Not only did he brave bad weather during his flight to Manila to launch his coffee house chain, he also had to sign an agreement with the producers of his latest movie "Rush Hour 3" that he would be penalized if he suffered any untoward incident because of his decision to stop over in the Philippines.
"I risked my life. Mabuhay! I love to be here," the Hong Kong and Hollywood action star said after disembarking from a Lear jet at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 1:45 p.m. yesterday. He left the country about five hours later.
"We were bouncing, bouncing, bouncing for two hours," Chan said of his turbulent flight.
Later, during a press conference at the Mandarin Oriental, Chan’s fans and media were warned by his handlers not to come too close to the star, lest he suffer injuries from close contact.
The warning was issued because Chan, who had arrived without a security entourage, could not afford to sustain scratches or bruises as he was on his way to Paris to shoot "Rush Hour 3" and that his producers had a specific clause on his Philippine stopover.
"You know, there’s a typhoon in Hong Kong. I thought I could not come. I’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting," he said of the past days as he sat out the storm, hoping to keep his business appointment in Manila yesterday.
Finally the green light was given yesterday morning despite the strong winds still howling in Hong Kong.
Chan, who is well-known for his "Drunken Master" and "Shanghai Noon" films, flew in to Manila to help launch Jackie’s Java Company Ltd., which is slated to be a purveyor of fine quality coffee beverages from around the world.
Along with his American partner Thomas Kazas and Philippine partners Leandro Bantug and Yolanda Ong, Jackie’s Java Co. plans to pioneer a chain of coffee houses initially in the Philippines and eventually to other Asian countries such as China, with branches in Beijing and Shanghai, and Malaysia.
The envisioned coffee chain in the Philippines would be the prototype that would hopefully be replicated elsewhere.
Bantug and Ong were the first to secure a master license to put up the planned coffee houses which would also be sub-franchised to interested investors in the Philippines.
Bantug has business interest in furniture and telecommunications while Ong owns the public relations firm Campaigns & Grey.
According to Bantug’s lawyer, Irene Besido-Garcia, an initial 20 branches are being eyed all over the Philippines.
Garcia said the first possible location, although no negotiations have started, is the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
During the press conference, Kazas revealed that the planned coffee houses would serve Filipino dishes from Laguna and Batangas.
Kazas is actually bringing his coffee expertise, having his own chain of coffee houses in the United States, while Jackie Chan is lending his image and name to the chain.
No financial details were revealed although one of the Filipino investors include Senate President Manuel Villar.
Manila was starstruck yesterday as Jackie Chan flew in by private chartered jet after his commercial flight was cancelled due to bad weather in Hong Kong.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay revealed himself to be a Jackie Chan fan, presenting the HK superstar with a key to the city.
Chan, who is a Unicef ambassador, was serenaded by pop artist Gary Valenciano, and in turn, Chan decided to sing a song a cappella for his Filipino fans.
Chan’s favorite charities, which include the Red Cross and World Wildlife Fund, would benefit from the planned investment.
Bedlam almost ensued when Chan arrived at the Captain’s Bar at the Mandarin, with local and wire photographers as well as fans trying to get a photograph of the actor.
Chan, however, was pleasantly surprised by the reception that he received and was very accommodating and pleasant as he posed for photographers.
A video presentation was also shown regarding Jackie’s life and charity works.
The kung fu action star revealed his humble beginnings and the role the Red Cross played in helping him during his impoverished youth, so that when he became successful he decided to give back to the international charity organization. — With Rainier Allan Ronda