Food

The Farmer Entrepreneurship Program, a joint initiative by the Jollibee Group and the Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. (JGF), won the ‘Entrepreneurship Development Programme Award’ and the ‘Social Welfare Award’ at the recently held ESGBusiness Awards 2024.

Jollibee Group and the Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. (JGF), collaborated to create the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (“FEP” or the “Program”), which was recognized with two honors at the ESGBusiness honors 2024 for its significant improvements to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Philippines.

In recognition of its dedication to assisting budding business owners and fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem, FEP was granted the “Entrepreneurship Development Programme Award.” Additionally, it won the “Social Welfare Award” for safeguarding the fundamental necessities and well-being of marginalized groups, shielding them from dangers and adversity, and fostering social and economic stability. The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) has been acknowledged by ESGBusiness for the first time, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and creating just futures.

“We extend our gratitude to the ESGBusiness for recognizing our initiatives to empowering smallholder farmers in our country,” said Pepot Miñana Jr., Chief Sustainability and Public Affairs Officer at Jollibee Group. “We believe that the farming sector plays a huge role in achieving food security. Yet, they continue to face significant challenges due to various limitations such as lack of access to resources and sure markets. With FEP, our goal is to help them overcome those barriers by equipping them with skills and knowledge to become effective agro-entrepreneurs.”

The ESGBusiness Awards is an esteemed regional awards program that celebrates companies that lead sustainable development, showcasing those actively making a positive impact through social responsibility.

Empowering smallholder farmers

FEP is an agro-entrepreneurial and leadership program that aims to educate smallholder farmers on innovative farming technologies and entrepreneurship so they can adopt sustainable farming methods, increase their productivity, and gain higher incomes.

With FEP’s support, Filipino smallholder farmers have achieved income stability, repaid loans, accessed better financial services, built their own homes, and funded their children’s tertiary education, and inspired more youth and women to pursue farming.  

Achieving supply resiliency

Jollibee Group acknowledges the farmers’ key role in having a resilient supply chain. As the most fundamental partners of the Jollibee Group in achieving its mission of providing a joyful dining experience to its customers, the local smallholder farmers clustered from 16 localities in the country directly provide white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables to Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, and Greenwich branches that ensure exceptional quality and flavor.

This year, Jollibee Group and JGF aim to increase the volume of vegetables supplied to enhance support and opportunities for FEP farmers. In 2023, FEP farmers delivered 1,367,000 kilos of vegetables to the Jollibee Group, meeting 24% of the Group’s onion requirements.

JGF President Gisela Tiongson noted the Program’s significance: “The FEP farmers have been our longtime partners in ensuring that we fulfill our mission of bringing the joy of eating to our customers by sourcing fresh and quality ingredients directly from them. This has been especially helpful for the company in improving supply resiliency and cost efficiency. Still, for the farmers, this means an improved and consistent income that could help uplift their livelihood, scale their business, and obtain access to better financial services.”

FEP has accredited 30 farmer groups, comprising 1,400 farmers. To date, they have supplied 11 million kilos of fresh vegetables to Jollibee, generating sales of P500 million.

To date, FEP has accredited 30 farmer groups, comprising 1,400 farmers. Collectively, these farmers have supplied 11 million kilos of fresh vegetables to Jollibee, generating sales of P500 million.

In order to help more farmers learn the AECA approach, JGF and Xavier University launched in 2021 the Agro-Enterprise for Inclusive Value Chain (AEIVC) course. To date, more than 500 national and local government personnel and cooperative managers have completed the course and cascaded the concepts to the thousands of farmers they assist.

The Farmer Livelihood Recovery Program, which provides typhoon-affected farmers with seedlings and fertilizers and enhances their resilience by facilitating a speedier recovery, is part of FEP because of the Philippines’ susceptibility to natural disasters.

Jollibee Group and JGF continue to show their dedication to helping smallholder farmers by implementing programs like FEP, which strengthens sustainable supply chains and economic stability.

The inaugural batch of youth trainees under JGF’s ACE Program and Youthworks PH is set to begin their on-the-job training in select stores of Jollibee, Chowking, and Greenwich in Cebu.
 

Under the Jollibee Group Foundation’s (JGF),  Access, Curriculum, and Employability (ACE) Program and Youthworks PH, the first group of youth trainees will start their on-the-job training in a few Jollibee locations in Cebu, including Chowking and Greenwich. The Jollibee Group, the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Primary Structures Educational Foundation, Inc. – School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership, and Service (PSEFI-SKILLS) have partnered to create this program.

The 21 “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET) youth trainees began their work-based training in Jollibee Group stores. This was the second phase of their training, which was supported by Jollibee Group and included the trainees’ housing and allowances, following ten weeks of classroom instruction. In addition, JGF and Jollibee Group collaborated with PSEFI-SKILLS to create the Quick Service Restaurant Operations (QSRO) track curriculum, which aims to close the knowledge gap in the food service sector for professionalized staff training.

The QSRO is one of the two tracks under the ACE Scholarship Program; the other track focuses on agriculture, which is done in partnership with technical-vocational training institutions to provide youth from low-income families the opportunity to stay in school and eventually improve their livelihoods.

The Supervised Industry Learning (SIL), an aspect of the Youthworks PH program, will run from September to December 2024. During this phase, the trainees will work alongside experienced store managers and crew members within Jollibee Group stores and will undertake a range of tasks including customer service, food handling, maintaining cleanliness and sanitation, and other operational procedures.

Launched in 2018, YouthWorks PH is a private sector initiative to increase access to quality training and employment opportunities for unemployed and out-of-school Filipino youth.

During the kick-off event last September 23, at Jollibee Parkmall in Mandaue City, Ruth Angeles, Chief Human Resources Officer for Jollibee Group Philippines emphasized the importance of SIL for the trainees.

“We are excited to welcome our trainees into the next phase of their program, where they will gain hands-on experience as skilled service crew. This part is crucial because it puts them in real-world situations and gives them the practical skills they need to handle the challenges of their job,” said Jollibee Group Chief of Human Resources Officer Ruth Angeles.

Investing in the future

The 21 youth trainees will be attending an intensive three-month on-the-job training that will allow them to learn competencies in Quick Service Restaurant Operations (QSRO) at select Jollibee Group stores.

As one of JGF’s core commitments in uplifting underprivileged youth, JGF President Gisela Tiongson underscored the value of investing in the future of the youth and creating pathways for their success.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to drive social change and open up more opportunities to help the next generation succeed and reach their dreams,” said Tiongson. “At Jollibee Group and JGF, we believe that by investing in youth education, we can build a more inclusive and resilient society where more people have a chance at a better life.”

Jessa Marie Jumao-as, one of the trainees of the YouthWorks PH program, said the workforce development training program has been a “transformative gift” for her. Prior to participating in the program, she used to be part of a cleaning service group, which made her realize that she is happy with work that deals with more people.

“I am very grateful to Jollibee Group and PSEFI-SKILLS for giving me the opportunity to become one of the ACE scholars and trainees of the YouthWorks PH program of PBED and USAID. I am grateful to them because they taught me new skills to be able to work in the food and beverage sector, and to have a better future. This has been a transformative experience,” said Jumao-as.

Youth unemployment is at 11.2%, despite the high number of vacancies in different industries.

“We are elated to see the pilot batch of 21 out-of-school youth in Cebu City jumpstart this opportunity. This project is a testament to what we can achieve when we break down silos and work together. When government, businesses, educators, and communities join forces, we can empower young people, unlock their potential, and build a brighter future for all,” said Executive Director of PBED Justine Raagas.

Together with PSEFI-SKILLS, PBEd, and USAID, Jollibee Group and JGF will continue to expand the ACE Scholarship and YouthWorks PH programs by bringing them closer to more trainees in other regions of the nation in order to further enhance the skills and create more opportunities for more NEET youth trainees.

The world’s best-selling gin manufacturer, Ginebra San Miguel, celebrated the 190th year of its flagship brand by announcing Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose as the 2025 and 34th Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl. The media and other guests attended the launch, which took place at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

The epithet ‘Asia’s Limitless Star’ was bestowed upon Julie Anne San Jose, a Filipina singer, songwriter, actress, host, instrumentalist, and television personality, for her almost endless array of skills. Julie Anne has consistently reinvented herself for her fans since 2005 by adhering to her artistic vision and succeeding in a cutthroat industry with her enthusiasm and “never-say-die” character, just like Ginebra San Miguel has endured changing times and stayed relevant to customers.

It was such an awesome event. We enjoyed everything, including the scrumptious food, great performances, and of course the revelation of their newest calendar girl of the year. Julie Anne truly deserves to be this year’s calendar feature, as she carries on her grace and firmness that really define the brand. I’m also glad to meet her and have her insight regarding this opportunity.

“Her dedication to her craft and resilience in the industry mirrors Ginebra San Miguel’s 190-year legacy of excellence, making her the perfect choice for our next Calendar Girl,” says GSMI Marketing Manager Ron Molina.  

With Obra Maestra (Masterpiece) as the theme for the 2025 calendars, the multi-awarded singer brings to life six visual compositions, creating a stunning collection of timeless masterpieces.  

“For 190 years, Ginebra San Miguel has crafted masterpieces in every bottle, offering only the finest in distilled spirits. Our next calendar continues to uphold GSMI’s heritage of excellence with a tribute to classic art, reflecting the same dedication to quality craftsmanship that has made our gin popular and loved by many since 1834,” Mr. Molina added.  

A staple in Kapuso musical and variety shows with her show stopping song and dance numbers, Julie Anne San Jose is currently the judge of The Voice Kids Philippines and the host of singing competition The Clash.

JULIE ANNE IN OBRA MAESTRA

Ginebra San Miguel has always been known for its iconic label by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo. In this first layout, she embodies the courage and determination of a fearless Filipina ready to face any challenge.

Inspired by this timeless masterpiece, Julie Anne is portrayed as a muse and goddess, showcasing her artistry and elegance in five other classic artworks.   

Dressed in white, the second layout depicts Julie Anne as “Galatea,” Pygmalion’s sculpture of his ideal woman brought to life by Aphrodite. This symbolizes creativity and passion in art, much like how GSM Blue Flavors can be creatively mixed and matched to create a unique and personalized drink.  

The third layout features the Grape Escape cocktail mix, “Paris Opera Terpsichore,” showcasing Julie Anne as the muse of lyric, poetry, and dance. Julie Anne is truly elegant in this layout, just like how premium and sophisticated Primera Light Brandy is.  

In the fourth layout, Julie Anne is portrayed as “Diana,” the huntress, symbolizing independence and strength. Showcasing Kula Orange Fizz cocktail mix, Julie Anne is sure to ignite a bold new strength to Vino Kulafu drinkers. Julie Anne felt a particular connection to this layout among all the layouts. “Aside from having an earthy set-up because I’m a nature lover, the bow and arrow in this layout resonate with me as an artist. It symbolizes my constant pursuit of improvement, my quest to explore new horizons and the world further.”  

In the fifth and sixth layouts, Julie Anne embodies the timeless beauty of “The Birth of Venus” and “La Grande Odalisque.” Symbolizing beauty, grace, and quality, these iconic paintings invite consumers to savor the refined taste of GSM Premium Gin and Antonov Vodka, respectively.  

As in previous years, the 2025 Ginebra San Miguel calendar features a QR code that consumers can scan using their smartphones to watch and learn more about Julie Anne’s signature cocktail mixes using Ginebra San Miguel products.  

The new face of Ginebra San Miguel is also a certified gin enthusiast, with gin & tonic as her go-to cocktail. Julie Anne’s connection with Ginebra San Miguel is also deeply rooted in her personal history. “Growing up, I always saw my lolo drink Ginebra San Miguel. Ginebra has always been part of our lives for every gathering, whether Christmas, birthday parties, or just a simple celebration.”  

As the new muse of Ginebra San Miguel, Julie Anne aims to inspire women and fans alike with her ‘ganado’ and ‘never-say-die’ attitude. Her journey demonstrates that success is built on hard work, passion, and resilience. She is truly a limitless icon who motivates others to pursue their dreams, embrace their individuality, and unlock their creative potential.

THE GINEBRA CALENDAR TRADITION

 A significant aspect of GSMI’s past and a longstanding custom is the Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl. Models, TV and film actresses, and beauty queens who have achieved success in their various industries have graced the Ginebra San Miguel calendar since its beginning in 1988. Marian Rivera (2009 and 2014), Anne Curtis (2011), Solenn Heusaff (2012), Pia Wurtzbach (2019), Miss Universe 2015, Sanya Lopez (2020), Christelle Abello (2021), Chie Filomeno (2022), Yassi Pressman (2023), and Heaven Peralejo (2024) were listed among them.

Ginebra San Miguel, the best-selling gin in the world, is made by GSMI. Other high-quality distilled spirits from GSMI include Gin & Tea, Ginebra San, GSM Blue Light Gin, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Blue Gin Pomelo, and GSM Blue Lychee Martini. Archangel Reserve Premium Dry Gin, Miguel Premium Gin, 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, Antonov Vodka, Freedom Island Light Rum, Primera Light Brandy, and Vino Kulafu, the top Chinese wine in the Philippines.

Ajinomoto, BEST, and Quezon City’s LGU share the SariCycle® journey from its conception to where it is today
 

L-R: Johnkarl Manimbo – APC Sustainability Specialist, Japhet Bulingit – Corporate Sustainability Associate (BEST), Jonalyn Peñas – Business Development Officer (BEST), Andrea Villaroman – Head of QC CCESD, Ernie Carlos – APC Chief Sustainability Officer, Engr. Ceidge Razon – Corporate Sustainability Manager (BEST), Claire Vinarao – Chief, Adaptation Division (CCESD), Maribel Marquez – Acting Chief, Resource Efficiency Section (CCESD) and Kirstoff Buyoc – APC Sustainability Executive.

The Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department (QC CCESD), Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), and Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) are pleased to commemorate the SariCycle® Program’s six-month milestone. Since its debut in January 2024, this innovative program has successfully gathered over 4,000 kg of single-use plastics (SUPs) and has attracted over 600 active participants.

SariCycle® is a collaboration between sustainability and waste management. With an emphasis on gathering and recycling single-use plastic in smaller areas, the program was created to help address the growing issue of plastic waste. This started in a few areas in Quezon City where there are a lot of sari-sari shops. “SariCyclers,” as the participants are called, are rewarded with exclusive product bundles from Ajinomoto Philippines. Additionally, they receive Environmental Points (EPs), which may be exchanged for cash at participating merchants.

Among the participants are key members of Quezon City’s livelihood programs, including beneficiaries of the “Tindahan ni Mayor Joy” initiative and persons with disabilities (PWD) beneficiaries. The collective effort of these SariCyclers has resulted in significant strides in promoting environmental responsibility and awareness.

During the six-month evaluation meeting held at the QC CCESD office, representatives from APC, BEST, and QC CCESD, headed by Ms. Andrea Villaroman, were all in attendance to share and update the program’s current achievements and the challenges ahead. APC’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Ernie Carlos, shared how grateful APC is to the community for their unwavering support and emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the public and private sectors.

“The SariCycle® Program is testament to the positive and impactful effects we can achieve for the good of our environment when we all work towards a more sustainable future. Indeed, we take inspiration from the communities in Quezon City and our partners at BEST, when it comes to being stewards of the environment,” Carlos said.

To acknowledge the company’s role in this environmental effort, Ajinomoto Philippines was honored at BEST’s 25th Anniversary celebration on September 16, 2024, at Crowne Plaza Manila. BEST, a key player in solid waste management in the Philippines, shared how proud they are to have worked with APC, and its dedication to environmental sustainability and awarded the company a plaque of appreciation for its active role in the SariCycle® Program. APC’s Sustainability Executive, Kirstoff Buyoc, accepted the award for Ajinomoto Philippines. He also served as co-presenter for the recognition given to the top-performing SariCyclers during the event.

Key figures in the Circular Economy movement, such as Senator Cynthia Villar, the primary author of the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Law, were also present at the anniversary celebration. This incident demonstrated how crucial public-private sector cooperation is to advancing sustainability measures and bringing about positive environmental change.

Through its continuous activities, Ajinomoto Philippines is steadfast in its commitment to encouraging environmentally conscious behavior and responsible consumption. APC is eager to grow the SariCycle® Program and will keep taking the lead on their projects with a positive attitude. In keeping with their pledge to promote the “Eat Well, Live Well” lifestyle, they will collaborate closely with their partners to create a more sustainable future for everybody.

To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com.