When Chef Tatung Sarthou and his team at Simpol accepted recognition at the 21st Philippine Quill Awards, the honor wasn’t just for a campaign. It was a validation of the values that guide the platform: food should be simple, never careless—and through food, Filipino families can find strength. This Simpol Quill Awards win truly signifies the platform’s commitment to impactful communication.
The award recognized “Gulay vs. Goolai: Educating Homemakers About Alternative Sources of Nutrition.” The campaign launched in 2022, during a surge in food prices. It offered homemakers practical ways to stretch budgets while keeping meals healthy. In just two months, it reached over 123,000 people and generated more than 4,000 engagements.
The Collaboration
In its second run, Simpol partnered with PageOne, one of the Philippines’ most awarded PR and communications agencies. PageOne brought its media network and expertise in social marketing. Their work amplified the campaign’s reach and helped deepen its impact, contributing significantly to the Simpol Quill Awards win.
What began as a series of posts grew into a movement. Homemakers started sharing recipes and budget tricks. One mother called malunggay her “secret weapon” for feeding three children. Another described stretching one fish into two meals.
“In Simpol, we believe cooking must be simple—especially when you pour your heart into it,” Chef Tatung said. “Encouraging homemakers to create healthy, affordable meals gives me great joy. And with partners like PageOne, we’re able to grow this into a movement that benefits millions.”
Why It Matters
The World Food Programme Philippines reports that one in ten households is food insecure. More than half of their income goes to food. Inflation makes resilience a daily necessity.
Simpol’s philosophy meets that reality in everyday kitchens. It shows up when leftover rice becomes garlic sinangag. It lives in the way a handful of greens stretches a pot of broth into a family meal, which are principles recognized in their Simpol Quill Awards win.
The Philippine Quill Awards are among the country’s most respected honors in communication. They recognize projects that create real and lasting impact. For Simpol, being celebrated alongside leading institutions affirms that food content can do more than entertain. It can educate, empower, and connect, as demonstrated by their prestigious Quill Awards win.
Looking Ahead
This is exactly where Simpol is headed. More than recipes, the platform is evolving into a guide for modern Filipino living—where food, culture, and community meet with intelligence, warmth, and relevance.
For Chef Tatung, that is the real achievement. “Gulay vs. Goolai” was never just about vegetables. It proved that with knowledge and creativity, Filipino homemakers can rise to daily challenges. The campaign reflects the values at the heart of Simpol—and signals what the platform is becoming after their Simpol Quill Awards victory.
With its philosophy as compass, Simpol is building a future where Filipino food knowledge is preserved, passed on, and reimagined—meal by meal, household by household, continuing the legacy of their Quill Awards win.
