by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 6, 2020 | Business
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) to serve as the exclusive banking partner of the upcoming Franchise Asia Philippines 2020 slated on March 27 to 29 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
BPI has been sponsoring Asia’s biggest franchise show for 12 years now, supporting the organization’s mission to promote franchising as a powerful tool for economic development and nation-building. This is part of the Bank’s aim to empower the SME market, which the Bank is focusing on because of its significant contribution to the economy and its potential for growth. BPI Business Banking, BPI’s dedicated team for SMEs, has also recently introduced Business Franchise Financing (BFF).
This is a new product offering that provides loans specifically fit for new and existing franchisees. Photo shows, from left, PFA Chairman Emeritus Dr. Samie Lim, CFE; BPI Business Banking Division Head for Marketing and Product Management Jessymel Cruz; and PFA President Sherill Quintana.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 5, 2020 | Business
SM won seven Gold Anvil Awards for SM Cares and Global Peace Foundation’s Global Youth Summit (Tool), SM Cares’ Emergency Preparedness Forum for the Disabled and Elderly (Program), SM Supermalls’ Employee Experience Journey (Program), SM Prime’s “Pride in My Purpose” Video (Tool), SM Investments Corporation’s 2018 Sustainability Report (Tool) and Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Summit 2018 (Program), and the SM Development Corporation (SMDC) “Protect our Community” (Program).
Among the 16 Silver Anvil Award winners from SM include:
- SM Supermalls’ #VoteForMom Program and Tool), #SMforSMEs (Program), Unplugged and Play (Tool), SM City Angono’s Art Walk (Program), SM City Marikina’s Junior Firefighters Camp (Program), SM City Taytay’s Barbie in the East Wedding Edition (Tool), SM Cares’ Disaster Preparedness Forum (Tool);
- SMDC’s “Love ko si Lolo, Love ko si Lola” (Program) and “Protect our Community” (Tool); SMIC’s 2018 Annual Report (Tool), “So Many Stories” (Tool), and Sustainability Microsite (Tool);
- SM Prime’s 2018 Sustainability Report (Tool); and
- SM Foundation’s Spreading #SocialGood (Program) and 2018 Annual Report (Tool).
“We owe our success to our customers and stakeholders who continue to recognize the value of our public relations campaigns and initiatives. These wins continue to fuel our passion for innovation and commitment to taking customer experiences to a notch higher,” the company said.
Conferred annually by the PRSP, the Anvil is a symbol of excellence in public relations in the country. Considered as the Oscars of public relations and the most coveted prize in the industry, the Anvil Awards recognize outstanding public relations tools, programs, and practitioners discerned by select PR professionals and assessed by a distinguished multi-sectoral jury.
For more info about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com, or follow its social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@SMSupermalls).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 27, 2020 | Business
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) is taking proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of guests and customers amidst the growing concern over the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD). On February 11, 2020, HRAP President Atty. Eugene T. Yap hosted an orientation on the 2019-nCoV ARD at the Giordino Room of the Bayview Park Hotel Manila, of which he is also the General Manager.
Members of the HRAP were invited to listen to Department of Health (DOH representatives Dr. Carmela Granada of the Department of Health (DOH) Disease Prevention and Control Service and Director Faith Albertos, Head of Health Communication Service as they provided basic facts and latest updates about the virus, basic personal care and prevention, and to discuss the contents of the Interim Guidelines for 2019-nCoV ARD Response in Hotels and Other Similar Establishments (Department Memorandum 2020-0057) recently issued by the DOH.
Among the highlighted measures to ensure the safety and health of hotel and restaurant guests and staff are:
- Implement mandatory health screenings such as temperature checks and accomplishing travel and health declaration forms at points of entry for all guests, including those who will not be checking in to the hotel (ex. guests at conferences, banquets, and special occasions in hotel function room, and those who are only availing of services in the hotel such as the restaurants, spa/salon, gym, pool, and shop customers)
- Clean all general facilities, especially frequently touched surfaces and objects like doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, tables, etc. using adequate disinfectants
- Encourage proper hand hygiene among guests by providing soaps and hand dryers or paper towels in bathrooms, and rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizers in common areas
“We realize the seriousness of this crisis, but at the same time, we also recognize that what’s most important now–aside from having proper hygiene–is to filter out the fake news and myths that are out there.
We are thankful to the DOH and the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) for providing us with guidelines that we can now implement in our own establishments to ensure the health and safety of our staff and guests.
Rest assured that the HRAP will remain vigilant and responsible and that we will continue to work hand-in-hand with our government to help keep our country calm and stable in these extraordinary times,” says Atty. Yap.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 22, 2020 | Business
GCash President, Anthony Thomas
GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, and 7-Eleven, one of the largest convenience store chains in the country, announced today a strategic partnership that will allow GCash account holders to pay for their purchases in 7-Eleven stores via the revolutionary Scan-to-Pay (STP) via Barcode feature in the GCash app.
With the growing demand for frictionless transactions, GCash and 7-Eleven are providing greater convenience and security to their customers by introducing the new payment option for physical purchases in 7-Eleven stores across the country.
“This partnership is anchored on the shared goal of enabling more Filipinos to participate in the digital financial landscape. By allowing 7-Eleven stores to accept GCash STP via Barcode payments, we are bringing the vision of building a ‘cashless Philippines’,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said.
How to use GCash’s Scan to Pay
To use GCash’s STP via Barcode, 7-Eleven customers only need to generate their unique barcodes through the GCash app and allow the cashier to scan their barcodes to complete the transaction.
These two easy steps streamline the already-frictionless QR code system. With STP via Barcode, merchants do not need to have a QR key code, which the customer scans to transact. Merchants also need not have their own mobile devices to verify the payments, as STP via Barcode is already integrated into the merchant’s point-of-sale.
“After scanning barcodes to redeem promotions and reload accounts for over 5 years now, including taking payments from our CLiQQ wallet over the last two, we believe we have built the most convenient payment experience in the country, and that the time is right to open up our infrastructure to partners who share our vision.”
“We are pleased to partner first with GCash, whom we have been working with for several years. Many customers already visit us to cash-in their GCash wallets, now they can use those same wallets to pay for their purchases as well as participate in our CLiQQ loyalty program.” 7-Eleven President and CEO Jose Victor Paterno said.
Supporting BSP cashless vision
The partnership between the fintech leader and the convenience store chain pioneer also supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) goal of creating a more cashless Philippines starting this year by migrating 20 percent of the total transaction to non-cash means such as digital payments.
Already, based on a study conducted by the Better Than Cash Alliance, a United Nations-backed organization, the Philippines is close to reaching this target. According to the study, digital transactions now account for 20 percent of the total value of transactions, while 10-percent in terms of volume in 2018.
“As a strong government partner and the leader in mobile digital payments, we at GCash remain relentless in developing more products and services that will fit perfectly into the government’s plans for the country’s financial landscape. Our vision for 2020 is to continue to push for the development of the GCash platform to enable more people to participate in the digital financial revolution,” Thomas said.
photo credit goes to iconicmnl.com
STP via Barcode is now available in more than 2,800 7-Eleven stores in the Philippines. It is also available in the majority of Puregold outlets and Starbucks stores nationwide.
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.
BPI has been sponsoring Asia’s biggest franchise show for 12 years now, supporting the organization’s mission to promote franchising as a powerful tool for economic development and nation-building. This is part of the Bank’s aim to empower the SME market, which the Bank is focusing on because of its significant contribution to the economy and its potential for growth. BPI Business Banking, BPI’s dedicated team for SMEs, has also recently introduced Business Franchise Financing (BFF).
“We realize the seriousness of this crisis, but at the same time, we also recognize that what’s most important now–aside from having proper hygiene–is to filter out the fake news and myths that are out there. 
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.
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