Food

As the Philippines celebrates National Sardines Day this year, Mega Global Corporation, the company behind Mega Sardines, the country’s leading sardines brand, commemorates the occasion by launching a program to help undernourished children across the country, all while focusing on innovations and expansions that will help the company grow. In the zoom meeting that happened, we got excited about their plans and program as they commemorate this special day. We learn new things about how they plan to expand and innovate their products to provide excellent service and help our countrymen.

Taken during the zoom meeting

Mega Global Celebrates 3rd National Sardines Day

Mega Global exhibited its numerous efforts that would assist boost not only the Philippines’ sardines sector, but the economy and people’s lives as well, at a roundtable discussion held on November 23 to start off the holiday celebrations on November 24. In addition, it has presented the positive outcomes of the Mega Bigay Sustansya Program, which was implemented in collaboration with Reach Out Feed Philippines (ROFP), demonstrating its profound concern for Filipinos.

Marvin Tiu Lim, Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan, Chris Fernandez, executives of the Mega Global conglomerate, alongside Dawn Marie Cabigon, founder and director of Reach Out Feed Philippines were present in the event to discuss how the Mega Bigay Sustansya program will bring long-term gains to its program beneficiaries.

Mega Bigay Sustansya (MBS) is a CSR program led by the Mega Tiu Lim Foundation that hopes to give a meal planning and distribution program to over 881 children nationwide. The program has supported children in six provinces nationwide for sixty days. Children ages 4 to 12 have received house-to-house delivery of meals every day that included at least one sardines meal, made using Mega Global’s nutrient-packed high quality sardines.

“Mega Bigay Sustansya is one way for us to support communities who need us the most. Canned sardines is one of the Filipinos staple foods throughout the years and through this program that target to feed malnourished children all over the country, we hope to use the same staple product to nurture the health of these children, and sustain it through leave-behind materials that will help them prepare nutritious meals in the long run,” Marvin Tiu Lim, Chief Growth and Development Officer of Mega Global said.

On top of the updates on Mega Global’s MBS program, Mega Global executives have also shared in the discussion how they strived to continue elevating the sardine industry through innovations and the building of new infrastructures. These expansions would maintain the double digit growth of the company in 2022, allow it to create a more sustainable avenue in producing their products, as well as create new products that will surely be a hit to its customers.

Host Shawn Yao with Marvin Tiu Lim, Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan, Chris Fernandez, executives of the Mega Global conglomerate, alongside Dawn Marie Cabigon, founder and director of Reach Out Feed Philippines were the speakers for the event, who discussed Mega Global’s innovation for its flagship product, sardines, its CSR effort Mega Bigay Sustansya, as well as brand updates, and other pertinent information

For the past 46 years, Mega Global has been leading the way in supporting Filipino communities through its investments in the sardine industry, which has provided job opportunities for thousands of Filipinos. The company continued to upgrade its Zamboanga facility, where its state-of-the-art operations, including its can-making plant and offices, are based. As part of its sustainability endeavors, it is using solar energy for its warehouses.

Mega Global also discussed details about a new plant in Batangas that will be opened next year. Located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, it will house state-of-the-art technology in manufacturing using sustainable energy sources and is expected to help add dynamism to the economy as it continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Mega SardinaSaya: Game Show Bonanza

Mega Global will also be commemorating National Sardines Day on November 24 with an online game show bonanza. The online event, which will be aired live on Mega Sardines’ Facebook page and Shopee app, will kick off with an Instagram and Facebook challenge that will decide the players for the much-anticipated Pera or Sardinas game.

The game show bonanza will have three major segments representing the tagline of Mega Sardines: Sarap, Saya and Sustansya. For the Sarap segment, Mega Sardines’ ambassadress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo will do a cooking demo that will serve as an introduction of new dishes that mommies can easily create for their loved ones.

For the Sustansya segment, the audience can learn about the Mega Bigay Sustansya program, the company’s nationwide feeding program being undertaken in communities around the country with the help of its partner, Reach Out Philippines Foundation.

Lastly, there will be a series of virtual games for the Saya segment where fun games such as Pera or Sardinas, Call A Ka-Mega, and Trivia Game will be available for the audience to participate in. There will also be a grand raffle, where they have the chance to take home a wide selection of prizes.

Mega Sardines is also introducing a Tiktok Challenge, in which users can show off their moves and have some fun while recording films for a chance to win prizes. Mega Sardines is also having a piso sale on Shopee for Mega Sardines in Tomato Sauce, Tomato Sauce with Chili Added, Corned Sardines, and Mega Fried Sardines in Tausi—certainly a deal that buyers will be eager to add to cart!

Prepare to celebrate National Sardines Day with Mega Global and have a good time! For additional information, go to Mega Sardines’ Facebook page.

Time to bond with your kids as McDonald’s Philippines is bringing the first-ever all-digital Kiddie Crew Online Workshop to your homes. Better to expose to everything that sparks their interest, you can encourage them to bring their curiosity to life and keep them active. Even outside the virtual classroom, it is important that they are able to continue learning and explore their creativity. McDonald’s Philippines is once again bringing back the workshop in an exciting digital set-up. Spanning the weekends of November 20 to December 29, each McDonald’s Kiddie Crew online Workshop will be a 2-day session, each lasting 90 minutes in the afternoon.

In a first for McDonald’s Philippines, kids can look forward to having fun-filled afternoons with the return of the Kiddie Crew Workshop – now serving smiles and learnings online! Exciting games and lesson-filled activities await; experience fun and play with McDonald’s through the first-ever online Kiddie Crew Workshop! A well-beloved event of McDonald’s spanning over 29 years, kids and parents alike have looked forward to the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew every year, providing them with not only fun activities that impart values such as discipline and teamwork, but also precious bonding time together.

Housed through a website, children will be guided as they go through a virtual McDonald’s store. Various points in the digital area will let children hop from one activity to another – from dancing, to singing, to playing fun games where they can learn more about the different Kiddie Crew values of discipline, hard work, teamwork, sharing & responsibility, and active play! Even better, attendees will also be accompanied by Ronald and the Gang throughout, making their online workshop experience even more exciting!

For a registration fee of only P499, customers will not only get access to the 2-day online workshop, but also a 1-day Workshop Meal (Happy Meal 1-pc. Chicken McDo with drink) and their very own Workshop Kit (Chef’s Hat, Apron, Bag, and Cap) with a FREE Kiddie Crew T-Shirt and Lanyard!

“Since its launch in 1991, McDonald’s Kiddie Crew has become a well-loved and iconic summer workshop for kids all over the Philippines. With its virtual comeback, we’re happy to share this new— and first of its kind— experience where McDonald’s helps kids stay active, learn values, and build skills despite the online setup,” said Oliver Rabatan, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Channels.

Now ongoing online the registration for the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew Workshop. Just visit www.mcdokiddiecrew.com to sign up your kid/s for a slot, view more information on the workshop, and even to purchase more goodies for you and your kids through the Kiddie Crew Shop.

McDonald’s Philippines reaffirms its commitment to employing environmentally responsible and climate-friendly restaurant solutions by opening its newest Green & Good location in Shaw Boulevard Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City, just in time for Environmental Awareness Month. McDonald’s Green & Good restaurants allow the fast-food business to put its green building construction and energy-saving technologies to the test. In April 2021, the first Green & Good store opened on UN Del Pilar Avenue in Manila City.

The Green & Good store on Shaw Boulevard in Wack Wack is the country’s first McDonald’s to use a modular system for prefabricated prefinished building construction. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar construction, each module is manufactured off-site and assembled with other modules on-site. This allows for faster work in a controlled environment while also promoting sustainability by eliminating waste and the impact of building activities on the environment.

The store was also built with repurposed and recycled material such as reclaimed wood, eco- pavers, and eco-bricks. Concrete fiber was used as an alternative material to steel rebars on slabs, pavements, and driveways. Even smaller details such as paint used made with low volatile organic compounds were prioritized with less environmental impact.

The Green & Good store also includes solar lampposts and photo and motion sensors as part of its utility efficiency solutions, as well as eco-friendly air conditioning for less energy consumption. Rainwater is also collected in a harvesting tank to be used for cleaning the store’s exterior.

“We are committed to provide a better and more environmentally sustainable McDonald’s for our customers and the communities we are a part of. We recognize that there is a lot more to be done but through our Green and Good platform, we are a step closer towards finding innovative ways to keep waste out of nature and drive climate action.” said McDonald’s Philippines President & CEO Kenneth S. Yang.

With the growing community of cyclists, the new store includes a Bike & Dine area where cyclists can comfortably enjoy their McDonald’s favorites without having to worry about the safety of their bicycles. The store also has a Bike Repair Station that has the tools cyclists would need to carry out basic bike repair or maintenance.

McDonald’s also partnered with Meralco to provide access to e-charging stations. The Green & Good store in Shaw Wack-Wack is the second store to provide their customers with Meralco E-Sakay’s e-Charging stations for e-bikes and e-scooters. Customers can simply plug-in their e-bike and e-scooter for a minimal fee of PhP1 for one-minute worth of charging.

Customers can also utilize recyclable packaging for dine-in, such as reusable rice bowls, cutlery, cups, and wooden stirrers, to enjoy their meals.

Solid waste segregation will be enforced more strictly in the dine-in, kitchen, and prep areas. McDonald’s Philippines wants to reduce trash at sanitary landfills by converting paper waste to fuel, food waste to fertilizers, plastic waste to repurposed goods, and vegetable oil to biodiesel.

Customers can now dine-in, take-out, ride-thru, or order McDelivery at McDonald’s Shaw Boulevard Wack Wack, which is now open 24 hours a day. McDonald’s safeguards the safety of its employees through its M Safe program, with nearly all of its crew and supervisors in the NCR now fully immunized. Along with the continuous acquisition of Safety Seal Certifications, which are now in more than 60% of all restaurants nationwide, the QSR behemoth assured that customers will continue to have safe, enjoyable experiences whether dining in, riding through, or receiving delivery, thanks to crew and managers who are protected/healthy and working in a safe environment.

Be updated on when the next Green & Good store will open by following McDonald’s PH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

With the comeback of its Coca-Cola collectibles – aluminum cups in six festive colors – McDonald’s Philippines provides color and brings joy to the holidays!

The Coca-Cola Aluminum Cup Collection is the first aluminum line of non-breakable, sleek, and on-trend cups in the Philippines. It’s the perfect addition to decorate one’s holiday feast as it comes in 6 metallic-like colors – Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Pink! There’s no better way to enjoy a cold and refreshing glass of Coca-Cola this Christmas than in these stylish cups available at McDonald’s stores for a limited time only!

You can own one of the 6 designs by simply adding Php 49 to any of the participating McDonald’s meals – which is most of your favorite meals with Coca-Cola! Available in McDonald’s starting today, customers can start collecting their cups to complete the collection just in time for the holiday festivities! A Media Noche or Noche Buena table setup is sure to look much more abundant and vibrant with the bright hues of the Coca-Cola Aluminum Cups.

Get your hands on the first-ever Coca-Cola Aluminum Cup Collection to lighten the festive season! These collectibles will be offered in McDonald’s stores nationwide via Dine In, Take Out, Drive-Thru, and McDelivery, making them easily accessible.

There’s no better moment than Christmas to go all out in festivity. Our Prime Moms are always planning on making what is the most cherished holiday of the year the most memorable celebration ever, with family members getting together to celebrate what is the most loved holiday of the year.

The way we celebrate Christmas in the Philippines is well-known throughout the globe, and some may even argue that Paskong Pinoy is the best. As a result, we’d like to let Filipino moms shine even brighter this season by returning to our roots and offering new takes on traditional Pinoy handa and decor. Mega Prime and Prime Mom Club made this possible by hosting the Paskong Easy Sarap workshop, which provided moms with new recipes as well as a DIY holiday decor project that will ensure an unforgettable Christmas. In our virtual event, it is such a refreshing take as we learn a lot from it. We also enjoy the fun-filled activities, as they conduct games for the participants and give prizes to the winners. During the event, we they taught us the technique how to make simple and elegant Christmas “parol”. And we acquired new dishes and menus of their new products as we watched the demonstration that was presented. Indeed, we can feel the presence of the holiday season as we wear our colorful Christmas attire during the enjoyable event.

Headlining the event is Mega Prime’s newest products Young Corn, Nata de Coco Ube, Melon and Pineapple, added into new and exciting recipes by some of our favorite Prime Moms– Mommy Connh Cruz, Chef Rosebud, and Prime Mom Club’s honorary member and Mega Prime’s brand ambassador, Marian Rivera Dantes. With their help, moms can now add Ube Macapuno Coolers, Melon Nata Coolers, Mongolian Beef, and Tropical Fruit Ref Cake to their holiday menu.

Stepping out of the kitchen for a bit, guests exchanged utensils for craft materials as they made their own parol with the help of workshop master, Ian Santos. Guests proudly showed off their finished stars to be hung at their homes, adding more to the holiday vibe.

Ian and Mommy Vanna took the audiences on a fun-filled afternoon with Mega Prime through a do-it-yourself parol-making segment

Truly an afternoon of fun, guests were treated to some fun games and exciting prizes as they took an afternoon off from their homemaking duties, and enjoyed the company of their fellow moms.

“We formed the Prime Mom Club because we wanted to create a fun and enriching space where moms can bond with other moms, learn from each other, and at the same time have easy access to home and kitchen hacks that make their life a little easier. With the holiday season always being hectic, we hope 

that this workshop, along with our new Mega Prime products, lessen their stress and give them more time with family,” said Marvin Tiu Lim, Mega Global Chief Growth and Development Officer.

The Prime Mom Club has provided a place for moms to hone their homemaking talents. Prime Moms are given special access to meaningful activities with experts and celebrities to assist them, merging information and education with interactive and entertaining events. To join the growing community of modern homemakers and receive special information on future events and incentives, sign up for the Prime Mom Club at www.primemomclub.com. Follow @megaprimequality on Facebook and Instagram for additional information.

Christmas is almost near, and no matter what kind of events we have planned for the occasion, Gerry’s Grill AFFOURDABLES is sure to add to the fun. Enjoy and relish the flavor of their freshly made dishes, which are seasoned with affection.

Three (3) great affordable set meals to choose from their AFFOURDABLES :

Set Meal 1 – good for four (4)

Set Meal 2 – good for four (4)

Set Meal 3 – good for four (4)

Plan ahead of time with Gerry’s Grill afFOURdables premade dinners for a stress-free holiday season. Visit or call your local Gerry’s Grill restaurant for more information. For delivery, call 8332-1111 or order online at www.gerrysdelivery.com. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram.

Please visit www.gerrysgrill.com if you are interested in becoming a Gerry’s Grill franchisee.

*Gerry’s Grill AFFOURDABLES is available for dine –in, pick-up & delivery ( plus 5% service charge for dine-in) until December 31, 2021.

Taste the festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts of McDonald’s Philippines

More Filipinos are looking forward the holiday season to celebrate by sharing the light and happiness to their loved ones despite being apart. We are lucky McDonald’s is here to bring back a taste of that signature Pinoy Christmas through the new festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts!

Combining Filipinos’ sweet tooth and love for the holidays, McDonald’s is adding a Pinoy twist to their best-tasting desserts with some crowd-favorite Filipino desserts. For ube lovers, indulge in McDonald’s take on the sugary delicacy with the Ube Pastillas Sundae and Ube Pastillas Frappe, while you can enjoy the sweet, creamy, and delicate flavor of Brazo de Mercedes with McDonald’s various renditions of the classic cake: the Brazo Sundae, Brazo Frappe, or Brazo Iced Coffee! Those looking for the classic taste of sweetness and warmth can also grab a cup of McDonald’s Hot Chocolate, perfect for cozy Ber-month mornings.

It’s never too early to start the holiday season! Brighten up and sweeten the holiday celebrations with the new McDonald’s Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts—available for a limited time only.

To stay up todate on all McDonald’s announcements just follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and Viber. Taste the festive twist to McDonald’s desserts by ordering via Dine-In, Take Out, Ride-Thru or via delivery through McDelivery, Grab or foodpanda!

The Stevia Company, which also makes Glorious products, is delivering sugar-free iced tea blends to major supermarkets and grocery stores! Consumers who are reducing their sugar intake can now benefit from low, sugar-free iced tea mixes sweetened with natural ingredients. Sweetened iced tea mixes without sugar, such as Glorious Blend Lemon Iced Tea, Red Tea, and Cucumber Lemonade, are especially made for people who are cutting and avoiding foods and drinks with too much sugar. The iced tea blends in Glorious Blend are naturally sweetened with stevia. Mixed berries, real black tea leaves, lemon, and real cucumber are among the premium components included in the blends. It has a low calorie count and is high in vitamin C.

“Stevia has been regarded as a safe and healthy sugar substitute. It can sweeten foods, and it has several health benefits, including decreased calorie intake, lower blood sugar levels, and less risk of cavities,” said Maura De Leon, the woman behind GIDC, the country’s first FDA registered stevia grower and manufacturer.

Before, stevia was restricted to the health food market without any FDA approval. However, it is now widely used as a natural substitute for artificial sweeteners in many products.

While it has zero calories, stevia is 200 times sweeter than refined sugar and does not affect blood sugar. It is a popular option for people looking to lose weight but who want to reduce their sugar intake.

Stevia is an herb that has been grown in tropical climates for centuries. It is a small bushy plant that belongs to the sunflower family and grows in Paraguay and Brazil, but it can be quickly grown elsewhere. For centuries, the people of Paraguay add them to their foods as sweeteners, and countries like Korea, Brazil, China, Japan, and South America, have long used stevia.

Stevia is now being widely used as a natural sweetener in various food preparations.

People who have diabetes can benefit from stevia. Choosing pure stevia extract can help maintain normal blood sugar levels and should be used in moderation. Stevia can also help cut down added sugar consumption, which can be beneficial for children. High sugar intake in children could lead to heart disease due to reconstructing triglyceride and cholesterol levels, contributing to children’s weight gain. Substituting added sugar for stevia can minimize these risks. At the same time, moderate consumption of foods with stevia and other sweeteners can prevent adverse side effects and promote overall health.

Stevia products such as iced tea mixes, healthy coffees and chocolate beverages manufactured by Glorious, are approved safe by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) for pregnant women or people who have diabetes.

In addition, Stevia is used in all Glorious Blend beverages, including the 3in1 coffee, 4in1 Malunggay mix, 5in1 Brown Rice Coffee, 7-in-1 Mangosteen-Malunggay Coffee, 7in1Native Cacao Choco, and Maxitrim with L-Carnitine. Throughout the day, all of their instant drinks will keep you attentive and energized.

Go to www.gidc.com for more information on Glorious goods.

The new My Little Pony and Transformers Collectibles with Engaging Features

Start the holiday season right with McDonald’s by bringing merriment and cheer through the launch of its newest Happy Meal toy collection: the My Little Pony and Transformers collectibles! The toys packed inside Christmas–themed Happy Meal boxes! The young and young at heart can choose from My Little Pony characters Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity; and Transformers characters Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Starscream, and Megatron. As a bonus, the Add-on promo allows customers to enjoy a Burger McDo Happy Meal by just adding Php 50 to any McDonald’s meal!

During this season you can strengthen your family bond and create cheerful memories together by playing the whole new levels of discovery and delight with the engaging features of each toy. Also join your little ones in unlocking, customizing, and collecting Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and the cast of characters from Equestria, or see BumbleBee, Optimus Prime and the robots of the Cyberverse come to life when you open up a Happy Meal Box.

With the built-up excitement and anticipation for the Holiday season, McDonald’s wishes everyone to have a merrier Christmas by making Happy Meal more affordable and accessible! With the add-on promo, you can get a Burger McDo Happy Meal by just adding Php 50 to any McDonald’s meal. Yes, that’s a Burger McDo, an Orange Juice drink, and a Happy Meal toy for an add-on cost of only Php 50!

If that’s not enough, feel the spirit of the holiday season in every Happy Meal Purchase because it comes in festive, ready-to-gift, and limited edition Christmas-themed Happy Meal Boxes. Enjoy answering the exciting activities in the panels of the Happy Meal box for a fun bonding and learning experience!

There’s more! With McDelivery Send to Many, it is super easy to send to multiple addresses with one booking! With the Christmas-themed Happy Meal boxes and exciting My Little Pony and Transformers toys, it is a perfect Christmas gift idea right?

Stay up to date on all McDo announcements and to learn more, just go to the McDelivery website or app and follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook.