STEM, Business Students form newest batch of GrabScholars

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Grab Philippines officially welcomed its fourth batch of GrabScholars, awarding full four-year scholarships to a fresh cohort of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Business, and Sustainability students.

Harvey Blaize Ramirez, whose father is a GrabCar driver-partner, is now a proud GrabScholar taking up a Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering at Mapua University

Along with tuition coverage at renowned institutions like Mapua University and the Cebu Institute of Technology University, the scholars also receive a monthly stipend, a brand-new laptop, and other school essentials.

The new cohort — Harvey Blaize Ramirez, Reign Quiñones, Lloeby Xyra Semana, Dainty Jurzhail Balde, Wrench Maxenne Singcol, and Chrislyn Bacalso — brings the program’s total number of existing full college scholars to 23.

Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda emphasized that investing in these students is an investment in the country’s tech capabilities. “The world is moving at breakneck speed, particularly with innovations in tech and AI. To better prepare our country towards important advancements, we need young Filipinos who aspire to be the next shapers of the STEM space,” Roda said. “GrabScholar is about ensuring Filipinos are empowered to be the builders and leaders of tomorrow’s tech landscape.”

The GrabScholar program is a cornerstone of the GrabForGood agenda, the superapp’s social impact initiative aimed at promoting socioeconomic mobility of communities in Southeast Asia.

Children of Grab and MOVE IT partners find a path to college

Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Booey Bonifacio, and MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto personally welcomed the scholars in the awarding ceremony at the Grab HQ in the Philippines

For several of the newest scholars, the scholarship is tied closely to their parents’ daily grind on the road, linking gig and platform work to longer-term aspirations for families in the Grab and MOVE IT ecosystem.

At Mapúa University, 18-year-old Harvey Blaize Ramirez is tackling AI Engineering. His father’s journey — evolving from a GrabFood rider to a GrabCar driver — serves as his blueprint for success. Harvey dreams of one day joining Grab’s engineering team or launching his own tech venture.

Reign Quiñones, an Industrial Engineering freshman at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), is no stranger to the hustle. While her father delivers for GrabFood, Reign balances her studies with freelance layout and editing jobs. A former campus journalist, she aims to become a Process Designer creating apps focused on social impact, such as disaster risk mitigation.

The program also welcomed new scholars from cities in regions outside of Metro Manila. In Cebu, Dainty Jurzhail Balde is pursuing Civil Engineering at the Cebu Institute of Technology University. With her father, a MOVE IT rider, serving as the sole breadwinner for their family of five, Balde is determined to pay it forward. She plans to start a foundation to mentor aspiring engineers from underprivileged backgrounds. Hailing from Davao City is Wrench Maxenne Singcol, a Computer Science student at the University of Mindanao.

GrabScholar’s new batch includes students outside Grab’s partner ecosystem. Lloeby Xyra Semana, who aspires to be a CPA-lawyer, is a freshman Accountancy student at PUP. Before the scholarship, she was supported by her mother, who works as a public school teacher and is the family’s sole breadwinner.

Chrislyn Bacalso is taking Business Administration at Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan. Her father is a person with disability, while her mother — a vegetable vendor—provides for the family. Bacalso is aiming to become the first college graduate in their household.

Going beyond scholarships: one-time bursaries for K–12 learners

Apart from full college scholarships, Grab said GrabScholar also extends one-time bursaries to more than 300 underprivileged elementary and high school students to help cover school-related needs. The financial assistance reaches up to P2,500, typically released through GrabPay as reimbursement for eligible expenses such as books, uniforms, and school supplies.

Golden Grab Awards Crown Restaurants and Grocers Setting Gold Standard in Innovation and Service Quality

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Grab Philippines honored the country’s top-performing restaurants and retailers at the Golden Grab Awards 2025, recognizing merchants that have set the "Gold Standard" in an increasingly integrated online-to-offline economy.

Golden Grab Merchants of the Year Juliet Chen (Serenitea), Gerby Estrella (JT’s Manukan Grille), and Ryan Tan (Oh Mango) with Grab Philippines leaders led by Managing Director Ronald Roda.

Top honors for the night went to homegrown milk tea giant Serenitea, which was named GrabFood Merchant of the Year for National Brands, alongside JT’s Manukan Grille, which secured the title for Nationwide Chains, and Oh Mango, which took home the award for Citywide Merchants in Metro Manila.

GrabFood Merchant of the Year for Citywide Merchants in Metro Manila: Oh Mango!

The awards ceremony, attended by hundreds of Grab merchant-partners from across the Philippines, highlighted the evolution of the superapp from an on-demand delivery service into a broader ecosystem that drives growth across both digital and physical storefronts.

This shared trajectory of growth was highlighted by EJ dela Vega, Grab Philippines Head of Deliveries and Chief Commercial Officer, who emphasized the platform’s role as an active, dedicated ally of merchant-partners as they vie for business growth.

“We know that trust is earned day by day, order by order. And the only way we can repay that trust is by remaining steadfast in our commitment to be the unwavering force behind the growth ambition of our merchant-partners,” Dela Vega shared during the Golden Grab Awards night. “Our pledge is simple: to be the partner that ensures when you dream big, you have the tools and the commercial business to achieve it”

GrabFood Merchant of the Year for  Nationwide Chains: JT’s Manukan

A defining standard of excellence

The ceremony underscored the importance of consistency and quality across the board.

In the category of GrabFood Quality, Caramia Cakes & Gelato was honored as the Best Rated National Brand, while 24 Chicken was awarded Most Reliable National Brand for its operational efficiency. For GrabMart, Ever Supermarket and Cion’s Meat Shop were recognized as the Most Reliable merchants, ensuring consistent product availability and exceptional customer experience.

The awards also highlighted the "5-Star Eats" winners — top-performing city and community merchants maintaining the highest ratings. The roster included local favorites Mylene's Ensaymada and Banana Cake, Paya Street Coffee, Quarantea, and CBS Kitchen.

Retail growth leaders were acknowledged as "Category Captains" for GrabMart, with Pet Express (Pets), Watsons (Pharmacies), and Robinsons Supermarket (Supermarkets) recognized as top sales performers setting the standard for excellence.

Innovation in marketing was also a key focus. Southstar Drug and Davao Central Convenience Store were named Adoption Leaders for effectively maximizing Grab Marketing Solutions. Meanwhile, McDonald's was awarded the Data-Driven Impact Trailblazer for its precision campaigns, and Chowking took home the Loyalty Innovation Trailblazer award.

Setting the Gold Standard forward

The event also spotlighted the industry's shift toward "hybrid" dining. JT’s Manukan Grille, Zhenbao Hotpot, and Feta Mediterranean were recognized as Best Dine-Out Merchants for maximizing deals to drive foot traffic.

Greg Camacho, Director for Off-Platform Solutions, emphasized that the future lies in ensuring a gold-standard experience for consumers – whether in-app or in physical stores. "Together, we are changing what it means to be a Grab merchant. Together, we are redefining what it means to be an omnichannel enterprise that’s fully capable of growing sales through both online and offline channels. Together, we are rewriting the playbook on how to win in an ever-evolving F&B industry.”

Grab FanFaves 2025 Recognizes Top Foodie-Voted Food Items That Define Cravings Satisfied

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 Thirty top voters won a one-year supply of winning menu items 

Grab is once again celebrating the flavors that shape the Filipino appetite with Grab FanFaves 2025, the annual honors roll that spotlights the country’s most-ordered, most-craved, and most-loved dishes and drinks.

What makes FanFaves uniquely Filipino is its voting system. Every order on the Grab app from August 15 to September 30, 2025 counts as a vote, turning everyday cravings into a nationwide food election. This year, millions of orders determined which dishes rose to the top — and which brands have become true icons in the daily lives of Filipino diners. As a special treat, thirty top voters got a one-year supply of the winning menu items, rewarding the fans whose cravings helped crown this year’s champions.

A Celebration of Food Culture

Beyond recognizing top-performing restaurants, FanFaves underscores how active participation and smart engagement on Grab translate to real business outcomes.

Merchants who capitalized on platform tools such as GrabAds capabilities, Spotlight Campaigns, and strategic product bundling saw stronger order momentum and repeat purchases throughout the voting period. This year’s winners — from big-name chains to rising regional favorites — reflect how data-led discoverability and an engaged user base can meaningfully elevate a brand’s connection with consumers.

Meet the Grab FanFaves 2025 Winners

These dishes and brands have earned their place as this year's most beloved cravings across national, sponsored, and regional categories — each one now carrying the Mark of Deliciousness, Grab’s seal of fan-approved food excellence.

1. NATIONAL ICONS
1. Platinum Winners - The Country’s Top Favorites

■     Burger

●     Yumburger Solo – Jollibee

●     Buy 1 Take 1 Black Pepper Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

■     Cakes

●     Round Chocolate Dedication Cake – Red Ribbon

●     Classic Ube Cake (Whole) – Caramia Cakes & Gelato

■     Chicken Burger

●     Crispy Chicken Sandwich Solo – McDonald’s

●     Chicken French Quarter Sandwich with Fries & Drink – Popeyes Chicken

■     Coffee

●     Caramel Macchiato – Starbucks

●     Kape Kastila – PICKUP COFFEE

■     Flavored Chicken

●     Ala King Zinger Steak Ala Carte – KFC

●     Double Double Box – BOK Korean Fried Chicken

■     Fried Chicken

●     1-pc. Chickenjoy Solo – Jollibee

●     Max’s Whole Fried Chicken – Max’s Restaurant

■     Fries or Onion Rings

●     BFF Fries – McDonald’s

●     Tera Fries – Potato Corner

■     Healthy Options

●     Solo B Roasted Chicken – Kenny Rogers Roasters

●     Chicken Teriyaki Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

■     Pasta

●     Jolly Spaghetti Solo – Jollibee

●     Spaghetti Ala Carte – Popeyes Chicken

■     Pizza

●     Double Deal Plus – Angel’s Pizza

■     Rice Bowl

●     Siomai Chao Fan – Chowking

●     Everyday Bowl – Panda Express

■     Roast or Grilled Chicken

●     Paa Large PM1 – Mang Inasal

●     Peri Flavorite Plate B – Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar

■     Coolers

●     Panda Milk Tea – CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

■     Dessert

●     McFlurry with Oreo – McDonald’s

■     Filipino Dish

●     2 pcs Pork BBQ – Mang Inasal

2. Gold Winners - A Stamp of People’s Approval

■     Burger

●     Burger McDo Solo – McDonald’s

●     Whopper Jr. – Burger King

●     Buy 1 Take 1 Bacon Cheese Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

●     Buy 1 Take 1 Minute Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

●     The Cheeseburger – Sweet Ecstasy

●     Umami Burger – Burger Beast

■     Cakes

●     Mango Bravo – Conti’s

●     Ube Vanilla Bouquet (6in) – Lemon Square Bakery Treats

■     Chicken Burger

●     Crunchy Chicken Sandwich – Jollibee

●     Zinger – KFC

●     Buy 1 Take 1 Double Chicken Time Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

■     Coffee

●     Iced Coffee – Dunkin’

■     Flavored Chicken

●     Ala King Rice Bowl – KFC

●     Half Half Boneless – 24 Chicken

●     Frankie’s Classic Buffalo (With Free Dip) Regular Wings – Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings

●     Garlick Soy Chicken with Rice – Chicken NamNam by Sulit Chicken

■     Fried Chicken

●     1-pc. Chicken McDo Solo – McDonald’s

■     Fries or Onion Rings

●     Jolly Crispy Fries – Regular – Jollibee

●     Large Cajun Fries – Popeyes Chicken

■     Healthy Options

●     Chicken Caesar Wrap – Healthy To Go

●     Chicken Salpicao Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

■     Pasta

●     Spaghetti with Garlic Bread – Pancake House

■     Pizza

●     Hawaiian – Domino’s Pizza

■     Rice Bowl

●     1-pc. Burger Steak Solo – Jollibee

●     Boneless Chicken Rice Meal (3 Pieces) – 24 Chicken

●     Bacon Breakfast Bowl – Rice and Shine

●     Chicken Salpicao Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

●     Chicken Teriyaki Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

●     Gyudon – Yoshinoya

■     Roast or Grilled Chicken

●     Solo B Roasted Chicken – Kenny Rogers Roasters

■     Coolers

●     3 Buddies – CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

●     Chocolate Chip Cream Frappuccino – Starbucks

●     Pearl Milk Tea – CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

●     Biscoff Cheese Salt Milk Tea – Cha Tuk Chak

●     Cheesecake Oreo – Macao Imperial Tea

●     Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Tea – Macao Imperial Tea

●     Coconut Juice – Fruitas

●     Mango Basic – Oh Mango

●     Pearl Milk Tea – Chatime

■     Dessert

●     Brownie Box – KFC

●     Corn Muffin – Kenny Rogers Roasters

●     Extra Creamy Halo-Halo – Mang Inasal

●     Halo-Halo Supreme (Medium) – Chowking

●     Peach Mango Pie – Jollibee

●     Box of 6 Original Glazed Doughnuts – Krispy Kreme

●     Dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts – Krispy Kreme

●     Mango Sticky Rice – Thai Mango

●     Oreo Blizzard – Dairy Queen

■     Filipino Dish

●     Crispy Pata – Kuya J Restaurant

●     House Crispy Sisig – Manam

●     House Crispy Sisig Benta Box – Manam

●     Kuya J Bulalo (Salo) – Kuya J Restaurant

●     Sinigang na Baboy – Kuya J Restaurant

●     Sizzling Tofu – Max’s Restaurant

2. COCA-COLA SPONSORED CATEGORIES
1. Platinum Winners

■     Coke Sulit Combo Deals

●     Yumburger with Fries and Coke – Jollibee

■     Coke Zero Thrill Meals

●     Family Lauriat for 4 with Coke Zero – Chowking

■     Royal Merienda Bites

●     Yumburger Super Meal with Royal – Jollibee

■     Sprite Spicy Hits

●     Spicy Chicken King Meal with Sprite – Burger King

2. Gold Winners

■     Coke Sulit Combo Deals

●     1-pc Chicken with Rice, Fries, and Drink – Popeyes

●     Cheesy Yumburger with Fries and Coke – Jollibee

●     Party Package 28pcs with 1.5L Coke – 24 Chicken

●     Pizza Combo with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

●     Pizza Duo with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

●     Pizza Party with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

●     Pizza Trio with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

●     Pork Chao Fan with Fried Chicken and Coke – Chowking

●     Solo A Roasted Chicken with Free Coke – Kenny Rogers Roasters

■     Coke Zero Thrill Meals

●     4-pc Chicken and Chao Fan Platter for 4 with Coke Zero – Chowking

●     Beef Caldereta (450g) Frozen plus 1.5L Coke Regular or Coke Zero – Baliwag Lechon Manok

●     Bopis (450g) Frozen plus 1.5L Coke Regular or Coke Zero – Baliwag Lechon Manok

●     Lechon Manok with Free Coke Zero – Lembest Lechon

●     Liempo Sisig with Free Coke Zero – Lembest Lechon

●     Siomai Chao Fan Platter Bundle for 3 with Coke Zero – Chowking

■     Sprite Spicy Hits

●     Siomai Spicy Chao Fan and Sprite – Chowking

●     Spicy Chao Fan and Sprite – Chowking

●     Spicy Chao Fan with Fried Chicken and Sprite – Chowking

3. REGIONAL FAVES - Leadership in the Region
1. Metro Manila

■     Oh Mango

■     Seoul Chicken House

■     Gourmet Silog

2. Luzon

■     GoodTaste Restaurant

■     Pyesta Diner by GoodTaste

■     Grumpy Joe

3. Visayas

■     Jafar’s Shawarma Station

■     Dimsum Break

■     Orange Brutus

4. Mindanao

■     Penong’s Barbeque Seafood and Grill

■     Chingkeetea

■     Nath’s Food on the Go

4. FAVE DINE OUT MERCHANT - Go-To Grab Dine Out Merchant
1. Zhenbao Hotpot
5. SPECIAL AWARD - Best Creative FanFaves Campaign
1. Greenwich

The FanFaves Awards Night on November 19, 2025, will mark another milestone in Grab’s ongoing commitment to recognizing culinary creativity and fan loyalty across the country.

For more information about Grab FanFaves 2025, visit the official Grab FanFaves website at grabfanfaves.com or Grab Philippines at www.grab.com/ph/.