Friday, 1 May 2026

Jollibee crowned No. 1 chicken QSR in Southeast Asia

Jollibee crowned No. 1 chicken QSR in Southeast Asia

Richmond Mercurio
Philstar.com
01 May 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee, the flagship brand of Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp., has been ranked the No. 1 chicken quick-service restaurant (QSR) in Southeast Asia by Euromonitor International.


The Jollibee Group said the recognition underscores the brand’s sustained growth and strong consumer demand across multiple Southeast Asian markets.

Euromonitor International’s assessment draws on comprehensive research methods, including in-country research, store checks, trade interviews and company analysis to determine market size and competitive positioning across the region.

Jollibee has built broad market appeal across Southeast Asia by balancing menu localization with a consistent core brand experience.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group global president and CEO, said the recognition reinforces Jollibee’s role as a key driver of international growth and highlights the group’s capability to scale restaurant brands across diverse markets through strong fundamentals and execution discipline.

“This milestone underscores the strength of Jollibee as our flagship brand and our ability to build brands that connect across markets. It reflects years of disciplined execution — deep consumer understanding, strong operating systems and a growth strategy that balances relevance with consistency,” he said.

Tanmantiong said Jollibee is well-positioned to scale significantly over time, supported by disciplined expansion and strong market fundamentals.

He added that the group would focus on scalable brands that stay meaningful to customers as it expands across Southeast Asia and other regions.

“With 317 stores across Southeast Asia outside the Philippines, we have a solid platform for continued expansion in this high-growth region,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee was recently ranked No. 1 QSR in Vietnam by Euromonitor International, despite not having the largest store network.

In Singapore, Jollibee was previously recognized by The Straits Times as the No. 1 fast-food brand in customer service, based on a nationwide consumer survey.

Jollibee also stands as the No. 1 QSR by store network in Brunei.

“There’s a common perception that Jollibee primarily serves Filipino customers outside the Philippines, but what we’re seeing on the ground is very different,” Dennis Flores, president of Jollibee Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, said.

“In markets like Vietnam and Brunei, nearly all our customers are locals, and in Singapore and Malaysia, locals make up most of our customer base. This tells us that great taste and a strong brand experience resonate beyond borders — it’s something consumers choose, regardless of culture,” he said.

Wednesday, 29 April 2026

Entalula Beach named world's No. 1 best beach for 2026

Palawan's Entalula Beach named world's No. 1 best beach for 2026

Melanie Uson
Philstar.com
29 April 2026

Entalula Beach in El Nido, Palawan, has been named this year’s No. 1 beach in the world.


The pristine destination topped this year’s World’s 50 Best Beaches list, as selected by the judges, beach ambassadors, and the World’s 50 Beaches team.

“Entalula Beach in Palawan is one of those places you have to see to believe. It is set apart by its towering limestone cliffs that rise sharply behind a stretch of soft white sand, creating one of the most visually striking settings in the region and the world,” the media company described in the caption.

It also underscored the beach’s distinctive surrounding landscape, crystal-clear waters, and relatively uncrowded atmosphere compared with nearby beaches.

“With access only by boat, it remains quieter and helps preserve its more natural feel. It’s the contrast of majestic cliffs, clear water, and amazing seclusion that gives Entalula its edge as a place that feels both dramatic and calm at the same time,” it added.

This year’s top ranking comes after the beach landed at No. 2 on last year’s list.

Leyte’s Kalanggaman Island also made it to the list at No. 25, known for its clear waters and narrow sandbar.

Following Entalula, Fteri Beach in Greece ranked second, followed by Australia’s Wharton Beach, Nosy Iranja in Madagascar, and East Beach on Vomo Island in Fiji.

The nominations were based on eight key criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched nature, natural soundtrack, ease of water entry, frequency of calm conditions, lack of overcrowding, and the idyllic scenes it offers.

Completing the top 10 beaches are Shoal Bay East in Anguilla, Dhigurah in the Maldives, Playa Balandra in Mexico, Koh Rong in Cambodia, and Donald Duck Bay in Thailand.

El Nido, Palawan, was also recently recognized by BBC as one of the eight best destinations in the world.

Monday, 27 April 2026

Pinoy chicken dishes named among world's best by Taste Atlas

Chicken inasal, adobo named among world's 50 best chicken dishes by TasteAtlas

GMA News
27 April 2026

Chicken inasal and chicken adobo were named among the 50 best chicken dishes in the world by TasteAtlas! 


According to the international publication's list, released this April, chicken inasal ranked third with a rating of 4.4 stars, while chicken adobo ranked 40th with a rating of 4.1 stars. 

It described chicken inasal as "a unique Filipino grilled chicken dish which originated in Western Visayas and became the signature dish of the entire region." 

TasteAtlas also recommended places to have some of the best chicken inasal, including Aida's Manokan and Nena's Beth at Manokan Country in Bacolod, Island Chicken Inasal in Bulabog, Barrio Inasal in Iloilo, and Balay Dako in Tagaytay.

Meanwhile, the publication described chicken adobo as a "traditional stew" made with chicken, garlic, onions, bay leaves, peppercorns, oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, and white vinegar. 

"The dish is simmered over high heat until the chicken is fully cooked, and adobong manok is then served with white rice on the side," it said. 

Previously, chicken inasal topped TasteAtlas' list of Top 100 Filipino food for October 2024. 

TasteAtlas also included chicken inasal in its list of best Filipino food for September of the same year, where it ranked second to sinigang. 



Sunday, 26 April 2026

PH’s wins its 2nd Miss Tourism Worldwide crown in Malaysia

Anne De Mesa wins PH’s 2nd Miss Tourism Worldwide crown in Malaysia

Armin P. Adina
Inquirer.net
26 April 2026

With years of national pageant experience under her belt, accountant Anne De Mesa convincingly snagged the 2026 Miss Tourism Worldwide title in Malaysia.


De Mesa bested more than a dozen aspirants at the competition held at Forest City Golf Resort in Johor Bahru on Saturday evening, April 25, to become the second Filipino woman to win the title.

The Philippines’ first posted its victory through Zara Carbonell, who won the crown at the inaugural edition of the pageant held in Indonesia.

De Mesa inherited the Miss Tourism Worldwide from last year’s winner, Joyce Tuijaerts from the European region of Benelux.

At her recent national pageant, the 2026 Miss World Philippines competition in February, De Mesa was proclaimed as First Princess. The main title went to teen queen Asia Rose Simpson.

She was later appointed to compete at the Miss Tourism Worldwide pageant, a development that put her ahead of the other national winners whose respective global stints are scheduled later than hers.

At the competition in Malaysia, De Mesa received the “Miss Celebrity” subsidiary title and both the Best in National Costume and Best in Evening Gown awards.

“I’m thankful for ALV Pageant Circle and the Miss World Philippines Organization for seeing potential in me. And finally, this is it, we can scream ‘Philippines!’” she told Inquirer Entertainment before she left for the international pageant.

De Mesa had earlier joined the Miss World Philippines competition 2021, finishing in the Top 24. She then joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant in 2022 and 2025, earning semifinal spots in both occasions. /edv