THE 900TH STORE

THE 900^TH STORE

October 1, 2015

It opened its first store in Manila in the late seventies.  When I was in the elementary and high school, my friends and I used to dream of it opening in Cebu, but we were denied the pleasure until we went to college when it started to invade the Queen City.  When I started working here in Leyte, it too started opening small outlets. Now that I am about to begin another decade of my existence here in the first landing area of the pacific storms, it followed me virtually right outside the office (well, actually a 200-meter leisurely walk is more likely the distance) with its ‘900^th store/900 reasons to smile’.

What is with Jollibee that attracts people so? Of course, the whole world knows they’re very good in advertising, primarily marketed at kids.  (I admit, the kid in me still enjoys watching Jollitown anytime, although the sign-up crew do not welcome me into the Kids Club but only my nieces and nephews. Sad!=( ).  When I attended the Euromoney Conference in Shangri-la Mactan last 2007, the CEO said that what they are actually selling is not the food products but the place and the experience. 

Jollibee is what we Filipinos can call our very own.  It is the ultimate global expression of a Tsinoy’s dream to excel at what the Americans are famous for—fast food.  And when Jollibee invaded the world—boy, did it prove itself one formidable David to the Goliath that is McDonald’s.  Especially when it serves portions more manageable for those who want to maintain their waistlines and sanity, instead of the horrendous serving sizes American fastfood offers (one regular individual serving of which can actually feed 4 regular-sized Filipino value meals). Burp!={ 

Here in Eastern Visayas, a friend who is closely related to someone from the DOH said that the cleanest fastfood is McDonald’s.  But hey, who tells that to kids and their parents who queue up in front of the counter, with a line that stretches all the way to the parking lot and the drive through?  I admit though, the spaghetti in Jollibee tastes better. Maybe because it is more or less like the one I make. Hehe.=)

So, although I wouldn’t trade my KFC chicken or my McBurger (with all its glorious lettuce, cheese and mayo fillings), I would still gladly walk under the banner of the Bee whenever I’m feeling slightly breezy.  “ISANG TULOG NA LANG...I LOVE YOU SABADO, PATI NA RIN LINGGO, HINTAY KA LANG JOLLIBEE ANDYAN NA AKO...PANLASANG PILIPINO, AT HOME SA JOLLIBEE!”. =)