Happy Hollow National High School in the Philippines has won the “Healthy Eating Award” at the third annual AIA Healthiest Schools (AHS) Regional Competition, marking the country’s first win in the Asia Pacific contest.
The Baguio City school, recognized as a farm school by the Department of Education in 2024, was awarded for its Project O.R.G.A.N.I.C. (Offering Resources of Growing Agri-product and Nutrition in Community).
The seven-month initiative, led by teacher Aries Busacay and 168 Grade 12 students, integrates organic farming, nutrition education and vocational training. It empowers students to grow their own food, improve their diets and develop valuable employability skills.
“We’re incredibly proud of Happy Hollow National High School for their pioneering Project ORGANIC and for being the first school from the Philippines to win at the AIA Healthiest Schools Competition,” said Melissa Henson, chief marketing officer at AIA Philippines.
“Their commitment to sustainability and healthy living mirrors our purpose to help more people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. This win highlights the creativity and passion of our educators and young changemakers, and we’re excited to expand this program to reach more schools nationwide,” she said.
Happy Hollow students cultivated mustasa (mustard greens) using recycled containers and organic farming methods.
They also organized feeding programs with their harvest and hosted workshops on planting and harvesting techniques. Beyond reduced malnourishment, AIA Philippines noted the project’s “most notable outcomes” were increased student engagement, skill development and a stronger culture of sustainability within the school community. Some students also pursued TESDA certifications, boosting employability.
The AHS Competition, a flagship initiative of Hong Kong-based multinational insurer AIA Group’s AIA Healthiest Schools program, equips students aged five to 16 with resources to promote healthier lifestyles.
The competition challenges participants to address four core areas — healthy eating, active living, mental wellbeing, and sustainability. Now in its third year, the competition has become one of Asia Pacific’s most prominent platforms for recognising schools that are transforming student health outcomes.
Since its launch, AIA Healthiest Schools has expanded to eight Asia Pacific markets, reaching thousands of students and teachers. This year’s competition featured 16 schools from across the region and awarded a total prize pool of $100,000 to support ongoing health and wellbeing projects. All awards were presented during a gala night held on July 3 in Da Nang, Vietnam.
“The AIA Healthiest Schools Competition is about recognizing outstanding projects and sparking movements that create a positive impact reaching far beyond the classroom,” said Stuart Spencer, AIA Group chief marketing officer.
San Diego Elementary School in Quezon City was also a Philippine finalist in the regional competition for the Primary School category, with a project on healthy eating and sustainable gardening.
UPTD SD Negeri Papela from Indonesia was the AHS Regional Competition’s overall regional winner for its project, Ecolitera: The Trash Tells a Story, which aims to turn everyday waste into tools for learning while teaching about sustainability.
Other notable category winners included Tessaban 1 Kittikachorn School from Thailand for Health and Sustainability, SMP Negeri 43 Bandung from Indonesia for Mental Well-being and Jaffna Hindu College from Sri Lanka for Active Lifestyles.
The 2025/26 AIA Healthiest Schools program will include Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
