 and the Green Banner Seal of Compliance – 2019 (NNC Region 2).
Beyond her official capacity, Tina lives her advocacy through faith and community work. As the wife of Minister Rosito Ramilloza, Head Pastor of the Philippine General Council of the Assemblies of God, she continues to extend her mission through church initiatives.
In 2014, she was elected President of “Women of Hope,” an organization under their church focused on women’s and children’s welfare. She now serves as its adviser. She also helps women access government services and support systems to protect them from nutrition-related vulnerabilities.
Raised as the seventh of nine children in a humble family in Bannawag, Diffun, Tina knows the realities of poverty firsthand. Often going to school with an empty stomach, her perseverance never waned. She walked long distances to attend school and eventually became a volleyball athlete representing CAVRAA and SCUAA.
She earned her degree through hard work, support from her family, and a scholarship grant from the Cuaresma Foundation. She graduated with the Best in Shop award in 1992.
“All the blessings I have today, I owe to my parents, Eduardo (deceased) and Lucena, who taught us resilience through life’s hardships,” she shared.
Tina Ramilloza is more than just a public servant — she is a woman of compassion, faith, and enduring commitment to community health. Her journey is a shining example of how one person’s dedication can inspire change, save lives, and nurture hope across generations. Indeed, TINA is not just an acronym. It is a legacy. (TCB/PIA Quirino)
