The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) honored the key figures that catalyzed the franchising industry’s growth in the Philippines decades ago during the 2019 Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA) on Tuesday night at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City. Photo shows (starting from third from left) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) honorary chair and treasurer and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr.; former Finance Secretary and Philippine Stock Exchange chairman Jose Pardo; first PFA president Manuel Siggaoat; PFA chairman emeritus and Father of Philippine Franchising Samie Lim; and PCCI president and PFA vice chair Ma. Alegria "Bing" Sibal Limjoco receiving the PFA Legacy Awards from (from left) PFA chairman Alan Escalona, Trade Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Pena and PFA president Richard Sanz.
Five private sector leaders who laid the foundation for a vibrant franchising industry in the country two decades ago have been honored by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) with the “PFA Legacy Award” Tuesday night at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel.
The presentation of the PFA Legacy Award to Former Finance Secretary Jose T. Pardo, Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., Ma. Alegria “Bing” Sibal Limjoco, Manuel Siggaoat and Samie Lim served as the highlight of the 2019 Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA), which also recognized today’s best franchising brands in several categories.
"The Award shows how grateful we are--the new generation of franchise owners and franchisees--to them. They are the pioneers of the industry who worked selflessly to make franchising an important tool for economic development and nation-building. We are now enjoying the fruits of their labor," PFA President Richard Sanz said.
Pardo is a well-respected statesman whose irreplaceable support and network sustained the PFA during its early years and served as the group’s founding chairman.
Ortiz-Luis Jr., as an offer of USAID in the 1990s, provided the seed fund used to create a road map, which paved the way for the phenomenal growth of the Philippine franchising sector. This earned him the title "Godfather of Philippine franchising”. He is currently the honorary chair and treasurer of the PCCI, the president of Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. and the president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines.
Siggaoat, a founding trustee of PFA and the PFA president when the Philippines hosted the World Franchise Council (WFC) meeting in 2001, successfully showed the franchising world that the Philippines was on track to be a major player in global franchising.
Sibal-Limjoco, the first Asian to be granted the Certified Franchise Executive badge and oversaw the World Franchise Council and Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation meetings in 2011, is credited for cementing the Philippines’s highly esteemed position in regional and global franchising. She is currently the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's largest business organization.
Lim, PFA’s founder and universally acknowledged as the Father of Philippine Franchising, is a respected figure in global franchising and is often invited to international gatherings, where he consistently promotes the Philippines as the franchise hub of Asia. He has positioned the Philippines as a key contributor in the development and direction of franchising, not only in the Philippines, but also in Asia Pacific and across the globe.
Meanwhile, Potato Corner, “The World’s Best Flavored Fries,” received the PFA President’s Award, which is the FEA’s most coveted award. The awardee was chosen from the roster of Global Filipino Franchise Awardees. Potato Corner believes that “while globalization will take a brand to the international scene, it is localization that will actually make it successful.”
Potato Corner has excelled in international market penetration while maintaining consistent growth performance locally. Potato Corner is also a certified Global Filipino Franchise Hall of Fame Awardee.
Potato Corner also received the FEA Best Franchise Marketing Program Award from the Food Sector, Small Store Category for going beyond traditional marketing strategies and consistently coming up with the freshest and innovative ideas that are considered to be game -changers.
The Global Filipino Franchise Award was conferred on Philippine companies which have become benchmarks both in their local and overseas expansion. These are the brands that have successfully bridged the gap between local and global standards, thus boosting, their chance to bring Philippine brands to overseas markets.
The Global Filipino Franchise Awardee from the Service Sector, Large Store Category, was Dr. Carl Balita Review Center (CBRC). CBRC has embraced a social franchising model in its global expansion efforts. CBRC was also recognized as a Hall of Famer Outstanding Filipino Franchise from the Service Sector, Large Store Category.
The FEA Global Filipino Franchise Awardee from the Food Sector, Large Store Category was Yellow Cab. Yellow Cab also grabbed the Outstanding Filipino Franchise Award from the Food Sector, Large Store Category. It has over 160 Philippine stores plus 20 more overseas.
Another Outstanding Filipino Franchise Awardee from the Retail Sector - Large Store category, HALL OF FAME Awardee was Toby’s Sports. It has over four decades of sports retailing experience. Despite the entry of foreign brands, Toby’s continues to be the top-of-mind sports store in the country.
With the theme “Building Legacies”, the PFA paid tribute to former PFA presidents who left enduring legacies within the organization and the entire industry. These former presidents have been instrumental in sustaining the growth of the Philippine franchising sector and helped make it an important tool to elevate the country into a nation of opportunities.
The following are the recipients of the prestigious “PFA Leadership Excellence Award”: Dr. Alan Escalona (PFA president 2015-2017), current PFA Chairman and is the President of Quicklean, Fruit Magic and Pure Nectar; Mr. Franklin Go (PFA president 2013-2015), former COO of Goldilocks Bakeshop;
Ms. Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta (PFA president 2009-2013), current chair of PFA’s Council of Past Presidents; Mr. Robert Trota (PFA president 2005-2009), president and CEO of Max’s Group Inc.; Siggaoat (PFA president 2000-2001), a founding trustee of PFA and is considered one of the pillars of Philippine franchising;
Sibal-Limjoco (PFA president 1998-1999, 2002-2004), the first woman president, currently the CEO of Francorp Philippines and the PFA’s permanent representative to the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation; and Lim (PFA President 1995-1997), Chairman Emeritus of the Association and the permanent representative to the World Franchise Council.
Other recognitions were conferred, such as Best Franchise Marketing Award, Most Promising Filipino Franchise Award, The Chairman’s Award, Franchisee Awards, Inclusive Business Award and PwC Icon of Franchising Award. Jollibee and McDonald’s won multiple awards