Underprivileged Filipino kids have seen happier and brighter Christmases for the past 19 years thanks to Jollibee's Maaga ang Pasko annual toy and book drive. For those who still don't know, this campaign had its roots from celebrity Aga Muhlach's simple desire to share his blessings by bringing happiness to a few children during the Yuletide season through gifts of toys. "I was doing Oki Doki Dok at the time and I was really attached to kids."

During the Maaga ang Pasko launch in Jollibee Canlubang, Aga shared how he held a show in the old Delta Theater in Quezon City two decades ago and asked people to bring toys as entrance fees instead of selling tickets. Thus, he was thrilled to find the perfect partner in Jollibee which helped make the advocacy even better. 

Aga attributes the growth of the campaign to the popular Filipino brand. "I knew if I wanted [the advocacy] to go nationwide … kung ako lang, ilan lang ang mararating ko at kaya kong puntahan … so sabi ko, Jollibee is the right venue for this, and hindi ako nagkamali. Umabot na s'ya ng 20 years at lumaki ng ganito kalaki because of Jollibee talaga."

Grandparents are special people who should remain valued in every family. They are constant in their love and affection and are always happy when they could do things for their loved ones. This Grandparents' Day, let us, in turn make them happy by honoring them and giving thanks for everything they've done for us all these years.

Blessed are the children who got to know their grandparents and were able to experience being cared for by these family members who unselfishly provide unconditional love. I am thankful to have known my four grandparents before they all passed away. 

Likewise, I am grateful that my four children were born while both their grandfathers were still alive. Although they are gone now, we always remember their two lolos with fondness. Thankfully, my mom and mother-in-law are still around to shower my children with love and gifts whenever we see each other.

Yesterday, I joined fellow bloggers in Camp Aguinaldo to join Jollibee in giving joy to elderly veterans who were invited by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Philippine Veterans' Office Affairs (PVAO) covered court for a simple yet meaningful celebration. 

It was so heartwarming to see the big smiles of the lolos and lolas when Jollibee came out and spent time with them. The lovable bee mascot even made sure to do the Mano Po gesture (a Filipino sign of respect) which, I think, doubly cheered up the elderly guests. 

Aside from delicious Jollibee food items, the veterans were treated to music from the 60s and 70s by the Bloomfields. Who wouldn't want to dance to that?! :)

Watch this beautiful video tribute featuring grandparents who expressed how happy Jollibee made them. May they remain joyful and free from worries all the rest of their days. They deserve that after giving so much of themselves for their families during their younger years.

Let's always remember to make our grandparents feel loved and respected while they are still with us by honoring them not only during Grandparents' Day, but every day!

* Photos without watermark were borrowed from Jollibee's Twitter account

Many years ago, a charming young girl was featured in a Jollibee commercial. She grew up to be a lovely lady who had equally beautiful children with her good-looking husband.

This month, Jollibee introduced its newest family endorsers for Jolly Spaghetti in an intimate lunch held at Fairmont Hotel, Makati City. There, Carmina Villarroel-Legaspi expressed how heartwarming it is to come home to her first love -- Jollibee -- and how especially sweet the reunion is because she is now joined by the people closest to her heart, her family.

Carmina, her husband Zoren Legaspi, and their twins Mavy and Cassy made a pretty picture on stage as they shared how much they enjoy eating Jolly Spaghetti. "I've loved Jollibee since I was younger and the Jolly Spaghetti has been an all-time favorite. I'm excited to be back with the Joliibee family and this homecoming is extra special because, this time, I'll be with my own family," said the young-looking mom.

"Together with my husband and kids, I feel that we're going to have the time of our lives sharing the langhap-sarap world of Jollibee with everyone," shared Carmina. Watching them enthusiastically and animatedly answer questions shows just how much this close knit family does enjoy life. 

Zoren described Jolly Spaghetti as having "the perfect blend of flavors we Pinoys want in a spaghetti dish. It has a sweet-sarap [flavor] with rich and appetizing tomato taste that makes me, Carmina, and our kids want more!"

I commend Jollibee for making a good choice and for somehow infusing nostalgia in the new TV commercial because of the subtle similarities to the old one. Please watch both so you'll see what I mean. As the new faces for Jolly Spaghetti, the Legaspi family exhibits a great example of how the distinct personalities of each member can create the perfect blend of a happy Filipino family. As their new TVC shows, Jolly Spaghetti is something truly worth coming home to and sharing memories over.

And like the Legaspis, other Pinoy families can also get to enjoy the delicious blend of sweetness and rich tomato taste, together with the right amount of cheese and meats, in every serving of Jolly Spaghetti.

My own kids also grew up eating Jolly Spaghetti. Now that they're in their teens, they still like ordering spaghetti whenever we eat at Jollibee. After all, who can resist the cheesiest, meatiest, and spaghettiest dish from Jollibee's menu? :) 

It's always nice to know that you can earn freebies when you spend on stuff that you normally buy anyway. I've been using the happyplüs card for a few months now and am looking forward to redeeming food products from some of our favorite stores using my points soon.

Now, there's a new tie-up that will make over 1 million happyplüs card members even happier. Earn happypoints when you gas up from over 500 Caltex stations nationwide!

Every P100 fuel up at Caltex will earn you 1 happypoint which is equal to P1. The easy-to-accumulate happypoints can be redeemed for food products in any participating Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Red Ribbon outlets nationwide. For instance, your single or cumulative gas up worth P1000 earns 10 happypoints that can already be used to redeem for a free Vanilla Cone Twirl at Jollibee. 

I'm glad to know that even motorcycle riders, including the tricycle drivers who regularly gas up at the Caltex station right outside our village, can also join because fuel purchases below P100 will still earn a fraction of a happypoint! This means P80 worth of gas is equal to 0.80 happypoints -- no minimum purchase amount required.  

Likewise, whether you use cash, credit, debit, StarCar or StarCash to buy gasoline or diesel, you are qualified to earn happypoints. So, the more you gas up at Caltex, the more free products for you and your family! Cardholders of happyplüs can avail of this benefit up to P20,000 per month of fuel purchases.

Become a happyplüs member by simply buying a membership kit priced at P100 in Caltex stations, Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Red Ribbon stores nationwide. You also earn 1 happypoint for every P50 food purchase at participating stores. Fore more details, please visit http://happyplus.com/caltex.

The happyplüs rewards promo is a partnership between industry giants Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuel and lubricants, and Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC), owner of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Red Ribbon brands, to provide customers with the most enticing fuel and food rewards.

In 2013, CPI already partnered with JFC in free Jollibee treats promo that became a huge success among motorists. Prior to that, CPI signed a MOA with JFC to build Jollibee stores in Caltex stations.

Announcement! BPI card holders still have two weeks to pay for purchases using their ATM or credit cards so they can use the transaction slips to redeem Jollibee treats!

This promo started last November 2013 and is soon to wrap up at the end of January 2014. What I love about BPI's promos is that redemption is always extended for a couple of months!

My husband and I have already bought several stuff using our cards and have exchanged our transaction slips for Jollibee items. Some, we ate before we buy groceries, others, like the Chickenjoy Bucket, we bring home to the kids. Who doesn't love Jollibee foods after all?

So make sure you save those transaction slips amounting to P2,000 P6,000 and P12,000 and get the following at any Jollibee branch nationwide:

Customers are allowed up to 3 redemptions per day, per store, valid for dine-in or take out. Redemption period is until April 1, 2014.

Many of us have at least one favorite toy when we were small. I remember treasuring a doll with eyes that close when I lay her down to sleep. I would braid her hair and dress her up then bring her to play dates with my friends. If you have a fond memory about a toy like I do, we were the lucky ones.

borrowed from footage.shutterstock.com

Every Filipino kid recognizes and loves Jollibee. This Christmas, surprise your little one with another cute and cuddly version of the Philippines' beloved bee!

This time, aside from just "singing", the latest Jollibee plush toy can dance! Watch this short video I took the other day.

This dancing Jollibee doll is now available in Jollibee stores starting today, November 2, until December 31, 2013 for P399.00 each with any food or drink purchase.

If you find this doll adorable, make sure to buy one as early as possible because stocks run out fast. In 2010, I posted a press release on the Jollibee and Friends Dolls and I got a lot of reader inquiries for months asking me where they could still find some. Unfortunately, I am not connected with Jollibee so I could not help in that area.

So, have fun when you do get to buy your own dancing Jollibee doll :)

We all know Superman and what he can do. We also basically know the story of his beginnings.

Through the years, we've seen different actors portray Superman on TV and in films but the Man of Steel remained true to his mission: to do good for the benefit of mankind.

Although I will always treasure the movies where Christopher Reeve starred in, the newest Superman film starring Henry Cavill flies on its own merits. After all, the latest Clark Kent is someone easy to swoon about :)

Aside from his good looks though, this actor was able to portray his role very well. I can say the same thing about his co-stars Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, and Amy Adams as well as the rest of the cast.

I enjoyed the visual effects in Man Of Steel. The were done pretty well and could really pass off as scenes from other worlds apart from our own. We may just can't see or understand them for now. The costumes are also amazing.

There are also lessons here to be learned about bullying, being bullied, and how you deal with the issues that can show your true character. May parents and children find words of wisdom in the scenes showing Clark being raised well by his sensible earth parents.

This movie provides great entertainment. I recommend watching it if you are a fan of superheroes in general, not just Superman. There's always something about good triumphing over evil that will make you root for the good guys every time.

If you want to take home some mementos of Man Of Steel, make sure to drop by the nearest Jollibee branch near the cinema and buy one, or all, of these Superman collectibles available from Jollibee's Kids Meals:

More information about these limited-edition collectibles here.

* Special thanks to Jollibee and Stratworks for inviting us to the block screening!

Last June, I wrote about the call for nominations for the Jollibee Family Values Awards 2012. A few days ago, Jollibee recognized five outstanding families from Manila, Dagupan, Bacolod, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga Sibugay during the Gabi ng Parangal Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino. 

The event, held at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, ended the two-month long search that gathered over 1,000 entries from all over the country! The esteemed panel of judges, comprised of various personalities from different sectors and who are known family advocates, admitted to having a hard time choosing the top five because all the stories submitted are worth commending.

Chosen as this year's JFV Awardees were: Mr. and Mrs. Emiliano and Anicia Guzman and family of Tondo (Manila); Mr. and Mrs. Romeo and Clarivel Banzuela and family of Bonuan Boquig, Dagupan (Luzon); Mr. and Mrs. Rey and Mae Ramos and family of Bacolod City (Visayas); Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Anna Marcia Butic of Malaybalay, Bukidnon (Mindanao); and Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Jennifer Cardente and family of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay (Mindanao).

The families' advocacies include helping indigenous folks in their communities, enlisting as environmental advocates, reaching out to underprivileged students, and assisting less-fortunate families. All of them were found to embody treasured Filipino family values that transcend their homes and inspire other people.

As rewards to their inspirational stories, each of the five winning families received a cash prize of P100,000 (tax-free), P10,000 worth of Jollibee gift certificates, a trophy especially designed by acclaimed brass sculptor Michael Cacnio, roundtrip domestic airfares from Airphil Express, accommodations at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, and whole-day passes to the Manila Ocean Park.

The 2nd JFVA's Board of Judges is comprised of: Coca-Cola Export Corporation Public Affairs and Communications Director Atty. Adel Tamano; entrepreneur and familoy and children's rights advocate Audrey Tan-Zubiri; Ateneo Mathematics and Science professor and psychologist Dr. Queena Lee-Chua; marriage and family counselor Maribel Sison-Dionisio; Department of Social Welfare and Development Director for the Legislative and Liaison Office Dir. Prescila R. Villa, and Marriage Encounter Foundation of the Philippines and Center for Family Ministries (CEFAM) National Training Director Fr. Allan Abuan.

The Board of Judges was chaired by Jollibee Foundation President Grace Tan-Caktiong, who was also joined by Jollibee's Vice President for Marketing Albert Cuadrante and Vice President for Human Resources Theresa Jotie.

According to Cuadrante, the hundreds of entries they received this second year of the Jollibee Family Values Awards and the exceptional stories of the five winning families affirm their belief that there are so many Filipino families out there, unsung heroes, who are not just raising well-rounded individuals but are also affecting their communities in positive ways. "They assert Jollibee's conviction of keeping the family at the heart of what we do because of the crucial role they play in our society."

Hosting the celebration were the husband and wife tandem of Julius and Tintin Babao. It featured wonderful performances by music artists Richard Poon, Princess Velasco, and the all-female group Baihana.

The JFVA was initially launched in 2011 and is just one of Jollibee's many initiatives to strengthen its commitment in upholding Filipino values and promoting the welfare of the family. 

* To see more photos from the event, please click here.

Positive values and social responsibility starts at home. Jollibee recognizes this and came up with the Family Values Awards last year to honor model Filipino families whose strong ties and admirable qualities serve as inspiration to their communities.

This 2012, another set of five families will be awarded for the 2nd Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA). And to formally kick off this year's search, Jollibee hosted a roundtable discussion at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel with members of the media. We were presented with the topic "The Filipino Family in the Digital Age" and learned various views from family welfare advocates -- who will also be joining the 2012 Board of Judges -- comprised of the following panelists: lawyer and media personality Atty. Adel Tamano, entrepreneur and proud mom Audrey Tan-Zubiri, marriage and family counselor Maribel Sison-Dionisio, and Jollibee Vice President for Marketing Albert Cuadrante. 

Hosted by the husband and wife team of Julius and Tintin Babao, the discussions centered on the effects of today's technology such as social media, instant messaging, mobile phones, and the Internet, in shaping the values of each member of the family. The panelists exchanged opinions and insights on whether technology strengthens or weakens family ties.

Other members of the board of judges are Jollibee Foundation President Grace Tan Caktiong, who will sit as Chairman; Father Allan Abuan of the Center for Family Ministries; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Alicia Bala; academician and columnist Dr. Queena Lee-Chua; and Jollibee Vice President for Human Resources Theresa Jotie.

Albert Cuadrante expressed that, as a company that upholds the well-being of families and children, Jollibee continues to champion the welfare of the Filipino family and the significant role it plays in building a nation of well-round and caring individuals. "Through the JFVA, we aspire to further strengthen the foundations of the family by recognizing those who serve as inspiration to others through their joy, unity, optimism, and generosity."

Last year, over 1,300 nominations for the JFVA were received from all over the country. The five families who took home the awards were: the Cartojano family of General Santos City; Francisco family of Lucena, Quezon; Mercado family of Quezon City; Depla family of Sta. Maria, Bulacan; and Suplido family of Silay, Negros Occidental. They were chosen for their shared values and inspiring ways in which they have positively influenced their communities.

This year, the five winning families will each receive a cash prize of P100,000, a trophy designed by renowned brass sculptor Michael Cacnio, round airfare tickets to any local destination from Airphil Express, whole-day passes to Manila Ocean Park, and P10,000 worth of Jollibee Gift Certificates.

To join, nominators must accomplish the nomination form and answer the questionnaire on the nominated family's suitability and eligibility. Forms are available for free in all Jollibee branches nationwide. They can also be downloaded from www.jollibee.com.ph. Deadline of submission of entries is on August 31, 2012. 

For more details, please visit the nearest Jollibee branch or www.jollibee.com.ph

*To view more photos during the event, please visit the Jollibee album in this blog's Facebook page.

Parents and kids were given a great opportunity to go on a fun hunt in Jollibee's Quest for the Golden Nuggets last August 6 at the Ronac Art Center in Ortigas. There, we (yes, even moms and dads!) got to play various games to help our teams advance towards the middle of the giant human board game.

My son and I were given green shirts after we registered while some of our friends got blue, yellow, and red shirts which meant we had to play in different teams.  Still, the jolly camaraderie among everyone made that Saturday morning a time of pure enjoyment and the shirts added to the already colorful environment.

We cheered our teammates as well as members of the other teams. Some kids got to jump on the big trampoline to gather flags. Other played the Jollibee trivia game. There was also a Pictionary type game where one kid would draw something on a large piece of paper and the teammates would have to guess what it is.

The yellow team got to the prize first which is the Golden Key that would unlock the mystery treasure chest and reveal the golden discovery. What was it? A huge box that represents Jollibee's newest yummy offering: the Chicken Nugget Crunchers that offers the best of both worlds -- flavor and fun in a healthier package!

Celebrity moms Christine Jacob Sandejas, Patricia Hizon, Lexi Schulze, and Romina Urra-Gonzalez, and their children also participated in the various challenges.

It's amazing how the venue was transformed into a huge play land. Jollibee once again made sure that their guests would definitely enjoy the activities. There was a photo booth as well as talented artists who drew very nice caricature drawings of each attendee. I also loved how the organizers placed "treasure chests" filled with gold-wrapped candies and chocolates on each table.

 

The new Jollibee Chicken Nugget Crunchers are made of seasoned tender chicken and carrot bits and are fortified with Vitamin A for healthier eyesight. Each box comes with a sweet barbecue sauce that is perfect for dipping.

Children can now enjoy this healthy and tasty treat in a Jollibee Kids Meal complete with rice, regular-sized softdrink, and the featured collectible toy for only P98. The Chicken Nugget Crunchers can also be ordered solo for P75; as a value meal with rice and and regular-sized softdrink for P99; or with regular fries and regular-sized softdrink for P110.

If you haven't tasted the nuggets yet, head to the Jollibee branch nearest you and order for dine-in, take-out, or drive-thru. You can also call the Jollibee Express Delivery hotline at 8-7000 or log on to www.jollibeedelivery.com.

What child doesn't love Jollibee and Friends? I don't know any kid (or kid-at-heart for the matter) who doesn't enjoy seeing the friendly bee and the other lovable Jollibee mascots in person or on TV.

Last Saturday, a selected group of excited little ones and their parents got to attend a sneak peek of what Jollitown's 4th season has in store for its fans. We were greeted with a very colorful balloon arc at the entrance to the Whitespace hall in Pasong Tamo Extension.

Beyond the double doors was a virtual fairytale land decorated with new and familiar stuff from the hit children's TV show. I love the colorful decorations that really made the place seem very magical.

Before the program proper started, we were offered lunch consisting of some really yummy treats. I got food from the adult's buffet table but was quite envious when I saw that my son had Chickenjoy on his plate. Although our food was good too, a fellow mom and I agreed that we should have lined up at the kids' buffet table instead! :p

At around 1 p.m., Mr. Q appeared to host the event. He guided us through highlights of the new season. Basically, the magical clock tower DingDangDong is broken and it’s up to Jollibee and friends to put him back together. Along the way, they meet new characters like the futuristic Mr. Tom Morrow and his robots that accidentally went out of control.

To help fix DingDangDong, guests young and old participated in cool and fun games aimed to rebuild Jollitown. My son and I joined the the rainbow game and we won! All the credit goes to Daniel  because he's the one who moves very fast and is good at puzzles too :)

More games had parents and their kids having a lot of fun as they bond during the interactive games. We also witnessed some really awesome art performances by the My Masterpiece Movement as they drew and colored Jollitown to life and took all of us on a very creative time-travel journey.

Before the enjoyable afternoon ended, the well-loved mascots -- Jollibee, Popo, Hetty, Twirlie, and Yum  -- treated guests with a much-awaited performance and gamely posed for photos with all of us later.

Remind your kids to catch their beloved characters onscreen every Sunday as they travel across time and rebuild Jollitown. This 4th season starts airing on July 18, 9 a.m. at ABS-CBN.