MANILA, Philippines -- In an awesome public display of maternal affection, hundreds of women of all ages bared their breasts Saturday to nurse their kids in Marikina City to espouse the benefits of "melamine-free" mother's milk.

Almost 600 mothers breastfed their children in public and before cameras at the City Hall Quadrangle in line with the city's celebration of Breastfeeding Week Saturday.

From teenage moms to women of a certain age, the participants let their children -- from three-week-old babies to toddlers as old as six -- suckle in the mass breastfeeding activity.

Organizers said the event, dubbed "Sabay Sabay, Sumuso sa Nanay (Moms breastfeed simultaneously)," was synchronized with similar activities involving thousands of mothers around the world, including those from China, Malaysia, and Singapore, which share the same time zone with the Philippines.

"At first I was feeling a bit shy, but when I saw that there were so many of us here, I was happy to join," said 17-year-old Ruth Quicay, who brought her three-week-old Allyza Rouwin along.

"This is a good cause. More women should realize it's better to breastfeed than use formula," she said.

Belen Lardizabal-Dofitas, a dermatologist, attracted plenty of attention as she nursed Matthew, age six, and already a few feet tall.

"The milk companies have conditioned the minds of the public that breastfeeding should stop at two years. That's not true," Lardizabal-Dofitas said.

She said breastfeeding children for as long as possible would strengthen them not only physically but also emotionally. "It's comforting to him. Whenever he's upset, he runs to me," she said.

The doctor said the stigma attached to nursing older children would disappear over time once more mothers understand the health and emotional wellness brought by mother's milk.

Lardizabal-Dofitas admitted that "other people sometimes make (Matthew) feel embarrassed" but he is more comfortable talking about it to people he is close to.

Rashel Olino, 24, said all her three children were breastfed, including 11-month-old Princess, who happily suckled on her during the event.

"I'm going to allow her to suckle for as long she likes. That was always the case with my other children," she said.

She said she breastfeeds "everywhere."

"Even when I'm outside, in a car or in a mall, I breastfeed her when she asks," she said. "You can't keep your child waiting."

Nona Andaya-Castillo of the Nurturers of the Earth-Philippines said breastfeeding should be seen as something natural and must be allowed in public spaces at all times.

"There have been cases of women being asked to stop nursing their children in airplanes, malls, and other establishments," she said.

But Andaya-Castillo said mothers should be allowed to nurture their children anywhere.

She said her organization is working with malls like SM to set up breastfeeding centers where women can nurse their children freely.

Andaya-Castillo said she was not surprised by the reports about melamine-tainted milk products from China, adding that there had been many instances when manufacturers of milk formula compromised children's health and safety.

She cited several reports of milk formula bearing familiar brand names being tainted with toxic substances.

Mother's milk, on the other hand, poses no danger to children's lives and helps protect their immune system, among other benefits, she said.

Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, who graced the event, said good nutrition should begin in infancy.

"Children who were not breastfed are at risk for some childhood infections. Promoting breastfeeding is one of the major thrusts of our city's Nutrition Center," she said in a statement.