Beat the Init with Chowking's Halo-Halo Supreme

As Filipinos often exclaim, "Tag-init nanaman!" In the Philippines, the transition from the cool season to the hot, dry one signals the beginning of summer—a season eagerly awaited by many who flock to beaches, bask in the sun, and seek comfort in cool, icy desserts. For most Filipinos, summer isn't complete without Halo-Halo, the ultimate heat-beater. Kapag summer, hindi lang lamig ang hanap, kundi malamig na masarap!

Today, Halo-Halo has become a staple dessert across the country, enjoyed by Filipinos at any time of the day, whether with loved ones or alone, as a treat, or as part of any celebration.

Among Filipino favorites is Chowking’s Halo-Halo Supreme, offering a fully loaded assortment of Sangkap—from luscious leche flan to rich ube halaya, delightful red sago,  pandan jelly, and the richest ube ice cream, alongside other delightful additions! To make the heat more bearable, Chowking presents its Halo-Halo Supreme in a new Salo-Salo Size, a generous serving meant to be shared by 4 to 6 people when dining in at Chowking’s branches—a perfect opportunity to bond with friends and loved ones. With its burst of flavors from the ingredients and the refreshing coolness from the ice, Chowking’s Halo-Halo Supreme is the perfect dessert to wrap up any meal, reminding us that the best is indeed saved for last!

But wait—there’s more to look forward to this upcoming summer season!

Chowking ushered in summer vibes this past Saturday, May 4, 2024, with the celebration of their Halo-Halo Land at SM Mall of Asia. The event featured a special guest performance by Multimedia Idol and Chinita Princess, Kim Chiu. Guests were treated to an immersive cube capturing all the fun and flavorful elements of Chowking’s Halo-Halo along with a DIY Halo-Halo Van.

Chowking's Halo-Halo Land is also rolling into SM City Davao on May 18th and 19th! Mark your calendars and prepare for a weekend packed with exciting activities for the whole family.

Beat the heat with a sweet deal! 

To celebrate, Chowking is offering a special Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal on their Halo-Halo Supreme (Small size, ala carte)! This exclusive offer is valid ONLY on May 5, 2024 (5.5), so don't miss out. Enjoy your favorite refreshing treat via Dine-In, Take-Out, Drive-Thru, or Delivery.

For more information about Chowking, visit www.facebook.com/ChowkingPH on Facebbok and https://www.instagram.com/ChowkingPH on Instagram.

Chowking is the #1 Chinese QSR in the Philippines since 1985. In 2000, the Jollibee Group, one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world, acquired Chowking and placed it under its Fresh N' Famous Foods subsidiary.

5th State of Snacking Report Released

Mondelēz International - a leading snacking company in the Philippines and behind top brands like Oreo, Tiger biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Toblerone, Tang, Eden Cheese, and Cheez Whiz - announced the release of its fifth annual State of Snacking report. A global study on consumer trends, the report annually breaks down insights on consumers’ preferences when they make snacking decisions. In collaboration with The Harris Poll, one of the US’ prominent public opinions think tanks, the report is part of Mondelēz International’s commitment to lead the future of snacking. 

The Evolving Consumer Mindset and Mindful Snacking

Compared to five years ago, findings from this year’s report show that consumers are now paying more attention to mindfulness, with data showing 64% of consumers are paying more attention to their hunger or fullness levels and 57% focusing on the time and pace of how they enjoy snacking. As part of empowering consumers to snack right, Mondelēz International promotes the following to be more mindful in snacking:

• Knowing what you want and need emotionally and functionally.

• Being aware of your portion size and moderating it.

• Enjoying and appreciating your snacks with all senses (e.g., taste, feel, smell).

• Being present in the moment and avoiding distractions while snacking.

• Being aware of your hunger, fullness, and satisfaction.

• Reflecting on your whole eating experience.

In alignment with these tips, the report highlights consumers are agreeing to snack more mindfully – recognizing that snacks have a role to play in a healthy diet to meet a variety of perceived health benefits such as boosting their energy (75%), improving their mood (74%), and enjoying snacks that align with their fitness goals (70%). 

Snacking Curation

In addition, the State of Snacking report also shows that snacks remain a priority for consumers especially those from the Asia Pacific region. In eight out of ten (8/10) Asian consumers, they report actively discussing  snacking preferences within their circles; this is in comparison to 74% of global consumers overall.

Complementing the behavior of consumers to curate their snacking habits, the report also found that social media plays a crucial role in defining Asians’ snacking behavior, with consumers more likely to utilize social media to learn more information about snacking (66% vs. 56% total).

Snacking with Purpose

Consumers are also snacking more purposely, with over two-thirds of them agreeing that they often choose brands that align with their values, like Mondelēz International’s brands whose snacks align with their environmental priorities. This is especially true with the insight that 67% of consumers surveyed agree that they prioritize snacks that have less plastic packaging.

“Purpose has always been at the core of our business. Aside from leading the future of snacking, we’re also in the business of providing the right snack, for the right moment, and made the right way. We’re proud of our work here at Mondelēz International. Our role of providing consumers with their household favorites while being able to contribute to our collective duty to help the world is the reason our colleagues work tirelessly every day.” ~Aleli Arcilla, Mondelēz International’s Managing Director in the Philippines

As part of its efforts to support the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law, Mondelēz International has taken steps to use less and better packaging and help improve diversion systems where it operates. In 2023 alone, the Company collected and diverted 100% of its post-consumer plastic packaging – beyond of the requirements of the EPR Law.

To learn more about the State of Snacking, the report is published and available at Mondelēz International’s website: www.mondelezinternational.com/stateofsnacking.

About Mondelēz International

Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world with 2023 net revenues of approximately $36 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

 

About Mondelez Philippines 

Mondelez Philippines, Inc. has been providing consumers with delicious snack products for the past 61 years - since 1963. Its product portfolio includes Tang powdered beverages, Eden cheese, mayonnaise and sandwich spread, Cheez Whiz spread, Oreo cookies, Tiger energy biscuits, as well as Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. The company employs about 450 people in the Philippines, with a manufacturing facility in Parañaque City. Visit https://ph.mondelezinternational.com/home.

Mang Inasal's Marilao Commissary Achieves Zero-Waste to Landfill Status

While all Jollibee Group-owned and brand commissaries are already engaged in their own waste reduction efforts, Mang Inasal Marilao commissary is the first site to reach a 100% Zero Waste to Landfill status in 2023. Their concerted waste reduction efforts include co-processing residual waste (as seen in the photo) as alternative fuel for cement production.

Consistent with efforts to bolster its sustainability practices, the Jollibee Group notes a significant milestone in one of its brands in the strengthened implementation of its Corporate Supply Chain Sustainability Program that covers 11 company-owned commissaries and one logistics facility across the country. 

The holistic program targets to fulfill extensive energy and water efficiency, and waste reduction goals and initiatives in alignment with the Jollibee Group’s Joy For Tomorrow sustainability agenda.

Taking the waste reduction effort further is Mang Inasal’s (MI) Marilao Commissary which achieved Zero Waste to Landfill Status in 2023. To achieve this, the MI Marilao Commissary efforts included repurposing and recycling scrap waste, converting organic waste into compost, and co-processing residual waste as alternative fuel for cement production.

During the 2020 baseline year, MI Marilao Commissary has sustainably disposed of 53% of its total waste. With the leaders and the team’s dedication and teamwork, the site has gradually increased its sustainable disposal to 85% in 2021, 91% in 2022, and 97% at the start of 2023 before reaching 100% status by June of 2023. 

Sustainability achievements 

Waste Reduction is one of the focus areas of the Jollibee Group’s global sustainability agenda whose goals include reducing food loss and waste to landfill in the manufacturing process. These goals were set to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly “Responsible Consumption and Production” (Goal #12).  

“We prioritize recovering, reusing, and recycling waste that contribute to the creation of a more sustainable food system, ensuring that we can continue to nourish and sustain our communities and our planet for future generations." ~Jose Miñana Jr., Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer at the Jollibee Group, underscored the company’s proactive approach to integrating sustainable waste management practices into operations

Waste Reduction is one of the focus areas of the Jollibee Group’s global sustainability agenda whose goals include reducing food loss and waste to landfill in the manufacturing process.

“The results achieved by Mang Inasal’s Marilao Commissary will be our benchmark for waste reduction implementation across all Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the country, consistent with our commitment to maximize use of resources and reduce our impact on the environment.” ~Michael Ong, Vice President and Head of Supply Chain at Jollibee Group

With its continued commitment to sustainable business practices, the Jollibee Group manufacturing sites across the country achieved a cumulative 42.8% reduction in waste-generated ratio last year compared to the company’s 2020 baseline. By the end of 2023, over 51% of its waste was disposed through sustainable means, a significant increase from 39.7% in 2021. 

About Jollibee Group 

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,900 stores across 33 countries. 

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 92% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. The Company also established a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. Recently, the Jollibee Group signed agreements to own 10% ownership in Botrista, a leader in the beverage technology space.  The Company also owns a 90% participating interest in Titan Dining Partners II Ltd to further grow Asia Pacific food service brands and/or bring strong global food service brands to Asia Pacific.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the Company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The Company is also a three-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award and was recently cited in TIME’s List of the World’s Best Companies.  

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

LCF gears up for technology-focused CSR Conference and Expo 2024

LCF gears up for technology-focused CSR Conference and Expo 2024

To help corporates bring about an Inclusive Future through harnessing CSR and ESG

In the face of rapid technological advancements and innovations including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) has embarked on a mission to help corporates harness the vast potential of technology, using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, for the benefit of society. 

LCF is gearing up for the 2024 CSR Conference and Expo—the highly anticipated annual event—which will take place on July 3 to 4 at Dusit Thani Manila, Makati City. 

Aptly themed “Reimagining a New and Inclusive Future”, this year’s CSR Expo will delve into technology, AI and digitalization and will explore how the principles of CSR and ESG can be utilized by corporates to make these technologies truly inclusive. This event aims to help corporates work to ensure that the positive impacts of technology outweigh the negative, in order to benefit the 51% of Filipinos living in poverty. 

The LCF CSR Expo will also provide corporates the opportunity to understand and discuss how AI and other revolutionary technologies can contribute to societal and national development, particularly in advancing health services, resilience, livelihood, education, and financial and cultural diversity and inclusivity.

“The 2024 Conference will imagine a future where people and communities can harness the power of technology, AI, and the digital space, including the careful implementation of AI and other new technologies to form a truly new and inclusive future if aligned with CSR and ESG principles at the outset.” ~Sebastian C. Quiniones, LCF Chair and Executive Director, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc.

A venue for cross-sectoral collaboration

The 2024 CSR Expo expects to bring together over 200 participants, including corporates, actors in social development space, and technology firms that will co-create solutions aimed at achieving meaningful and collective impact. 

“The League’s stand is that technological innovations can be properly harnessed, such that their ill effects upon society can be mitigated; and that technology offers an abiding opportunity for corporate collaboration, whether between corporates or with other sectors, to achieve monumental and lasting impact upon societal challenges both new and old.” ~Shem Jose W. Garcia, LCF Vice-Chair and Executive Director, Vivant Foundation, Inc.  

Outstanding CSR initiatives

LCF is also set to announce the winners of the 2024 Guild Awards on the evening of July 3 at Dusit Thani Manila. The awards program upholds exemplary CSR initiatives undertaken by  LCF members.

For the first time, the League will also be awarding the CSR Medal of Recognition to non-members to acknowledge the work and effort they provide in their respective communities. The Medal of Recognition celebrates the interventional activities of non-members, including Chambers of Commerce, Jaycees, Rotary, Kiwanis, and Top 1000 companies, among others. This special award will recognize the efforts of businesses in seven thematic areas: Arts and Culture, Disaster Resilience, Education, Environment, Enterprise Development, Financial Inclusion, and Health. 

The 2024 CSR Expo will also have a concurrent exhibit at the Glorietta Activity Center on July 4 to 5, highlighting exemplary CSR initiatives undertaken by LCF members and non-members alike. At least 50 exhibitors are to participate in the exhibit. The Medal of Recognition Awarding Ceremony will also be held at the conclusion of the exhibit. 

Established in 1991, LCF is a network of operating and grant-making corporate and family foundations and corporations in the Philippines. The League has continued to be at the forefront of promoting and enhancing CSR practice among its members and the larger business community in the country. Visit the LCF homepage at lcf.org.ph and the 2024 Conference and Expo microsite at bit.ly/2024CSRExpo.  

Ivana Alawi on loving the 100W fast-charging, living free with Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G

With 100W Fast Charge + 20W Wireless Charge, Ivana is able to charge the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G at rapid speeds to watch content, take selfies, and more.

Ivana Alawi isn’t shy about living her life online. The 27-year-old beauty is one of the most subscribed YouTube vloggers in the Philippines with over 17 million subscribers and counting. She’s also active on Instagram, sharing snippets of her personal and work life to her 10 million followers.

Despite Ivana’s jam-packed schedule juggling between creating content and shooting TV shows, like Batang Quiapo, she’s still able to live freely. It’s all thanks to her reliable smartphone, the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G.

“I do everything on my phone, as in! I have meetings on my phone and read comments on my posts. I also watch a lot of other creators’ content and my own TV shows. Kaya sobrang ganda ng Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G because I can do all of this. Gusto ko talaga yung fast charging. I always shoot videos and take photos on my phone, kaya lagi akong lowbatt. With the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G, I can use it kahit naka-charge sya kasi meron din syang MagCase and MagPad. I’m so happy that I was able to try the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G and I loved it. It’s very affordable and has really high specs, so I recommend this to anyone who relies on their phone for their everyday tasks.” ~Ivana Alawi

The Infinix NOTE 40 Pro Series is designed to power up users’ lifestyles with its groundbreaking 100W All-Round Fast Charge 2.0 and 20W Wireless Charge. These features are perfect for Ivana, who is also the newest Infinix brand ambassador, because she can quickly charge her phone whenever the battery gets low. With Hyper Mode, she’s able to charge up to 50% in just 8 minutes.

YouTube vlogger and actress Ivana Alawi has everything on her phone. Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G’s fast charging lets her live freely and worry-free.

Vlogger-approved

Apart from its fast-charging capabilities, the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G is ideal for streaming and creating content. Ivana says the clear 108MP main camera and 32MP front camera is “really handy for my selfies and vlogs.” The phone’s 3D-Curved 120Hz AMOLED Display Corning® Gorilla® Glass also makes it easier to check her shots and watch content in hi-res 1080p quality.

The Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G runs with a Dimensity 7020 5G Chipset processor with up to 24GB Extended RAM to ensure that it runs smoothly. Its stylish colorways–Vintage Green and Obsidian Black–make it a nice accessory while taking OOTDs.

Ivana is happy and grateful that she has found a smartphone that can keep up with her busy schedule and lets her live life with no battery issues dragging her down. So much so that even her family has started using Infinix as well.

She adds that it’s also great for travelers like her because they can be fully charged while touring for hours.

Starting April 25, 2024, the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G is available for only P13,999 on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop and Infinix kiosks while the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro 4G is exclusively available on Shopee for only P10,999.
 
Infinix fans can also avail of special promo prices on the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro Series’ launch day. The Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G will be priced at P11,499 (from P13,999) via Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop. While the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro 4G will be a Shopee-exclusive, retailing for P8,799 (from P10,999). First 100 buyers can get an S1 smartwatch or XE23 Earphones for free. (Limited stocks only)
 
For more information and promo updates, make sure to follow Infinix Philippines’ Facebook page and Facebook Community.

Farming futures

While modern agricultural techniques boost yields for some, there remains a number of Filipino farmers who struggle to keep pace. These experienced hands find themselves falling behind in

a market demanding higher production, clinging to familiar yet often inefficient methods passed down through generations.

One farmer from Pampanga, Jayson Garcia, sought to disrupt this prevailing narrative in his family. He knew that he had to chart a new course forward for his farm and innovate to remain

competitive within the rapidly evolving landscape of modern agriculture.

“Noon, mahirap ang magtanim,” he recalled their life before joining SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan. “Para bang tsambahan, basta pag itinanim mo ‘yan, hintayin mo na lang mamunga. Mas mahirap pa lalo kapag nagkaroon ng kalamidad.” ~Jayson Garcia, One farmer from Pampanga

SM Foundation’s training program focused on high-value crop cultivation was the breakthrough Garcia needed to revitalize his farming techniques. These included selecting the best seeds and caring for them as well as strategic planting schedules.

Jayson attends the SM City Clark’s Weekend Market to observe best practices and gain insights into new agricultural techniques.

The livelihood program also gave way for him to discover alternative sales channels that enhanced his earning potential while extending fair prices to his customers. The knowledge and confidence he gained led him to expand his farm, and in effect, increased his monthly income to more than Php25,000.

Aside from directly selling his harvests, he is now planting a variety of vegetables–on his farm, including lemongrass, malunggay, and madre de cacao, which he sells online to small businesses that process the produce into other products.

Embracing new techniques

Sharing the same story of hope is another KSK farmer from Pampanga, Juanito Dela Cruz. Despite his age, he actively pursued and adopted modern farming techniques. Building on his current success, he shared the importance of adaptability for farmers, calling for others to try and explore new practices.

From a modest monthly income of Php10,000, Juanito experienced an upsurge in his earnings, notably through participation in the Weekend Market at SM City Clark, yielding around Php30,000 weekly.

“Kailangan maging bukas tayo sa makabagong pamamaraan ng pagsasaka para makahabol tayo sa demands ng panahon ngayon—ito ang itinuo sa akin ng SM Foundation-KSK.” ~Juanito Dela Cruz, KSK farmer from Pampanga

The SM Group’s KSK program has changed the lives of roughly 30,000 Filipino farmers, including Jayson and Juanito. Through its initiatives, farmers who once lost hope have been able to embrace modern farming techniques, leading to adaptability in the face of the evolving agricultural landscape.

The SM Group, through SM Foundation, remains steadfast in its commitment to spreading social good. This dedication extends to SM’s forthcoming endeavors to be led by its future smart city property development – with focus on enhancing positive social impact in the communities where SM operates.

All within 15 minutes: Urban planning concept city to rise in Pasay

An artist’s render of a 15-minute city, where work, food, housing, education and cultural activities are easily within reach.

For the modern urban dweller, 15 minutes is a lot of time.

A lot of productive things can be done – a high-intensity, interval training (HITT) workout or run a 1.5-kilometer route, clearing your emails, meditating, catching up on the news, or preparing a quick smoothie – all within 15 minutes.

But for the Metro Manila commuter, 15 minutes is barely enough to get from point A to point B. During rush hour, it is most likely that within this time, you still haven’t moved an inch.

Ever heard of the 15-minute city? It’s a modern urban planning concept that puts people and the planet first. The term was coined by Paris-based urbanist and Sorbonne University professor Carlos Moreno wherein he said that the ideal neighborhood or city is built in such a way where work, food, housing, education and cultural activities can be easily accessed within 15 minutes, whether by foot or by using a bike.

An artist’s rendition of a soon-to-rise 15-minute city in Pasay

This assures lower transportation costs, less carbon emissions, and most importantly, healthier and happier people. No more long and tiring queues at the EDSA bus carousel or sitting hours on end in the middle of EDSA traffic.

The project has been thoughtfully planned and designed for many years, and finally it has received the green light by government to proceed. In fact, no less than Albay 2 nd district Rep. Joey Salceda highlighted how the Pasay-led project is expected to earn billions in real estate assets for the government.

Revenues from the project will generate a massive multiplier effect on our gross domestic product (GDP) and an estimated 300,000 new jobs from 2027 to 2040. By 2035, it is projected to employ 4% of the National Capital Region’s (NCR) total work force.

The Pasay 360 Project will be a city that nurtures lives and livelihood, is expected to revitalize the economy, and hone the next generation of Filipino leaders. It can be a source of pride for Filipinos as we push towards the 22nd century.