CEBU, Philippines - As part of its commitment to help Tacloban rise from the ground after it was ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda last year, McDonald’s Philippines and Ronald McDonald House Charities build a day care center for children survivors in Barangay San Jose.
Located in San Jose Elementary School, Mcdo Bahay Bulilit was officially opened on October 16 by McDonald’s Philippines President Kenneth Yang, Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines Executive Director Marie Angeles, Tacloban City Councilor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez, and San Jose Brgy. Captain Leo Bahin.
Also on October 16, McDonald’s re-opened its Tacloban store to provide great-tasting food and enjoyable experiences for its customers. More importantly, the re-opening of the store has provided employment opportunities for young people in the area.
McDo Bahay Bulilit is a day care center that provides a safe place for underprivileged children six years old and below to learn and play while their parents are at work, free of charge. Aside from the building, McDonald’s also equipped the day care center with reading kits and McDo building blocks to aid kids’ learning.
In his speech, Yang said, “On behalf of the McDonald’s family, we are happy to make a difference in a community like Tacloban that continues to show resilience and strength amidst adversity. We are strongly committed to be responsible members in communities where our stores operate. With the opening of McDo Bahay Bulilit, we believe that children, when given access to shelter and education, can grow to become individuals who can inspire positive change in the nation.”
When Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban last year, Yang said McDonald’s right away checked on its people (franchisee and employees of McDonald’s Tacloban). When assured of their safety, the company immediately activated Ronald McDonald House Charities’ disaster and relief operations program, McDo Bigay Tulong, to gather donations in cash and kind. The program also mobilized more than 200 McDonald’s employee volunteers to join the re-packing of goods and opened a McDo Bigay Tulong Command Center to be the hub of relief packing and distribution. The relief packs were given to about 100,000 families affected by the typhoon.
“The McDo Bahay Bulilit is a manifestation of our desire to further help Tacloban especially the children affected by the typhoon. It is a symbol of new tomorrow, a new beginning for the children,” Yang added.
Brgy. Captain Bahin thanked McDonald’s` for the day care center saying “it’s a dream come true. After Typhoon Yolanda, we were holding classes in a temporary room lent to us by the San Jose Elementary School. With the McDo Bahay Bulilit, we now have our own space and we won’t worry about being evicted. We will take care of this precious donation.”
The opening of McDo Bahay Bulilit in Tacloban is in celebration with RMHC’s Global Day of Change to celebrate 40 years of the work done by the organization in countries where McDonald’s is. McDonald’s restaurants around the world are collectively making a difference in communities that they serve, and those that need help most.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities, which started in the Philippines in 1995, now has 25 McDo Bahay Bulilit all over the country. Through its three flagship programs namely McDo Bigay Tulong, McDo Bahay Bulilit, and McDo Read to Learn, RMHC has touched the lives of over 10 million Filipino children. (DSN) (FREEMAN)