foodpanda’s outstanding small vendors hailed as Panda Local Heroes

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 In this new normal, many businesses have moved towards digital channels in order to better serve their customers – and ultimately survive. Many have enlisted the help of online food delivery platforms, and small businesses have especially benefited from the added reach and exposure that these platforms provide. Some of these small shops have even gone on to become very successful ventures, inspiring countless other entrepreneurs. 

Recognizing the potential of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is leading online quick commerce platform foodpanda, which recently awarded its first-ever set of MSME Panda Local Heroes, which include home-based online shops and local mom-and-pop stores, showing outstanding performance and entrepreneurial skills amongst their community of partner vendors.

“The fact that they are contributing to the growth of their local economy and not just surviving, but thriving despite the challenges, already makes them heroes in their own right. So I believe that the award’s name is only fitting for these businesses,” says Hardik Batra, Commercial Director of foodpanda Philippines. “We’re glad to be their partners to help them along the way.”

The selected Panda Local Heroes offer a wide range of food choices, and their stories are as fascinating as their menu offerings.

The heart to serve

Hailing from Calumpang in the province of South Cotabato, Sheila’s Buko Halo offers fruity refreshments and desserts perfect for both the hot and cold weather. Owner Maria Fe Cenon recalls their journey towards opening their halo-halo business. “Nung una, ang tinda lang namin ay gulay at prutas hanggang sa naisipan na naming magtinda ng halo-halo at iba pang meryenda.”

A barangay official, she brought her passion to serve into the way she does business – by putting her heart into serving their customers. “Ang lagi kong bilin at turo sa mga staff ko, dapat malinis kayo mag-trabaho, approachable sa mga customers, at mabilis mag-serve ng orders lalo na kapag sa foodpanda.”

Within four months with the online quick commerce platform, Sheila’s Buko Halo was already among the top performing vendors nationwide. “Masarap sa pakiramdam na nagtiwala agad ang foodpanda na maging partner merchant kami kahit ‘di pa naman ganun kalago ang business namin noon. Simula nung nasa app na kami at nagpo-post na rin sa social media yung mga nag-order, mas lalo kami nakilala. Malaking tulong talaga ang foodpanda samin kaya kampante ako na lalago ang business ko with them as our partner.”

Maximizing skills

Danz Pelaez was one of the many freelancers who had to look for another way to make a living when the pandemic hit. “I was a freelance event photographer before. Alam namin na mawawalan na ng events dahil sa pandemic kaya nag-isip agad kami ng ibang mapagkakakitaan.”

With this move came the birth of Today’s Dine by TDF located at the heart of General Santos City, in Acharon Village. “Nagagamit ko pa rin yung skills ko as a photographer dahil ako rin kumukuha ng shots ng menu sa app.” And Danz indeed has an exceptional photography skill making their menu deliciously enticing to try and order.

“Para mag stand-out yung food na ino-offer mo, kailangan kakaiba, like yung spicy tuna sisig namin na kahit three months palang ay most popular order na agad.” Aside from this best seller, Today’s Dine by TDF also has chicken meals, silog meals, and rice meals in their long list of menu.

“Ang store namin, dito lang din sa bahay mismo at kami lang ng misis ko ang staff. Kaya we rely heavily on online orders lalo na sa foodpanda. Ever since nag-join ako bilang partner merchant, ito na yung naging main income ng family ko,” he added.

“Dapat lang talaga marunong dumiskarte. At ‘di ko rin nakakalimutan mag-share ng tips, advice at knowledge sa kapwa vendors para mag-succeed din sila.”

Championing the region’s local product

A Muslim dish native to people in Mindanao, “pastil” is made of rice and shredded indigenous mackerel or "pirit" fish wrapped in banana leaf. Capturing the hearts of foodies while preserving the Muslim food tradition is Pinutos Rice Pastel by Pritz Pono. “With determination and an innovative mindset, we were able to perfect this classic flavorful dish.”

“Bukod sa masarap at affordable, our ingredients are coming straight from the fish canneries in GenSan and chicken dressing plants in Davao, as a way to patronize the local produce in our region."

“Ngayon na may presence na kami sa foodpanda app, sana mas makilala pa ang Pinutos Rice Pastel at mas maraming tao pa ang maka-try ng local dish namin dito sa Tagum City at sa Mindanao. With foodpanda’s reach, we’re hoping na makapag-branch out pa kami sa ibang areas,” Pritz said.

She is also very grateful for the recognition given by foodpanda to small local businesses like them. ”As a small food business, marami talagang challenges. Kaya yung award katulad nito, we feel that our efforts are valued and recognized.”

Perks of being a Panda Local Heroes Awardee

A total of 80 partner vendors were selected as Panda Local Heroes and they are set to enjoy exclusive perks and deals. They will bear a vendor ambassador pink tag on the app so they can easily be identified as a Panda Local Heroes Awardee, along with other special deals and discounts.

According to Batra, they are very proud of the achievements of their partner vendors. “foodpanda is honored to help small businesses during the pandemic and beyond. We also want our customers to have more options, and to try something new that will tickle their taste buds.”

“We continue to expand our footprint by partnering with local and smaller merchants in different areas in the Philippines.  Through these partnerships, we are helping them earn additional revenue online and give them the necessary push to expand or become more well-known,” he adds.

Offering local Filipino dishes, cafe staples, snacks, comfort food, healthy food, and desserts from across the country, the awardees of the Panda Local Heroes were chosen for showcasing business and entrepreneurial excellence in the 2^nd quarter of the year. Check here for the full list of winners.

 

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About foodpanda:

foodpanda is dedicated to bringing food lovers their favorite meals from curated local restaurants in the Philippines. Since its creation, the on-demand food delivery service has grown to more than 170,000 partner restaurants in more than 325 cities across 13 Asian and Central Europe markets. foodpanda Philippines currently operates in 150 cities and municipalities across the Philippines and continuously expanding. foodpanda is a subsidiary under Delivery Hero, a worldwide leader of the food delivery industry. For more information, visit www.foodpanda.ph.

How it works:

Through the foodpanda website or via the new iOS and Android apps, customers can enter their address and view a curated list of restaurants and shops serving their neighborhood. Once they have found their choice, they can place an order in the comfort of their home or office, paying online through foodpanda’s secure platform or via cash-on-delivery The order is then carefully prepared by the restaurant or shop, picked up by the foodpanda rider and delivered straight to their doorstep.

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SALAMAT AT SALUDO! May 1 for Every Juan, the Country’s Modern Day Heroes

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Salute to all medical front liners working tirelessly to save lives, delivery riders providing service and convenience day in and day out, teachers adapting to the new modality of learning, men in uniform who ensure everyone’s safety, homemakers who perform equally arduous responsibilities, and every hardworking Pinoy—our heroes of today.

In celebration of Labor Day, CHERRY shows gratitude to the country’s commendable workforce through a Labor Day Promo on May 1, 2021.

During the promo, you may get the Cherry Ion limited edition colors for only P2,999 from P3,700. This is a personal wearable air purifier that releases up to 200 million negative ions (healthy anions). It helps prevent colds, cough, allergy, hay fever, and asthma by getting rid of germs, airborne viruses, dust, and air molds. Also, you may bring home the Cherry Ionizer with Air Purifier and Humidifier for only P3,500 from P4,000. This on the other hand emits up to 300 million negative ions (healthy anions), has 4-stage air purification with 99.98% purification rate, is equipped with 300mL water tank capacity, and even swears to improve quality of sleep.

During these trying times, leaving the house alone is already critical due to the COVID-19 virus. It is, therefore, considered an act of bravery to stay outside for long hours just to be able to answer the call of duty and provide for the family. By the same token, fulfilling duties remotely as well as ensuring that every member of the family is taken good care of are also painstaking responsibilities that deserve similar recognition. Take this chance to laud those you know and give them a memorable Labor Day gift that will help keep them extra protected.

To all the Cherryfic Filipino workers, maraming salamat po!

This promo is available at selected stores within NCR Plus: SM Bicutan, SM Bacoor, SM Dasmarinas, SM Rosario, SM Trece, SM Sta. Rosa, Puregold Tanza, Central Mall Binan, Central Dasma, Victory Mall Caloocan, Quiapo Underpass, Market! Market!, Puregold FTI, Lucky Gold Plaza, SM Fairview, MLCI SM Southmall, MLCI SM Center Las Pinas, MLCI SM City Marikina, MLCI SM City Masinag, CSVI Puregold QI, CSVI SM East Ortigas, CSVI Robinsons Place Antipolo, GIZMO Robinsons Place Manila CM, and GIZMO Fishermall.

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CHERRY is a Philippine-based company offering an extensive variety of products in communication technology, Internet of Things (IoT) system, home, personal, health and pet essentials, creating one ecosystem. Cherry carries an array of brands and services under its belt: Cherry Mobile, Cherry Prepaid, Cherryroam, Cherry Home, and Cherry Pet.

Love, glory and sacrifice : Heroes across the sea

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Loving from the distance... People live away from their loved ones back home, delude themselves into thinking that they can live everyday life elsewhere around the world, and hope, pray and expect that the people they left behind will always be there safe and live comfortably.

People always ask themselves "what are you willing to do for the people you love?"

For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), this question is something they live with every day. Every day, they answer it by spending time away from their families, working in a different world. Every day they choose to help, often at the cost of their own comfort. 

Working abroad requires big changes. It means going out of comfort zones and taking chances far from the convenience of the place they call home. Bringing their talents abroad for the sake of uplifting loved ones back in the country involves dedication, a strong will, and unarguably, a big heart. 

For actor and TV personality Robin Padilla, calling these people “modern day heroes” is not enough for the amount of glory and sacrifice they give to the country. The actor, who is an avid advocate of OFWs, can very much relate to the stories these people tell.

“Hindi ako bago sa kanila. Baliktad lang siguro ang sitwasyon ko dahil ako kumikita ako dito at pinapadala ko sa Australia. Pero alam ko ang pakiramdam ng malayo sa mga anak ko. (I’m not new to their situation. Maybe it’s the opposite because in my case I earn money here and send it to Australia. But I know the feeling of being away from my children.),” Robin added. 

The drive of these modern heroes and their dedication towards their loved ones are aspects that have always resonated with him. He shares the facets that make him admire these people succinctly and emphatically. 

“Kung sakripisyo lang, lahat naman tayo nagsasakripisyo eh. Yung tibay talaga. Kapag andun ka sa ibang bansa at solo ka, iba yun. (If it’s just about sacrifice, we all make them. It is really the strength of these people. It is different when you are in a different country alone.).”

Touching the hearts of OFWs

The actor’s innate compassion for these individuals is the reason why he was chosen by a leading global money remittance service to serve as its face--and heart. Alex Chan Lim, Country Manager of MoneyGram International, Inc., Philippines praises the man for his sincere stand towards OFWs. 

“There was a meeting of the minds. When we first talked to him, we saw how he keeps true to his word. All the things that he says, they come from the heart.”

He elaborates, “He isn’t the type of person who would just go out there for the sake of his job as an endorser. He has genuine care that touches the hearts of these people. And once you touch the softness of their heart, the rest will follow.”

The actor, who has represented MoneyGram since 2012, has been an effective conduit that connects Filipinos abroad to the culture they have temporarily left behind in the country. With the help of the brand, the TV personality has actively reached out to OFWs through a series of performances to bring joy to these modern heroes.

MoneyGram has been participating and at some cases, mounting its own shows for free as part of their efforts for the OFWs. Padilla religiously participates in them to gamely entertain the OFW communities across the sea. 

Lim shares one particular experience they had abroad. “There was a time when we went to Saudi Arabia and we met an OFW who works at the hotel we checked in. When he saw us, he naturally got awestruck with Robin. He returned three times just to talk to us. We talked for hours and not once did I see Robin show signs that he was tired.”

“What really surprised me is that he gave something that is really personal to him. That is out of his responsibilities as a brand endorser but he did it,” he continues. 

Robin gave one of the shirts he uses for his prayer sessions. “Sabi ko sa kanya, etong pangdasal ko na to, ang daming humihingi. Hindi ko to binigay pero ibibigay ko ito sayo. (I told him, there are so many people who asked me for this. I didn’t give it to them but I am giving this to you.)”

A progressive approach

Lim and Padilla pride their approach towards OFWs as progressive. 

“Nagsimula kami sa malasakit. Pero progressive kami sa approach. Sa mga performances, yung mga nagawa na namin, hindi na namin inuulit. (We started with compassion. But we are progressive with our approach. When it comes to performances, we do not repeat what we have done already.),” Robin explains.

This kind of approach is what MoneyGram also applies to their business. “It’s a very transparent service. MoneyGram doesn’t have hidden charges. Whatever amount the OFW sends, it is the exact same amount that their family in the Philippines receives*,” says Lim. “Of course we are improving on other services. It is progressive.” 

These are just some of the ways that MoneyGram brings families closer. The brand has been to Japan, Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to name a few out of over 200 countries and territories. For this year, the company has laid out more plans to touch the lives of more Filipinos with Robin actively pitching in for ideas. 

Lim enthuses, “Getting someone to represent your brand is easy. But how to effectively use him, you use him to grow the business and touch the hearts of the people. For us, there is equal importance to these two. Robin touches the heart of each and every Filipino outside this country. This is how business should be about.”

“Yung samin, gusto na lang naming iparamdam sa mga OFWs na andito ako para paligayahin kayo. Kahit isa, dalawang oras. Hindi mo na mabibili yun. (For us, we just want to make OFWs feel that I am here to make you happy even if it’s just for an hour or two. There is no price to that happiness.),” says the actor. 

“Ang pagsabi ng bayani, hindi sa salita yan kundi sa gawa. Ang mapangiti mo ang mga taong ito, ito na yung pinakasimpleng pwede nating gawin para pasalamatan sila. (You shouldn’t only call them heroes, you should act on it. Making these people smile is the least we can do to thank them.),” he closes.

Endorsements from top caliber celebrities are indeed, one of the great tools that companies nowadays employ to find that "hook" among its consumers. MoneyGram, with its dealings with Robin Padilla, was able to strike that goldmine of connecting with its market. However, what simply sets them apart is the genuine love and compassion of their endorser, to the strong mass of OFWs across the globe that the company serves. A truly unique, and a heartwarming relationship between MoneyGram and its endorser. Aptly put, quoting Alex Lim and Robin on what sets them apart, "being with MoneyGram, you look beyond business. For us, it's all about service, na "Galing Sa Puso" (service from the heart). 

* MoneyGram and its agent will not apply any processing fee or any other fee to the recipients of money transfer service in the Philippines. However other fees may be charged to a recipient by a competent local authority in the Philippines.

MoneyGram and the Globe are marks of MoneyGram. ©2016 MoneyGram.