Food

Good news Chuckie pack is now using paper straw designed for recycling and its environment friendly. Did you know that the Philippines is the top 3 contributor to ocean pollution among all the countries?* Waste in landfills and oceans are piling up due to the surge of waste that increased especially during the pandemic. It is an important time to accelerate our reduction of plastic waste, and to search for recyclable materials. One way to do this is to replace items that have alternatives to plastics, like replacing plastic straws with paper straws which are designed for recycling, so that we can shift towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Embracing these simple choices by parents and children alike can reap benefits, and can help keep the environment clean. Safe to use for you and to your kids. Using paper straws may take some time to get used to, especially for kids and the young-at-heart who have a habit of chewing on their straws. To help get around some of these new changes, here are some tips on how the whole family can be mother nature’s buddy and how you can get the best paper straw experience:

Starting out with simple individual efforts to embrace small lifestyle changes for the better can definitely add up in the long run. Making the most out of paper straws is one perfect example of how our little acts can help create a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable waste-free future.

Actively choosing to be more environmentally-conscious is something to be proud of, and teaching kids about finding joy in embracing eco-friendly habits is a great lesson best taught at an early age too! So the next time you or the kids want to enjoy a refreshing drink, treat yourselves and mother nature by choosing Chuckie that now comes with paper straws! Together let us do our part and be a buddy to mother nature by recycling and limiting our litter. Learn more about Nestle´ Chuckie’s shift to paper straws together with your kids by viewing the printable Chuckie Activity Book in this link bit.ly/ChuckieActivityBook, and by reading the FAQs here bit.ly/ChuckiePaperStrawsFAQs. Check out the hashtags #BuddyToMotherNature and #ChuckiePH for stories and updates as well.

* According to the study “Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean” from www.science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6223/768

Since the launch of PilipinasKontraGutom last November it has been distributing meals nationwide to provide immediate relief for communities affected by the pandemic and the recent typhoons. With the pandemic and the recent typhoons, hunger incidence has worsened amongst Filipino families.

PilipinasKontraGutom is a multi-sectoral movement of Task Force Zero Hunger with the private sector and non-profit organizations working hand in hand to address the country’s concerns on involuntary hunger including: challenges on food production, food distribution and accessibility, hidden hunger and malnutrition, including immediate food needed during times of crises.

The founding private sector members of the movement comprised of Coca-Cola Philippines, Dole Philippines, J&J Philippines, McDonald’s, Metrobank and San Miguel Corporation have committed an initial 100,000 meals, and 3,000 infant kits to be distributed to areas in most need.

“While the public-private partnership is drawing up how we could address the complex problem that is hunger and malnutrition, we can’t forget those who remain to be hungry today. We are grateful for the private sector members who are committed to provide aid to our fellow Filipinos, especially during times of crises,” says Task Force Zero Hunger Chairman, Cabinet Secretary KarloNograles.

PilipinasKontraGutom movement has been able to provide warm meals to Filipinos in different parts of the country including: Bacoor, Caloocan, Manila, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Parañaque, San Juan, Taguig, Quezon City, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Tuguegarao, Pampanga and Las Piñas.

The movement has also driven Unilever Philippines, RFM Corporation, DOLE Philippines, Century Pacific Food, Inc., and Lazada to launch Brand-Aid: Noche Buena Para sa Lahat. With Rise Against Hunger Philippines (RAHP) as partner NGO implementer, Brand Aid and its individual and corporate donors aim to provide 100,000 Noche Buena meal kits to RAHP beneficiary families.

Socio-civic organizations, Gawad Kalinga and Kabisig ng Kalahi have also join PilipinasKontraGutom, aligning their programs with the movement’s cause.

PilipinasKontraGutom invites every Filipino to participate in the movement. You may visit www.laginghanda.gov.ph. Private corporations, non-profit organizations and groups who would like to be part of the movement may send an email to [email protected].

Everytime I go to Tiendesitas I don’t miss to eat at their Food Village since many of us, food isn’t just a way to provide us energy for the day, but it’s also a way to socialize, unwind, and enjoy with others while also discovering new flavors and savoring our favorite comfort food. With quarantine making us miss good food and the company of our friends. Good news to every food lovers like me that Tiendesitas is proud to reopen the 2nd floor Food Village starting October 30, Friday – with new food concepts you’ll fall in love with, now in a fully air conditioned space.

Whether you’re looking for a simple meal or devouring a fiesta-like dinner with hearty Filipino dishes or doing an exhilarating food crawl, you’re sure to have a great time at Tiendesitas Food Village. Check out below their new and exciting food concepts available this Friday!

ElverdeFood Trading                                                Fruitas            

Boy Kanin                                                                    LuzvimindaDelicacies

VMJ Greens Trading                                                 Bonanno’sRestaurant

Farinas IlocosEmpanada                                          Jherand Mon Rice Trading

Streat Bites atbp by Leoman                                     Mama Valenciana by Bulacan Lugaw

Rub’s N Spices                                                              Happy Chef

Beer Belly Steakhouse                                                 Chef Sinauna

GatchaaBlendzMilk Tea                                               La Aysee/ Kakanin ATBP by Aysee

Zorro Kitchen by Joyce                                                SamRamRestaurant

Happy Chef                                                                     Franny Bites

Mommy Khay’sKitchen                                                 ZulloCoffee

Pancit Cabagan by Kuyang                                           Ferinos

Ortigas Malls continues to make dining and family bonding more comfortable and convenient for everyone. Check out the fully air conditioned Tiendesitas Food Village now.

For more information you may check their official Facebook pages – Greenhills, Tiendesitas,  Estancia, and Industria.

The National Task Force (NTF), in partnership with McDonald’s Philippines for the initiative to further expand the country’s testing capacity for COVID-19 RT-PCR testing for its company owned and franchised store employees in NCR as part of the company’s continuous focus on health and safety under its M Safe program. This partnership reinforces the collaboration between the public and private sector for testing and isolation programs. The community testing initiative aims to ensure a safe workplace for its employees and dining experience for its customers. McDonald’s has also recently committed to implement the StaySafe.ph app in its restaurants to improve contact tracing protocols.

“The safety of our employees and customers has always been at the core of our operating culture. It is because of this that we continue to explore and partner with the government and the private sector, to keep the public safe. We believe that more than ever, we have to come together to fight this pandemic to re-start the economy safely and protect the employment of more Filipinos,” said McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO, Kenneth S. Yang.

Beginning September 28 in Palacio de Maynila, one of the Mega Swabbing Facilities set up by the NTF, employees of the company have started to get tested. The company aims to test over 19,000 of its crew and managers in four identified Mega Swabbing Facilities at Mall of Asia Arena (Pasay), Philippine Arena (Sta. Maria, Bulacan), Lakeshore Bicutan (Taguig), and Palacio de Maynila (Manila).

McDonald’s will also be donating three (3) testing booths to one of its long-standing community partners, Pasig City, to support their testing initiatives.

McDonald’s employees will be properly guided and assisted by the company from scheduling, conduct of testing to the release of the results. To limit exposure of the employees and to ensure that the restaurant continues to operate smoothly, only a limited number or crew and managers are scheduled per day. Members of the restaurant management team arranges for the transportation going to the Mega Swabbing Facility, provides assistance on-site for the testing and coordinates the release of results.

Should an employee test positive, McDonald’s will remain in compliance with all the government mandated protocols and will support its employees until they are able to go back to work.

“Through this expanded testing program which we are launching today, you shall not only be ensuring the health and safety of your employees, but also their families and those they come in close contact with every day,” says Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr, Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19 (NAP COVID-19).

“As we combat the virus, we are very grateful for proactive partners in the private sector such as McDonald’s. Their initiative to test their employees significantly helps strengthen the government’s testing and contact tracing program. We encourage other businesses to follow suit in helping to safely reopen the country’s economy,” says NAP COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon.

Since the announcement of the enhanced community quarantine, McDonald’s Philippines has been reinforcing its commitment towards safety of people. Under its M Safe program, the company introduced new protocols such as dedicating a safety manager in all its stores and implementing a no-touch policy for Drive-Thru and McDelivery services to ensure employee and customer safety.

Several months now since the pandemic has greatly affected our lives and difficult times brings out to everyone, unleashing the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos. This is a phenomenon we continue to witness in this Covid-19 pandemic, as companies step up to help others and continue the awareness campaign to the public.

In response of the COVID-19 the Mega Global, the Philippines’ largest sardine fishing and canning operator. The position of the company since the start of the health crisis has been finding ways to serve the community, undertaking various initiatives intended to ease the burden of its employees, local communities, healthcare institutions, and the government amid the pandemic.

With malasakit embedded in the company’s DNA, the company has partnered with different LGUs, NGOs and other private organizations and has donated over 20,000 cases of Mega Global products and over 22,000 units of personal protective gears and other medical equipment distributed to most affected communities and select hospitals around the country. Through its Mega Malasakit Kitchen and Bayani Care Package, Mega Global was able to provide more than 50,000 meals to the unsung frontliners and grocery supplies to partner merchandisers and supermarket staff.

To further amplify its efforts, Mega Global has partnered with the Department of Health for its  BIDASolusyon sa COVID-19 Campaign. This campaign aims to encourage Filipinos to take an active role in the fight against COVID-19 by promoting the correct behaviors, which are known by their starting letters: B – Bawalwalangmask;  I-sanitize ang mgakamay, iwas-hawaksamgabagay; D – Dumitansya ng isang metro and A – Alamin ang totoongimpormasyon.

As part of the partnership, Mega Global will help in rolling out BIDA information materials on virus prevention among its consumers. As the Philippines’ largest sardine brand, Mega Global enjoys a wide reach, allowing it to bring the message of BIDA to more Filipinos. In addition, the information campaign will also run on the Mega Sardines Facebook page, thereby increasing the number of people that the campaign will reach.

BIDA behaviors are strictly implemented by Mega Global in its own offices and facilities. Social distancing is observed, and new normal kits with personal protective gears have been distributed to all employees to be worn at all times. Hygiene protocols and procedures are in place upon entering the office premises, and disinfection is done daily.  Contract tracing is also in place. Mega Global’s strict protocols safeguard its people, and also ensures the safety of its products.

Marvin Tiu Lim, Chief Growth and Development Officer says, “Malasakit is deeply ingrained in our corporate values, and we would liketo be of help where we are most needed. This pandemic has been hard on everybody, including ourselves, but we have also become resilient and we have realized that we can overcome this crisis faster if we help each other. This partnership with the DOH is just one of many ways that allows us to be of assistance to Filipinos. We believe that we can help by providing correct information that would help protect people by empowering them to help themselves.”

Beyond this, Mega Global continues to pursue a myriad of activities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. The Mega Malasakit Kitchen continues to provide home-cooked meals to our tireless frontliners. Its current beneficiaries are homeless Filipinos and displaced PUJ drivers who lost their source of income due to the quarantine. Mega Global partnered with Autokid and the Department of Transportation for the Mega Care Caravan to reach out to transport service cooperatives, deploying meals, masks, shirts and sardines to the beneficiaries.

The distribution of these care packages is done with help of Mega Employees, who spend a few hours in a day to go around the Metro and give away food packs and canned goods. “The help that we extended, no matter how small, gives them hope that they have something to eat and something to give their families in the next few days. It is this message of hope that we want to bring to people, for them to know that malasakit from fellow Filipinos can still be felt despite the challenging situation we are all in” concluded Tiu Lim.