Dine at the LJC Group and help cancer patients

MANILA, Philippines - In celebration of LJC (Larry J. Cruz) Day on Sept. 17, the LJC Restaurant Group launched its LJC Good to Dine campaign, which will raise funds to benefit the Cancer Institute of the Philippine General Hospital through the Cancer Institute Foundation Inc. When customers order selected dishes from the different LJC restaurants, a portion of the sales will be donated to the charity.

The LJC Restaurant Group initiated the campaign on Sept. 15 at a simple luncheon gathering at Bistro Remedios in Malate, Manila. At the event were LJC Restaurant Group CEO and president Lorna Cruz Ambas and Cancer Institute chair Dr. Jorge G. Ignacio.

Dishes that have been identified for the Good to Dine campaign are Abé’s Morcon at Abé (Serendra/SM MOA/ Trioma) and Abé’s Farm; beef spareribs Ninja at Café Adriatico (Malate/Gateway Mall/SM MOA); the lunch buffet at Café Havana Greenbelt 3; fillet of Dory at Larry’s Cafe and Bar in Serendra; Maja Blanca Remedios at Bistro Remedios in Malate; bangus belly with Kangkong Balachian at Lorenzo’s Way in Greenbelt 5; and Sikreto ni Maria at Fely J’s Kitchen in Greenbelt 5.

From now until Nov. 30, P10 from a dish’s sales will be set aside and given to the Cancer Institute Foundation at the end of the campaign. The campaign covers all dine-in and takeout orders made on any day of the week.

This is the second year the LJC Restaurant Group is holding the campaign in memory of its founder Larry J. Cruz, who died of thyroid cancer in 2008. Over P200,000 was raised during the first campaign, which the Cancer Institute used for programs and chemotherapy sessions for underprivileged cancer patients. Ambas said they hope to double that amount this year.

Dr. Ignacio said cancer is one of the top-three killers of Filipinos (after infectious and cardiovascular diseases), but will soon be No. 2. “The top cancers are lung, breast and colon cancer,” he said, “which can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle, getting Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines, and educating elementary-school children about the dangers of smoking.”

During his lifetime, Cruz supported a number of charitable projects, including yearly feeding programs for indigent communities. He also provided training opportunities for scholars of the Rotary Club and subsidized tuition and training of selected Punlaan scholars. Those who successfully finished their training at LJC’s Asian F&B were given job opportunities in the LJC restaurants.

Following his death, the LJC Group continued with his humanitarian endeavors by launching in May 2010 the EAC Foundation scholarship program for underprivileged students of Magalang town in Pampanga. The group also continued its partnership with Rotary Club and Punlaan, and supported projects such as fund drives following the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009.

To date, the LJC Restaurant Group includes Café Adriatico, Bistro Remedios, Café Havana, Abé, Larry’s Café and Bar, Fely J’s Kitchen, Lorenzo’s Way, Abe’s Farm and La Mer.

For inquiries regarding the LJC Restaurant Group’s LJC Good to Dine campaign, call the LJC Marketing Office at 522-0403 or visit the website at ljcrestaurants.com.ph.