by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 30, 2023 | Advocacy
Jollibee Group also released its first-ever global sustainability report which details the progress it has made toward the pursuit of its sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet.
The Jollibee Group launched last March 16 its Global Sustainability Agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to further strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices.
While Jollibee Group has made significant strides over its 45-year history in various social and environmental projects, it is now purposely integrating all its sustainability efforts into a more cohesive framework that unites the Jollibee Group community, including employees, business partners, suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders, toward a set of shared sustainability goals.
Dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group launched its Global Sustainability Agenda with 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 will showcase initiatives and goals that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
With Joy for Tomorrow, Jollibee Group stays true to its mission of bringing the joy of eating to everyone, acknowledging that this mission extends not only to its customers and stakeholders today, but also to future generations. The company recognizes that it must use its global scale, resources, and expertise to help usher in a more sustainable future for society and the planet.
“Our challenge in Jollibee Group is how to sustain our success while creating a positive impact on our society and planet. As one of the fastest growing restaurant companies in the world, and with our vision to become one of the top companies in our industry, we recognize that we have a significant role and responsibility in impacting positive change,” said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.
The Joy for Tomorrow Sustainability Agenda centers on three pillars namely Food, People, and Planet. These pillars consist of 10 focus areas: 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).
According to Jollibee Group Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer Pepot Miñana, Joy for Tomorrow is the company’s roadmap for achieving the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. “It’s a call to action for everyone in Jollibee Group, amid pursuing our sustainability pillars of Food, People, and Planet. It is our commitment to future generations to preserve and improve natural resources from which they can benefit,” Miñana said.
Serving food that people trust
Jollibee Group prioritizes food safety and quality to maintain the trust of its customers worldwide.
In 2022, the company conducted over 15,000 Food, Service, and Cleanliness (FSC) Audits across its stores worldwide, while over 125,600 online training hours were devoted to Food, Service, Cleanliness & Condition. Moreover, 100% of its stores, commissaries, and logistics facilities have undergone rigorous Quality Management audits. The group also achieved a global Net Promoter Score of 82, exceeding the industry benchmark of 50, showcasing customer satisfaction and loyalty for the various brands.
Helping make people’s lives better
Jollibee Group recognizes its invaluable role in fostering an inclusive work environment for its employees, partners, farmers, and communities.
In 2022, women made up 59% of management positions and 51% of the total workforce. Through training courses on Unconscious Bias, Inclusive Leadership, and Anti-Discrimination, the company educates its employees on the value and benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace. As a measure of high employee engagement, the group achieved the 70th percentile of Gallup’s Q12 percentile ranking.
Outside of the organization, Jollibee Group Foundation’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) has enabled over 700 smallholder farmers across the Philippines to deliver their produce directly to Jollibee Group. Today, the white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, calamansi, ginger, and other vegetables that the company uses in Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal products come from FEP farmers.
Treating the planet responsibly
In terms of environmental sustainability, Jollibee Group focuses on the key areas of packaging and recycling, energy, water, and waste.
By the end of 2022, Jollibee Group manufacturing sites in the Philippines achieved a 21% reduction in energy use ratio, a 23% reduction in water use ratio, and a 38% reduction in waste, with almost 50% of waste now being recycled versus the company’s 2020 benchmarks. On the store level, each solar panel installed reduces about 3-7% of consumption from the grid.
Progress over perfection
“We understand that assessing our impact is a continuous process of ambition and refinement. We will track the success of our strategies over the coming years, and periodically review our material topics and stakeholder engagement process. We will set agile goals and targets to help us significantly impact society and the environment more meaningfully,” Tanmantiong said.
Apart from establishing a unit dedicated to sustainability and the appointment of a Chief Sustainability Officer as part of its Executive Team, Jollibee Group also instituted an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Council to ensure that its business operations are aligned with the sustainability goals.
“Our Global Sustainability Agenda represents our belief system in conducting business more ethically. As a global food company, we are responsible and deliberate with our actions and their impact, and we are making our sustainability measures the way of the future,” added Miñana.
Find out more about Jollibee Group’s Sustainability Agenda by visiting https://jollibeegroup.com/sustainability/
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 30, 2023 | Book Reviews
I’ve read quite a few books written by Nicole Casey and Five Country Singers’ Betrothed is not my favorite. First of all, the title gives away the ending. Second, the five men in the story are actually the five members of a country music band called Amos and the Collectibles and the one who is actually a (famous) country singer is the female lead character, Delilah. In the band, Amos is the lead vocalist and the others occasionally do backup so we can’t really call the band “country singers”.
A good story always has a conflict of some sort and in this story, the conflict is with one of the members of the band, Ryder, who is Delilah’s first love who broke her heart. In the present timeline, Ryder has a girlfriend and their love is unrequited. In the meantime, Delilah finds herself attracted to the other gorgeous men in the band … Amos (lead vocals), Carson (rhythm guitar), Jesse (bassist), and Wyatt (drummer). Thankfully for her, her feelings are returned.
We can more or less know how the story will develop at this point as Nicole Casey’s books are always HEA. You know what they say, though … the journey is more important than the destination. Delilah’s love journey could be more exciting.
As far as the love scenes are concerned, it didn’t seem to matter which man she was with they all had the same pattern that it does not seem like she is with 5 different at all. I would have assumed each one would have even a slightly different approach depending on personal preference. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting acrobatics, but probably a little more creativity in how she could conceivably be with 3, 4, or 5 men at the same time.
The redeeming factor of this book is how it spent a lot of time showing us the creative process of collaborating on a song … music, lyrics, and laying down the tracks. I thought that was a good insight into how the recording industry works that does not focus on the glamour of the job.
Five Country Singers’ Betrothed by Nicole Casey is the 4th book of the Love by Numbers 2 series which you can find on Amazon for $2.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 25, 2023 | Book Reviews
I remember adding 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire by Joleene Naylor and Jonathan Harvey to my books on Kindle in February 2013 for two reasons: 1) it was free at the time and 2) the title intrigued me.
When I open to the first page I wasn’t sure at first what I was reading … it felt like a teenage diary. Nevertheless, I just shrugged and continued on and laughed. It is exactly what the title says! Lol! If you had to travel with a vampire, these are the things you should keep in mind. Many of the things mentioned certainly make a lot of sense, whether or not your companion is a vampire. I’d say they’re common sense. Advice aside, though, if you look at the way it is written, you will get a giggle out of it.
If you are looking for something light and none stressful to read, you should pick up this book. You can still find 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire by Joleene Naylor and Jonathan Harvey on Amazon but it is no longer free. However, at $1.99 it is still affordable so if this intrigues you, go ahead and get your copy now.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2023 | Food & Beverage
MANILA, Philippines. March 23, 2023. – Panda Express® is finally bringing its signature dish The Original Orange Chicken® outside Metro Manila. The world’s largest American Chinese dining concept has made its way to the Land of the Brave and is opening its first store in Tanza, Cavite on March 24 —marking its first location in South Luzon.
Panda Express invites all hungry Caviteños and Caviteñas to visit its maiden branch in the province located at SM City Tanza, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, to experience the mouth-watering bold flavors of its wok-cooked dishes with Chinese and Sichuan influences.
“We are thrilled to open our first restaurant in Cavite and in South Luzon as we continue to expand in the Philippines to make it more convenient for our guests to enjoy Panda Express’ world-famous American Chinese dishes,” said Doug Stalgren, Vice President of Panda Express International Business Development. “We can’t wait to welcome our fans on the opening day.”
From entrees to appetizers to sides, Panda Express offers a variety of scrumptious menu choices cooked with fresh, quality ingredients every day that leave its guests wanting more. Among them is Panda’s top seller, The Original Orange Chicken, which is prepared with crispy boneless chicken bites wok-tossed in its signature sweet and spicy Orange Sauce.
In time for Lent, the new branch also offers meat-free options for Christians and Catholics choosing to abstain from eating meat during this period. Some of their meatless options include:
- Honey Walnut Shrimp: One of its award-winning entrées, this dish is made with large tempura-battered shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.
- Savory Shrimp: Another beloved shrimp recipe, this dish is inspired by the flavors of Hunan cuisine. It features premium, juicy shrimp, stir-fried with onions, green beans, and bell peppers in a savory sauce that adds a beautiful burst of color, textures, and flavors.
- Kung Pao Fish: This Sichuan-inspired dish is a close cousin of another classic American Chinese staple, Kung Pao Chicken. It’s a divine combination of lightly breaded, crispy boneless fish, a variety of freshly-cut vegetables, and peanuts, all tossed in a savory sauce.
- Eggplant Tofu: A good source of protein, this entrée is made with lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Deals and treats await Panda Express guests with the first 30 customers in line during the opening day able to receive free Panda Bears. Exciting freebies also await those who will visit the Cavite branch via dine-in or take-out from March 24 to 26.
Panda Express SM City Tanza is also available for long-distance delivery via GrabFood, Foodpanda, and order.pandaexpress.com.ph.
Panda Express is also going full speed ahead with its expansion this year with a new drive-thru branch in the pipeline, which is expected to open in Pacita, San Pedro, Laguna next month. This will become the first Panda Express store to have a drive-thru lane in South Luzon.
For more information about Panda Express®, visit www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ (Facebook) and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2023 | Book Reviews
I opened Me, My Mate, and His Human Girlfriend by Annietroup1 on Goodnovel despite heavy reservations just to give the author a chance. From the title, I was assuming this is either a rejection story or a menage. Early heads up, it is (apparently) neither.
I like giving new stories and authors I encounter a chance. I actually recall adding this book to my library a while back but never got around to properly reading it because the first chapter did not engage me. To be honest, usually if the first chapter bombs, there is very little hope for me to like the succeeding chapters any better. To give the author the benefit of the doubt I decided to revisit it and read on.
First, the premise … Amanda (Mandy) is 19 and this is her 3rd year looking for her mate so she was not optimistic. At the party, she discovers that her mate is Alpha Mason and she immediately “nods her head no” (this tells me the author is Asian because in other cultures a nod means yes). It is common knowledge that Mason has a human girlfriend of long-standing (10 years) and has openly stated that he would not be leaving her for his mate.
Despite that, he still insists on taking her back to his pack. She rejects him but he does not reject her back saying that doing so will make him weak. In addition, he hides her away in the east wing of his house, isolated from everyone, and goes on with his life as if she was not there. The only change being he visits her every night to talk to her since his wolf insists.
In the meantime, he still maintains a physical relationship with his girlfriend every night which causes Mandy excruciating pain, needing the intervention of the pack doctor every night. Mandy is angry, infuriated even. After a bout of violence (against any object in her sight) she slowly degenerates. it takes her FIVE YEARS OF SUFFERING to finally decide to just end her life.
FIVE FUCKING YEARS!!! She allowed Mason to hurt her intentionally every day and it took her FIVE YEARS to realize that killing herself was the best thing to do since she can’t get help from anyone else. And when she does and is spotted by the doctor who then rushes to the hospital bleeding that is the only time that Mason realizes what a dickhead he is … after he intentionally (and I mean, told her to her face that was exactly what he was going to do) hurt her by having sex with his human girlfriend that entire time.
It takes Mandy almost dying for him to decide to dump his girlfriend of 15 years now to be with his mate. WHERE IS HIS BACKBONE?!? If he truly loved his girlfriend that much he should have rejected Mandy from the start and marked the human, not made Mandy suffer for FIVE FUCKING YEARS! If he believed that the Moon Goddess knew best then he should have done that mind wipe thing to the human and be with Mandy from day 1 of finding her.
So far, I have read all the free chapters and bought a few (I am now on chapter 9) and I am most definitely NOT liking this story. Both male and female lead characters are idiots and their story should not be told. Also, I am unhappy with the author’s grammar. Girl, hire a copy editor, PLEASE! Stat!
If despite my thumbs-down review you are still curious and want to get tortured for yourself (hyuk!) you can find Me, My Mate, and His Human Girlfriend by Annietroup1 on Wattpad and Goodnovel. Fyi, I rarely give an outright thumbs down so this should tell you how much this book angered me.
I’ve read quite a few books written by Nicole Casey and Five Country Singers’ Betrothed is not my favorite. First of all, the title gives away the ending. Second, the five men in the story are actually the five members of a country music band called Amos and the Collectibles and the one who is actually a (famous) country singer is the female lead character, Delilah. In the band, Amos is the lead vocalist and the others occasionally do backup so we can’t really call the band “country singers”.
I remember adding 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire by Joleene Naylor and Jonathan Harvey to my books on Kindle in February 2013 for two reasons: 1) it was free at the time and 2) the title intrigued me.
In time for Lent, the new branch also offers meat-free options for Christians and Catholics choosing to abstain from eating meat during this period. Some of their meatless options include:
I opened Me, My Mate, and His Human Girlfriend by Annietroup1 on Goodnovel despite heavy reservations just to give the author a chance. From the title, I was assuming this is either a rejection story or a menage. Early heads up, it is (apparently) neither.
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