by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 15, 2020 | Business
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno
Manila, Philippines – Leading food and beverage kiosk operator, Fruitas Holdings, Inc. (FHI), listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the symbol FRUIT, has engaged Hon. Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, mayor of Manila, as its newest endorser.
FHI President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lester Yu
“The honorable mayor and Fruitas share a lot of common values, including love for country and innovation. From his humble beginnings, he initially made waves in the entertainment industry before transforming himself into a public servant,” FHI President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lester Yu, said.
Fruitas adds to its slate of endorsers, which includes Sarah Geronimo, Asia’s Popstar Royalty. Her endearing connection with Filipinos and a wider global audience has recently been confirmed by her hit song, “Tala”, going viral.
Fruitas has established leadership in fruit shakes, coconut-based beverages, lemonades, and meat-filled pastries, offered in kiosks in the Philippines and has recently completed a number of acquisitions, including Sabroso Lechon, Heat Stroke Grill, The Tofu Store, and Kuxina. It is targeting to grow its network to 2,000 stores by 2023.
About Fruitas
Fruitas Holdings Inc., listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange under the symbol FRUIT, is the leading group in the food kiosk industry in the Philippines.
From a single Fruitas stall opened in 2002, the group ended 2019 with 1,068 stores across the country and over 20 brands in its portfolio, which includes well-loved food concepts Fruitas Fresh from Babot’s Farm, Buko Loco, Buko ni Fruitas, De Original Jamaican Pattie, Johnn Lemon, Juice Avenue, Black Pearl, Friends Fries, The Mango Farm, 7,107 Halo Halo Islands, Shou La Mien Hand-Pulled Noodles, and Sabroso Lechon.
For more information, visit http://fruitasholdings.com. #Fruitas #AlwaysFresh #HappyNaHealthyPa #FruitasPh #ShakeMuna #YormeforFruitas
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 14, 2020 | Business
What comes to mind when one thinks of the number 23? Is it Michael Jordan, the G.O.A.T. of basketball? Is it the age of real adulting for some, a point in one’s life where he realizes he’s a full-grown adult with all the responsibilities that come with being one?
Gerry’s Grill soft opening in February 1997
For Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar, more widely known as Gerry’s Grill, the number marks the years it has successfully catered to the discriminating palate of the Filipino people. 23 years ago, on February 14, 1997, the first Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar opened its doors on Tomas Morato, Quezon City. And the dining landscape has never been the same since. Gerry’s Grill pioneered the resto-bar concept that continues to appeal to the Gen-X, its original clients, as it does the Millennials of today. Many have followed suit but Gerry’s maintains its uniqueness for a good number of reasons.
Touted as among the few preferred go-to restaurant–bars in the metro, Gerry’s boasts of over a hundred stores thus deserving to be called the “sari-sari store” of resto-bars by virtue of its being found in every major dining and entertainment hub in Metro Manila. And in each branch, one is surely never short-changed.
Gerry’s has proven time and again to withstand food fads like the grill wars, i.e., shawarma, samgyupsal (Korean Grill), lechon manok/baboy and numerous experimental and fusion cuisines. This means that their Filipino-themed menu has become ingrained in the food psyche of Filipinos, a tradition no less. Their variety of dishes and beverages represents the whole Philippine cuisine. Its flavorful Sizzling Sisig, Beef Kare-Kare, and Inihaw na Pusit have been legendary food staples at every Filipino customer’s dining table. The rest of the menu caters to almost any craving.
The watering hole of choice
Even the beer gulping culture of the country has been shaped and influenced by Gerry’s Grill being a top-of-mind watering hole through the years. Its wide food selection is considered the holy grail of pulutans (hors d’oeuvres) that is perfect for inumans (benders).
a typical Friday night at Gerry’s Grill
Bert Santos, an engineer, waxed nostalgic when he said that he literally grew up with Gerry’s Grill as his tambayan (bar/beer joint) for unwinding during his college years. Today, Gerry’s is a favorite lunch place for his family after hearing Sunday mass. While Buddy Sanchez, a doctor, said Gerry’s holds a special place in his heart because this was where he bonded with his work buddies after a stressful day and where he eventually met his future wife, Sally.
Gerry’s Grill is international
Gerry’s has recently opened its branches in San Diego, California, and Houston, Texas, a good addition to its overseas chain which includes branches in Singapore, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Avenida
Avenida, a modern Filipino restaurant and bar, inspired by the Avenida Rizal (Rizal Avenue) of the post-war era, is another Gerry’s Grill-owned restaurant that opened in San Mateo, California. With these developments, our overseas kababayans have every reason to celebrate Gerry’s 23 years of great food and great service.
Gerry’s Grill dining area
Craving for sumptuous food after reading this? Go to the nearest Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar branch; visit www.gerrysgrill.com to view the complete list of their branches, as well as all the food entries on their 2020 menu. You can also visit their Facebook page, @gerrysgrill.com.ph for more info.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 7, 2020 | Business
Your friendly interactive mall attendant is coming to SM Aura Premier!
Ready to give delightful malling experiences to shoppers, SM Supermalls’ ‘SAM the robot’, the country’s first-ever smart mall attendant, officially invades SM Aura Premier starting February 7!
Steven Tan, SM Supermalls COO with Sam
“SM has always been a home of fun and awesome experiences for shoppers and families alike. As we introduce SAM at SM Aura Premier and soon in other SM malls nationwide, we will continue to give our shoppers more extraordinary reasons to bond and spend time with loved ones in our malls,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
‘SAM the robot’ is designed to help with directions and provide mall information about the latest deals, promos, and events in a fun way. Equipped with an advanced face recognition technology, it can also give personalized greetings to customers once they enter the mall. Customers can also chat with SAM through the SM Supermalls Facebook page where it serves as a 24/7 online concierge that can provide information like branch locations, mall schedules, and promos, to name a few.
With its pilot run at SM Megamall in 2019 and now at SM Aura Premier, ‘SAM the robot’ is set to roll out to other SM malls across the country this year including SM City North EDSA, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Clark, and SM Seaside City Cebu.
SAM was created in partnership with Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), which is a leading provider of electronic and original design manufacturing services.
For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com or its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages: @smsupermalls.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 5, 2020 | Business
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, has partnered with AVEGA Managed Care (an affiliate of Intellicare group and member of Fullerton Health), a leader in healthcare administration, to provide more convenient, accessible and world-class healthcare to Filipinos. With the alliance, AXA Philippines is able to offer an extensive and differentiated healthcare experience to its customers through AVEGA’s network of over 49,000 affiliated doctors and specialists and over 2,800 hospitals and clinics.
Now, AXA’s Global Health Access health plan allows customers to avail of cashless and seamless transactions nationwide through AVEGA’s extensive network, including dental and optical providers.
Photo shows (L-R) AXA Philippines chief of retail propositions Alok Roongta, COO Malet Lepatan, President and CEO Rahul Hora; and AVEGA President Mark Gamir, Vice President and COO Jerico de la Cruz, and head of sales and marketing, Alan Richard Silos.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 3, 2020 | Business
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), warmly welcomes its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones.
A Career Executive Service Officer since 2010, Atty. Velasco-Allones brings her extensive civil service management expertise to TPB. Prior to her appointment, she served as Executive Director of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) since 2007. Under her leadership, CESB received international recognition from the UN-Asia Pacific Center for ICT in 2009 and 2010 for “bridging the information and communications technology (ICT) capacity gap of government executives in the Philippines to achieve socio-economic and development goals”. She successfully spearheaded CESB’s administrative reforms and program innovations in support of leadership capacity enhancement among the country’s top career senior officials.
She also served as Assistant Secretary for Personnel of the Department of National Defense from 1999-2001 and as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Labor and Employment from 2001-2006.
(L-R) DOTr Usec. Atty. Reinier Paul R. Yebra, Diamond Hotel Philippines general manager Ms. Vanessa L. Suatengco, DFA acting USEC. Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, TPB COO Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones, DOT USEC. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., DTI ASEC. Rosario Virginia C. Gaetos, TIEZA asst. COO Jetro Lozada, Mapawa Nature Park president Eduardo Pelaez, and DOT ASEC Howard Lance A. Uyking
An Outstanding Alumni of the National Defense College of the Philippines, Atty. Velasco-Allones received the Outstanding Vincentian Alumni Award for Leadership Excellence and Service from the Unibersidad de Santa Isabel in Naga City last 2018.
Atty. Velasco-Allones completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines. She obtained her Master in Public Management from the joint program of the Lee Kuan Yew School of the Public Policy-National University of Singapore and the Kennedy School of Government-Harvard University.
She presently serves as a core faculty member of the Ateneo School of Government and is a resident faculty of CESB’s Leadership and Management Proficiency Program.
Her extensive and remarkable achievements in the public sector, organizational development, and strategic human resource management earned her the prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in the field of Human Resource Development in government service in the Philippines in 2009.
Atty. Velasco-Allones will lead TPB’s continuing campaign to manage all domestic and international marketing and promotional efforts for Philippine tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) industries. Aside from promoting and supporting sustainable tourism, TPB will also participate in numerous travel expositions, strengthen its social media presence, and continue ongoing projects to help increase the number of local and inbound tourists.
Under her leadership, TPB is looking forward to a purposeful year of promoting the country to become the most preferred tourist destination in the Asia Pacific by 2022.
Atty. Velasco-Allones will assume office as TPB COO on February 10, 2020.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 21, 2020 | Business
With its dedication to making every Filipino feel at home in all its stores, Adobo Connection has chosen “momshie” and TV host Melai Cantiveros to be its first-ever brand ambassador. A launching event was held today at SM North EDSA.
Unassuming and cheerful, Melai is the quintessential Filipino mom who endeavors to capture her family’s craving for good, uncomplicated, and hearty Pinoy dishes – with adobo on top of the list. “Adobo is forever – char! Kasi di ba staple food siya, walang Pinoy ang hindi gusto ang adobo. Unlike kasi ng iba na naging usong pagkain, saglit lang naging hype tapos after ilang months lang, wala na. Si adobo kasi, di pinagsasawaan. Kaya kumuha talaga ako ng franchise. Honestly ito ang pangtawid gutom ko,” said Melai.
Meredith Ngo, Managing Director of Adobo Connection
Meredith Ngo, Adobo Connection’s Managing Director says, “We’re really proud to announce the first-ever brand ambassador/franchisee of Adobo Connection, Melai, who embodies what a true Filipino mom is – yung maalaga sa pamilya and may malasakit. Similar to our brand statement, we want our customers to feel at home and remember their mom’s cooking every time they enter our store.”
Recognizing that Adobo Connection is deeply ingrained in Filipinos’ lives, Melai had also taken things one step further and decided to invest in an Adobo Connection franchise. This was to ensure not only her family’s financial stability but also because she loves seeing people enjoy Adobo Connection’s offerings.
Adobo Connection unveiling the store icon
Admitting she did not know much about running a business, Melai also found Adobo Connection’s support and commitment to its franchisees truly reassuring.
“Sa panahon ngayon, ang hirap na makahanap ng business na papatok at higit sa lahat ang hirap makahanap ng katuwang sa negosyo – yung talagang mapagkakatiwalaan at tutulungan ka talaga. Pinadali talaga ng Adobo Connection and pagbubusiness ko. Dahil sa mga maaasahang teams nila, masaya at madali ang naging experience ko,” Melai shared.
Today, Melai owns three Adobo Connection outlets nationwide. She has found that Adobo Connection offers a solid business proposition – a working market concept, sound marketing, and operational systems, and strong franchisor support.
Fruitas Holdings Inc., listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange under the symbol FRUIT, is the leading group in the food kiosk industry in the Philippines.
Your friendly interactive mall attendant is coming to SM Aura Premier!
Photo shows (L-R) AXA Philippines chief of retail propositions Alok Roongta, COO Malet Lepatan, President and CEO Rahul Hora; and AVEGA President Mark Gamir, Vice President and COO Jerico de la Cruz, and head of sales and marketing, Alan Richard Silos.
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