WHO doesn’t know Chickenjoy? Who doesn’t enjoy the sweet and meaty spaghetti of that red-themed building with a happy bee face?
Every Filipino loves Jollibee. A batang Pinoy always craves that crispy Chickenjoy. It has become a staple food in every Filipino childhood. I am one of those.
So, when the first Jollibee store in Davao City opened in 1991 everyone wanted to be there. Although I have tasted the Jollibee products as pasalubong from Manila even before the stores were opened in the city, it would be another joyful feeling when you get inside its store served with hot crispy chicken.
Oh, this is not an endorsement. Jollibee doesn’t need that anymore. It has established itself in every corner and all over the world. But my Jollibee experience proves me that “iba kapag Pinoy!”
This encompasses all including the Filipino traits of close family ties and hospitality. We bring our family closer from grandparents to grandchildren. We treat our friends or those in need. Jollibee comes in in these happy times.
So, what’s my Jollibee journey?
Sometime in 2007, I traveled from Davao City to Zamboanga City for more than a day. I took my breakfast at Jollibee in Davao, lunch at Jollibee in Malaybalay, dinner at Jollibee in Cagayan, next Jollibee breakfast somewhere in between the towns, and last stop at Jollibee in Zamboanga City.
Yes, it was Jollibee all the time in the journey. We wanted something safe and something we are comfortable with.
My Jollibee journey did not end there. It continued just recently in my journey to the US.
Before I left for California, I already planned to visit the Jollibee stores. My brother Joel, when he was still alive, would always share pictures of him in Jollibee branches either in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. So, I made sure I would try them all.
I simply wanted to be where my brother was. It was part of healing maybe because it stunned me up to this day how death would come in our life. He suddenly died last November, just after a week from our last meeting here in Davao.
So, to turn this story into a happy tone, I tried every Jollibee output I could see. My first Jollibee in the US was in San Francisco. I requested my good friend who accompanied me around to have breakfast in Jollibee.
The signature Chickenjoy had the same delicious taste and aroma. Unlike the other fast food chains I tried in other countries, the taste is not consistent. The Philippine branches are good, but the branches in other countries have a bland taste. This baffles me too.
But with Jollibee, I had the same joyful experience every now and then.
Next, I tried the Las Vegas branch. It still gave me that exciting feeling to try out Chickenjoy. Then, I flew to Chicago and was there in Jollibee again.
Yes, it’s Jollibee everywhere. The good thing with these branches is you see Filipinos all over. We must have a very big race. But wait, I see White Caucasians and other Asians too. This is something Filipinos must be proud of.
Jollibee is an original Filipino product and it is getting the attention of the world. So, it is just telling the world, “iba kapag Pinoy!”