Category Archives: International

JOLLIBEE TO PULL OUT OF THE U.S. MARKET; CHOWKING GAINING MOMENTUM

The Jollibee Mascot, then and now
The Jollibee Mascot, then and now

SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – McDonald’s has all but conceded that it cannot compete with Jollibee in the Philippines.  The clown is simply unable to keep up with the popularity of that “fat, stupid happy bee” in the Asian island nation.

But the opposite is true in the U.S.

McDonald’s is outpacing Jollibee in all markets throughout the continental U.S., as well as in Alaska and Hawaii.

As a result, Jollibee has announced it is completely pulling out of the U.S. market.

In the last few years, many have noticed that the Jollibee mascot has become pale and has lost a lot of weight  (see photo) due to the declining number of customers and disappointing sales figures.

Jollibee Foods Corporation says it will relocate all of its U.S.-based mascots to the Philippines, where they are expected to recover quickly.

Meanwhile, another Philippines-based fast food restaurant is gaining momentum in the U.S.

downloadChowking USA is a quick service restaurant from the Philippines with a Chinese-influenced menu. Chowking, its mother brand, is one of the most recognized and well-loved fast food chains in the Philippines. The brand opened its first store in the U.S.  in 1995. Back then, the chain catered primarily to Filipino Americans, bringing them iconic menu items from the original Chowking.

Today, Chowking USA serves not just the Filipino community but the local US market as well by providing a delicious and satisfying Chinese fast food experience. It now has 19 locations in 3 states: California, Nevada, and Washington.

Goodbye Chicken Joy. Hello chow fun!

 

 

 

 

IN U.S., FOREIGNERS NEED ENTRY PERMIT; IN THE PHILIPPINES, FOREIGNERS NEED PERMIT TO LEAVE

imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Filipinos wanting to visit the United States face an enormous challenge in securing an entry visa, especially for the purpose of tourism. Many go through the doors of the U.S. Embassy in Manila in the hopes of getting their passports stamped for travel to America, but very few leave with the tourist visa they try so hard to secure.

(The Philippines is not among the countries exempted from obtaining a tourist or business visa under the US Visa Waiver Program.)

In response to the illusive U.S. visa for Filipinos, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BOI) has found a way to return the favor.

Foreigners visiting the Philippines, especially Americans, must obtain permission to leave. The little-known immigration policy requires foreigners to apply for, and secure an ‘exit visa’ before they can head to the airport to board a plane back to their home country.

“You are free to come, but you can’t leave without our permission,” a spokesman for the BOI said of foreigners intending to visit the island nation.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” so the saying goes.

Here’s a reminder from BOI about the unique policy.

FOLSOM STREET FAIR MAKES ITS PHILIPPINES DEBUT

imageMABALACAT, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Next to the LGBT Pride Parade, San Francisco’s annual Folsom Street Fair is the most attended festival in the City by the Bay.

It is not for the bashful or the faint of heart. There is a lot of nudity and ‘BDSM.’ On Friday, the world-famous festival launched its Asian version in the town of Mabalacat, Pampanga, a few miles north of Manila.

Folsom Street Fair San Francisco (Photo credit: pBase.com)
Folsom Street Fair San Francisco (Photo credit: pBase.com)

Unlike its San Francisco counterpart, the Philippine Folsom Festival was participated in by men only, although women and children were among the spectators.

There was a lot of flagellation, bloodied bodies, piercing, bondage, nailing — but no frontal or full nudity.  Men were tied up, and tied down. But, unlike in San Francisco, there was no entrance fee or donation buckets to gain access to the festival.

The Philippines Catholic Church, as expected, frowned on the festival and urged its followers to stick to the traditional, church-sanctioned Holy Week activities and ceremonies.

The Philippine Folsom Festival coincided with  Good Friday, the most solemn  time in the Catholic Church’s calendar.