Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste

Magnolia is one of the first names in the ice cream industry in the Philippines.  And just in time for the festival month of May, Magnolia Ice Cream launched a new collection called “Best of the Philippines.”

Best of the Philippines

Everybody got to taste the Magnolia Ice Cream Best of the Philippines Flavors

In the gigantic media launch, Magnolia Ice Cream revealed the “Best of the Philippines” collection: the Macapuno Banana and Macapuno Langka representing the province of Laguna, Coffee Crumble and Tsokolate Tablea (chocolate) from the province of Batangas, Mangoes & Cream of Guimaras, and finally the Ube Keso (cheese) from the cool climate of Baguio. It reminds me of the ube jam from the sisters of Good Shepherd.

Special Guest DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr.

Magnolis Ice Cream Team with DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr.

Magnolia Ice Cream Best of the Philippines Grand Media Launch

Obviously, the “Best of the Philippines” ice cream collection is in line with DOT’s current tourism campaign, “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” The honorable DOT Secretray Ramon Jimenez, Jr. himself was a guest speaker in the grand launch and admired the nationalistic-themed ice cream collection. The newest flavors of Magnolia Ice Cream do not only taste good but also promotes tourism and nationalism in the country.

I believe these are the best flavors I have tasted in the Philippines, not only because of the yummy flavor, but also because the variants that promote tourist spots and festivals of the Philippines. Imagine that, nationalism that can be promoted even through our ice cream. 🙂

Like what they said in the event, “Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling ice cream” (Don’t be a foreigner in your country’s own ice cream”). I agree, even the ingredients used in manufacturing the ice cream and its sources, are very Filipino.

Magnolia Ice Cream Best of the Philippines Collection: Macapuno Banana, Macapuno Langka, Coffee Crumble, Tsokolate Tablea, Mangoes & Cream, and Ube Keso

Nationalistic Packaging

Moreover, the reusable plastic containers are illustrated with Filipino festivals that we can be proud of and organizations of the provinces each flavor represents. A truly colorful packaging befitting the colorful flavors of Magnolia Ice Cream’s Best of the Philippines collection!

MIC General Manager Mayo Alcon said that the flavors best represent these provinces in the same way that the brand promoted the Baguio Good Shepherd with the Ube Keso variety.

* Story by Athena Tria of AthenaTria.com for the Blogger Apprentice Challenge. Photos by NomNom Club

The media launch was a success and I know the newest flavors will be a success too specially the Tsokolate Tablea from Batangas which is my favorite (although most seemed to like Baguio’s Ube Keso most)! Thank you to Magnolia Ice Cream for bringing out the “Best of the Philippines!”

Silangan Elementary School

A follow up to the earlier Christmas hangover post is a charity-related event where Jollibee‘s Christmas Caravan went to Silangan Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

This is part of Jollibee‘s “MaAga Ang Pasko” program where they collected children’s used toys through theor Christmas boxes in all Jollibee branches nationwide.

After the collection period, the toys were cleaned and washed in partnership with a commercial laundry group and some volunteers.

Then from hereon, they selected a number of public schools from different locations around the Philippines. One of which is the Silangan Elementary School.

Celebrity/Actor Aga Muhlach

Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko

A school ravaged by last year’s typhoon Ondoy (Internaitonal typhoon Ketsana), Silangan Elementary School was still in the process of recovery when we went there last December of 2009.

Interestingly, this event opened the first day of their classes as well. (School operations stopped while the school was under construction and rehabilitation from the typhoon).

In line with this, Jollibee will be assisting the school in its recovery efforts.

All the students gathered at the school gym with its stage prepped-up for the program.

More Photos as a movie:

And of course, the celebrity model for the Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko program is none other than Aga Muhlach. Aga spearheaded the program after two stage presentations from the school’s student representatives. Aga Muhlach went around the school as well before helping in the distribution of the Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko toys and gift packs to the students.

Jollibee Christmas Caravan

The Jollibee Christmas Caravan was a long trip from Manila to Laguna but it was all worth it having seen the happy faces of the children and students.