Share the Light this Holiday Season with McDonald’s Exciting Christmas Offers and Merry Antics!

Manila, Philippines, November 29, 2021 – With festive decorations up and holiday playlists on repeat, it’s no doubt that the most wonderful time of the year is here and the holiday season in the Philippines is on full blast. 

During the season of merriment, McDonald’s Philippines believes that happiness multiplies when shared with loved ones. With the advocacy of sharing the light to each and every one, McDo launches a slew of offerings and experiences to ignite the holiday spirit and give Filipinos a holiday celebration to remember. 

Witness a light spectacle at McDonald’s Ride-Thru

As the country emerges from one of the longest quarantines in the world, McDonald’s welcomes customers back to their stores with an experience like no other with the Ride-Thru Christmas Light Show! 

From November 29 to January 02, 2022, both the young and young at heart will be transported to a festive and vibrant wonderland in 3 of McDonald’s Drive-Thru stores. Witness the beauty of a winter wonderland when going through the Icy Wonderland Ride-Thru at McDonald’s McKinley West in Taguig, drive thru a factory of dreams at the Happyland Ride-Thru in McDonald’s Alabang West in Las Piñas, and celebrate a traditional Filipino holiday with the Parol Holiday Ride-Thru located at McDonald’s Savano Park in Bulacan. Customers will be able to grab a bite of their McDonald’s favorites while enjoying this unique light spectacle from the safety and convenience of their own rides. This new go-to destination will surely be an unforgettable bonding activity for family and friends alike!

Parol Holiday at McDo Savano Park,  Icy Wonderland at McDo McKinley West, and Happyland at McDo Alabang West                                                   

McDonald’s favorites and holiday cheer delivered to your doorstep

For customers who prefer to celebrate the holiday festivities from home, McDonald’s brings the light to them with the help of McDelivery Santa Riders. Make sure to keep a lookout for them this December as Santa Riders deliver happiness onto the streets and into one’s home with every McDelivery. To see how a McDelivery Santa Rider adds to the magic of Christmas, watch McDonald’s latest online video here.

Share the light to our fellow Filipino in need

Christmas isn’t complete if happiness is not shared with others, especially those who need it most. Through the McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen, McDonald’s commits to sharing a festive meal with nearly 7,000 chosen beneficiaries, while all its stores combined will donate 1 million Happy Meal books and toys to school beneficiaries.

But that’s not all – 12 days before Christmas, McDonald’s will also launch its Share-A-Meal program, giving its customers a chance to give back with the opportunity to send McDonald’s meals to their charity of choice with no purchase requirement! All a customer needs to do is to visit a McDonald’s store and fill out a Share-A-Meal card as McDonald’s will grant over 1,000 wishes and share over 18,000 meals come December 25! So, if you want to share your light and help give back to those in need, simply head on over to a McDonald’s store nearest you and give your chosen community a chance to enjoy these McDonald’s meals with the Share-A-Meal program!

McDonald’s Shares the Kindness with the Share-A-Meal card.

“The holiday season is undoubtedly the biggest celebration in the Philippines, which is why our efforts revolve around making it easier, brighter, and happier for Filipinos to enjoy! Through these experiences, McDonald’s hopes to be a part of an experience that’s worth remembering,” said Oliver Rabatan, McDonald’s Philippines Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Channels.

Because there’s no better way to celebrate the happiness of the holidays than to share it, McDonald’s invites Filipinos to create feel-good moments and share the light this holiday season by visiting their stores or ordering via the McDelivery PH App or website. 

Follow McDonald’s Philippines Facebook page for more information and share your McDonald’s holiday experience using the hashtag #McDoShareTheLight!

McDonald’s Brings Color to the Holiday Season through New Limited Edition Coca-Cola Cups

Manila, Philippines - November 15, 2021 – McDonald’s Philippines adds color and spreads happiness to the holidays with the return of its Coca-Cola collectibles – aluminum cups in 6 festive colors! 

The Coca-Cola Aluminum Cup Collection is the first aluminum line of non-breakable, sleek, and on-trend cups in the Philippines. It’s the perfect addition to decorate one’s holiday feast as it comes in 6 metallic-like colors – Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, and Pink! There’s no better way to enjoy a cold and refreshing glass of Coca-Cola this Christmas than in these stylish cups available at McDonald’s stores for a limited time only!

You can own one of the 6 designs by simply adding Php 49 to any of the participating McDonald’s meals – which is most of your favorite meals with Coca-Cola! Available in McDonald’s starting today, customers can start collecting their cups to complete the collection just in time for the holiday festivities! A Media Noche or Noche Buena table setup is sure to look much more abundant and vibrant with the bright hues of the Coca-Cola Aluminum Cups.

Brighten up the holiday season and get your hands on the first-ever Coca-Cola Aluminum Cup Collection! Easily within reach, these collectibles will be available in McDonald's stores nationwide via Dine In, Take Out, Drive-Thru, and McDelivery.

It’s all treats, no tricks in McDonald’s month-long Monsters and Mysteries Halloween celebration

Manila, Philippines - October 15, 2021 – Ghostly Greetings from McDonald’s! It’s the spookiest time of the year again, and McDonald’s is here to celebrate Halloween, all month long! Starting October 8 until October 28, get a FREE surprise treat with every purchase of a McDonald’s Happy Meal via Dine-in, Drive-Thru, Take-out, or Delivery. Every Happy Meal can elicit nervous giggles or fits of laughter!

If the little ones have a knack for thrilling mysteries, the Mystery Monster Boxes will surely pique their curiosity. Experience the excitement of the Mystery Monster Box in person when you stop in for a spell and drop by on your brooms via Dine-in and Ride-Thru!

The Halloween surprises won’t end there — a spooktacular Halloween is incomplete without trick-or-treating. McDonald’s is here to help kids get into the Halloween spirit while staying safe through the Monsters and Mysteries Ride-Thru! Let the kids have a fang-tastic celebration by giving them a chance to go trick-or-treating safely. 

Drive-Thru at McDonald’s from October 29-31 to get an exciting Halloween item from the Mystery Monster Box for a minimum purchase of Php 250. To remember the ghoul old times, feel free to capture and immortalize the special family moment by taking a picture with the Monsters and Mysteries Photo Frame. 

Want to feel the Halloween hype even more? Enjoy the Halloween decorations in select branches that will be “dressing-up” their Drive-Thru lanes!

No tricks—only treats await this Halloween season at McDonald’s! Delve into the unknown and claim surprise treats to fully experience the spooktacular Halloween spirit. 

For more information and updates on this offering, visit McDonald’s Philippines Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.

Freebies Await Vaccinated Customers when they Dine-In at McDonald’s

October 8, 2021 - Manila, Philippines — Head to any McDonald’s restaurant and get a free Apple Pie if you are vaccinated! 

Part of the private sector-led campaign ‘Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat’ that aims to restart the Philippine economy by promoting and educating about the COVID-19 vaccine, McDonald’s invites fully vaccinated customers to experience the happiness of dining-in and sharing meals with loved ones. For every minimum purchase worth Php 150, fully vaccinated customers can enjoy a FREE Apple Pie, valid until November 30, 2021. The iconic McDonald's snack is the perfect sweet treat to go with your McDonald’s favorites— whether you’re in the mood for the Crispy Chicken Fillet or the tender and juicy Chicken McDo paired with rice or McSpaghetti.

Aside from the sweet treat from McDonald’s, customers can continue to expect a safe dine-in experience all throughout. As McDonald’s believes that keeping its customers safe starts with protecting their own, the company’s M Safe protocols remain in place, with its crew, managers, and customers all required to follow the set of stringent health and safety guidelines.

“The future may be uncertain because of the ever-evolving pandemic, but one thing is for sure: we at McDonald’s will continue to do our part in working towards a safer normal. Vaccination has an integral role in the country’s comeback, so by taking part in the Smart Bakuna Benefits program, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to get vaccinated— not only for their own safety, but for the country’s as well,” said Kenneth S. Yang, McDonald’s Philippines President & CEO.

To know more about M Safe and the protocols in place to ensure your safety, visit https://bit.ly/SarapPagMSafe. For more details about how McDonald’s, the private sector, and you can take part in the #IngatAngatBakunaLahat movement, visit the Ingat Angat website or Ingat Angat Smart Bakuna Benefits promo page, and follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook.

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McDonald’s Philippines master franchise holder, Dr. George T. Yang, opened the first McDonald’s store in Morayta, Manila in 1981. Since then, McDonald’s in the Philippines has been a strong and relevant player in the country’s quick service restaurant industry, having grown a store network of over 655 across the country. McDonald’s Philippines continues to aspire to make a difference in communities where it operates through its charity of Choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines.

MyPhone Ready to Accommodate e-Learners with New Offer

The first Filipino phone brand is set to release myT8 this week, a new Android tablet that is perfectly built for the new way of learning.

Following the announcement of blended learning early this year, MyPhone instantly worked on creating gadgets that are fit for students and their educational needs.

With the release of a new tablet this week, another is on its way to release before the end of this year.

According to MyPhone’s Vice President Kevin Tan, the new MyPhone tablets are unique than the other tablets the phone brand offers.

“These tablets to be released are built for the Filipino students and we made sure that these tablets can support all the online needs of the students”, he said.

When asked about the affordability of the gadgets, he assured that it is the number one criteria of the phone brand and has always been loyal to its market by offering affordable and quality products.

“The market do not need to worry as we will continue to offer what we’ve been offering to them ever since,” VP Tan said

“Although we’ve been continuously giving affordable gadgets for the past years, we do not let quality suffer as the price goes down,” he added.

With myT8 specifications of 32GB ROM and 2GB RAM, 4,000mAh, and 4G/LTE SIM slot, it is offered and labeled as ‘online learning capable’

myT8 will retail for only P3,999 and will be available at select MyPhone outlets nationwide and on Lazada within this week.

For Luzon and Visayas, here is the list of MyPhone stores where you can score myT8 over the weekend:

Apalit, Pampanga
SM Pampanga
SM Downtown
SM Baguio
SM Fairview
SM North EDSA
SM Manila
SM Mall of Asia
Ali Mall
Iloilo
SM Cebu

For more information and updates, like and follow MyPhone’s official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit www.myphone.com.ph.

Watch and Learn: PCTA Partners with DepEd, Knowledge Channel to Make Learning More Accessible in Remote Areas in the Philippines

Education is one of the sectors that has been affected dramatically by the pandemic. Aside from the threat of Covid-19, students, families, and educators face other challenges such as limited to no internet connection and expensive Internet data costs. To reach more students even in remote areas, the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Knowledge Channel to provide easier access to students through televised learning materials that will be aired on TV for students. 

Together, the PCTA member-cable operators are serving 75% of the total cable TV subscribers in the Philippines.

“Many Filipino students living in remote areas are constrained by the accessibility and speed of Internet connection, and the high cost of data to stay connected. Learning then begins to feel like a difficult chore, and a hurdle to overcome. Yet, these households have television sets even before mobile phones and laptops. We are hopeful that we ease the challenges our students face as they will now have easier access to free educational content aired in cable television channels,” said Joel Dabao, PCTA President.

The partnership was sealed through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DepEd and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to make full use of their cable TV systems activating their member operators participation in this national effort of airing DepEd TV programs for school year 2020-21.

PCTA members have agreed to air informational materials from DepEd TV that are standardized for academic institutions nationwide. “Many remote areas will be covered by this service, and we are privileged to serve as conduits of enriched learning during this trying time. Our mission is to ensure that no Filipino student is left behind,” furthered Dabao.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones lauded the agreement during the MOU signing, as it paves the way for the department’s access to television and cable for their distance learning program, with cable provider access of up to three channels to air content produced by the DepEd Central Office. These will be a valuable resource for students who do not have access to the internet and those who cannot afford to purchase gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets.
Aside from airing DepEd TV materials, PCTA also announced a partnership with Knowledge Channel which encourages PCTA members’ cable systems to include Knowledge Channel in their line-up and air its TV-based educational content.

The Knowledge Channel has long had a strong supporter in the PCTA since 2003. Elvira Lopez-Bautista, President and Executive Director of the Knowledge Channel Foundation, highlights that television can be a powerful tool for learning and will help Filipino children absorb not only their academic lessons but, also enhance values learning through engaging content.
“My fervent wish is that through this bayanihan effort with cable providers, distance learning will become more accessible, feasible, affordable, and most of all, enjoyable for every Filipino child,” said Lopez-Bautista. “With Knowledge Channel Foundation and PCTA working together, mas masaya matuto ng bago.”

“Now, more than ever, education should be at the forefront of our concerted efforts to build a society that is resilient even in the face of a pandemic. As we forge these partnerships, we let the bayanihan spirit prevail for the common good where we all work together for the future of Filipino children,” added Dabao.

For more information about the PCTA, visit www.pcta.org.ph


ABOUT PCTA

The PHILIPPINE CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (PCTA), INC. is the umbrella organization of nationwide Cable Television Operators and Internet Service Providers in the Philippines. Its membership roster includes the biggest cable operators in the country as well as the medium and small cable operators who, through their pain-staking efforts, have succeeded in bringing up-to-date programs, information, and technology to the farthest island in the country. To date, the PCTA has over 300 regular members. Together, the PCTA member-cable operators are serving 75% of the total cable TV subscribers in the Philippines.

Over 200 McDonald’s Party Areas Transform into Teachers’ Work-Friendly McClassroom

PHILIPPINES - October 2020 - In celebration of National Teachers’ Month and in time for the schools opening for SY 2020-2021, McDonald’s transformed 221 of its stores’ party areas into a work-friendly McClassroom from October 9-23, 2020 for teachers to use for free - a fitting and innovative way to help teachers as they shift to distance learning.

Supporting teachers with a work-friendly McClassroom

As teachers adjust to distance learning, McDonald’s recognizes that not all teachers have easy access to spaces that are conducive for conducting online classes. In response to this need, McDonald’s has converted its party spaces into McClassrooms to provide teachers with clean, safe, and work-friendly learning spaces for FREE, so they can focus on delivering lessons to their students with ease. McDonald’s goal is to be able to show support to teachers, as the brand thanks and salutes them for their contribution to nation building through educating one student at a time.

Aside from having a work-friendly environment with the McDonald’s store’s enclosed party area, registered teachers can also enjoy a complimentary McCafe Premium Roast Coffee to perk them up for the school day. Virtual backgrounds would also be provided to them to use for their online classes or meetings, and Wi-Fi access for free.

To ensure that the teachers are M Safe, a McClassroom may be reserved by a maximum of two (2) teachers per time slot for social distancing and sound level management. There will be 2 batches: a morning batch from 8:00AM-12:00NN and the afternoon batch from 1:00PM-5:00PM schedule to allow for a disinfection period from 12:00NN-1:00PM. Registrants were required to wear a face mask and face shield as well, to ensure sanitary protocols are set in place.

Smart powers e-learning at McClassrooms

The successful first leg of the project from October 5-9, 2020 was met warmly with close to 300 registered teachers enjoying McClassroom, inspiring McDonald’s to extend the project. For the second leg, McDonald’s has officially partnered with Smart Communications, Inc, which turned over 200 units of Smart Bro Pocket Wi-Fi units, ensuring more educators of continued reliable access to the internet through McClassroom. The next batch of pre-registration will be open from October 12-16, for the second leg’s time slots that will run from October 19-23.

McClassroom is McDonald’s way of thanking teachers for their invaluable contribution to the lives of young Filipinos especially during this pandemic, and Smart is more than happy to work alongside McDonald's to provide more teachers with the conducive learning spaces that they very well deserve.

“Telecommunications technology is the crucial backbone which supports public services, businesses, and people. Smart has been put in a unique position to address the evolving needs of our customers as a result of the current situation,” said Jane J. Basas, Smart Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Wireless Business. “We are doing our best to connect as many as we could, so we have continued to provide free phones, load, and pocket Wi-Fis to students and teachers who are most in need. This initiative with McDonald’s is just the latest in these efforts to equip our teachers with the connectivity they need to be able to transition into the new normal.”

According to McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Mr. Kenneth Yang, “We would like to thank SMART Communications, Inc. for their support to our McClassroom initiative, because it is through their generosity that we will be able to better serve and equip our teachers as they transition to distance learning. In the true spirit of bayanihan, we are grateful for the opportunity to create partnerships that allow us to expand our shared efforts in giving back to our teachers.”

McDonald’s continues to say “thank you” to teachers in more ways than one

Beyond McClassroom, McDonald’s Philippines has always supported education through its various initiatives through the years and through the programs of Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines. The Ronald McDonald Read-to-Learn program has over 10,000 partner schools nationwide - training more than 28,000 educators and improving the literacy of grades 1 and 2 public school students. The brand also supports Brigada Eskwela. This year, McDonald’s

Brigada Eskwela T-shirts were sold to raise funds, and all proceeds were used for the procurement of care kits and disinfection materials for the select 40 school beneficiaries and 1,200 teachers, nationwide.

By closely collaborating with stakeholders, McDonald’s is able to co-create and strengthen innovative solutions to foster a safer and conducive learning space for both teachers and students alike. Through McClassroom, McDonald’s moves to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos by supporting the teachers that build the nation, one student at a time.

Distance Learning? Don’t take Power Availability for Granted

Mandaluyong, Manila [September 24, 2020] – Amid the pandemic, there has been a push among educational institutions worldwide to explore the online and digital approach to ensure that learning among students remains unhampered.

In the Philippines, education officials have recently moved the opening of classes from August 24 to October 5, to provide more time for schools and universities, which only used to conduct face-to-face classes, to prepare for distance learning—an approach that includes no in-person interaction between the learners and their teachers.

Some educational institutions, however, especially colleges and universities, have already started conducting classes following the distance learning approach.

Classes are done either through the distribution of printed copies of modules (online or offline) or by conducting them using virtual classrooms where teachers and students can communicate, interact, and collaborate even if they are remote from each other, mostly through an online learning environment.

In many ways, virtual classrooms are just like the traditional ones, where students must be able to see, hear, and interact with the teacher and their classmates, all while having a good view of their learning modules and other materials.

For educational institutions and educators alike, conducting virtual or online classes mean they will have to rely on technology to thrive even amid the pandemic. Teachers and students must also have the right digital tools for their 'classroom setup' at home to get by until schools reopen, and regular face-to-face classes resume.

UPS for Distance Learning

In a virtual classroom setup, educators and students would need essential e-learning tools that need continuous power to keep them running and avoid problems that may impede the students' learning experience.

Aside from a stable internet connection, they must have personal computers, smartphones, tablets, and scanning and printing devices, among others, for their online classes. Some software applications are also important to enable virtual classes. It includes video and audio conferencing, so teachers and students can see and hear each other, as well as real-time text chat apps, which come handy in providing instructions.

Lastly, a library (or an online platform) of learning materials must also be available to provide more structured lessons. This platform will allow teachers to prepare for a class in less time. Most importantly, it allows both the teacher and students to always be on the same page.

But with the start of the classes scheduled in October, coinciding with the typhoon season in the Philippines, power outages or interruptions are among the foreseeable scenarios that teachers and their students may experience amid distance learning.

If there is a power outage, even for a moment, the loss of power can be detrimental. Several files could become inaccessible, or worse, deleted permanently. Some devices might even be damaged due to sudden shutdown. There is also the risk of having additional cost implications for their repair or replacement.

Helping ensure unhampered learning

To help avoid these problems, educators, and even students, need an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for their virtual classroom set up at home.

According to Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, a UPS device is incredibly important for schools, teachers, and students that rely on personal computers, servers, and other electronic devices being on, at least 12 hours (or more) a day, seven days a week.

“A UPS can protect these critical devices from main supply problems, including spikes, voltage dips, fluctuations, and complete power failures, using a dedicated battery. Having a UPS at home can also help in “bridging the gap” as it seamlessly switches the source to battery mode so devices can continue working until they are safely shut down, or the main power is restored,” said Jason Lim, country manager of Vertiv Philippines.

To support schools, teachers, and students who need an uninterruptible power supply for distance learning, Vertiv innovated a full-range of Liebert UPS, which are future-proof, eco-friendly, and highly efficient.