Jollibee launches ‘18th Maaga ang Pasko’ in Bacolod

The “18th Maaga ang Pasko” of Jollibee Foods Corporation was launched Thursday at the Event Center of SM Supermall.

Manolo Pineda, Jollibee area manager for Bacolod, said that, this year, the country’s longest-running toy and book donation drive makes its first stop in Bacolod City, calling on more Filipinos families to join Jolly Family Toy Scouts and touch the lives of children in need.

The launching was attended by the new batch of partners’ schools and companies from the region, Jolly Family Toy Scouts, as well as Jollibee executives led by Pineda.

Pineda said there’s no better way for families to bond during the Christmas season than by sharing their blessings and bringing joy to those who need it most.

“Through ‘Maaga ang Pasko’, we hope that families in Bacolod will also make a sharing a part of their Christmas family tradition,” he said.

During the event, the 2012 batch of Jolly Family Toy Scouts from Bacolod were also inducted, committing to make the 18th year of the toy and book drive a bigger success.

The Family Values Awards winner from Visayas, the Ramos family headed Mr. and Mrs. Rey and Mae Ramos and their children with the Jollibee executives led the symbolic hanging of commitments on the Maaga ang Pasko Christmas tree, starting off this year’s toy and book donations.

“We’re glad that the Jollibee Maaga and Pasko is always here to rouse the spirit of generosity among Filipinos and were honored to be part of it. Christmas is the season for giving, which is one of the values that strongly bind our family together,” Mae said.

Since the Jollibee Maaga and Pasko Campaign started, it has spread the holiday cheer among thousands of children by collecting and distributing more than 1.8 million toys and books over the years, said Pineda.

Last year, over 300,000 books and toys were collected with the help of 102 partner schools and 62 partner companies. Known collectively as the Jolly Toy Scouts, these volunteers gave less fortunate children a more memorable Christmas celebration, Pineda pointed out. (MAP)