Hunger remains a serious problem in the Philippines. Despite being an agricultural country, access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is a challenge that needs urgent solutions. A Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations report noted that 44.7% of the Philippine population faces moderate or severe food insecurity.

The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social development arm of the Jollibee Group, has been actively addressing the country’s food crisis with several partners, including Kawa Pilipinas Foundation Inc. (Kawa Pilipinas).

“Fighting hunger is an advocacy that is close to our hearts. We are committed to increasing access to food by partnering with other organizations that could help us reach even the farthest communities, especially the most marginalized,” said Jollibee Group Foundation president Gisela Tiongson.

Value of partnerships

Kawa Pilipinas founder Mae Paner recognizes that alleviating hunger is a problem that the public and private sectors must solve together: “The government cannot do it alone. They cannot handle everything. They need help.”

Both Kawa Pilipinas and JGF share a commitment to feeding the hungry. According to Paner, JGF has regularly provided congee mixes among other things to Kawa since August 2020.

“Kawa Pilipinas has made a hub for people who care for this world. We have become a ‘connector,’ and JGF has been one big source of help and inspiration for us to keep going. Malalaman mo naman if go ka (you will know if you are on the right track), because a big company like the Jollibee Group trusts Kawa Pilipinas. I can say that this trust proves that the good we want to do in this world is validated—and that is to serve people who need to be fed,” she added.

Power of food

Established in August 2020, Kawa provides hot meals for the homeless and people in need. Paner’s first participation in a feeding program happened some years back when she was invited by the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help representatives in Baclaran to prepare food for the homeless and those stranded because of the pandemic. As the community quarantine measures restricted volunteer initiatives, Paner decided to continue with her newfound mission by setting up a kitchen in her Makati home to maintain the feeding program and make it more sustainable.  

Since then, Kawa has produced over 315,000 meals for its beneficiaries, called “beloveds.”

“Food, to me, is my love expression. Even Jollibee Group, ang business is magpakain (food and feeding are its business). When you are at the dining table, and you are eating good, quality food, that is where conversations start. That is where relationships deepen. That is where you can bond as a family, group of friends, or community through food. Kaya napakahalaga ng food (That’s why food is important). It nourishes the body, and good food, coming from the right intentions, nourishes the soul,” Paner continued.

But for the Kawa founder, more than the people they have fed, the journey has been transformational for its volunteers. “The true recipients of Kawa are the volunteers. It hones their kitchen skills, their personality, and their sense of connection between themselves and the community they serve. It builds camaraderie. It boosts their self-confidence. This strengthens their compassion and the love for what we do.”

“I don’t think I can solve hunger in my lifetime,” she admitted. But for now, the food that their “beloveds” receive, for Paner, represents the love that society has for them.

Best practices in helping fight hunger

Apart from this partnership with KAWA Pilipinas, JGF promotes improved access to food by implementing programs on agro-entrepreneurship, education, and disaster response with partner organizations throughout the Philippines. In 2022, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) tagged JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) and FoodAID initiatives as “best practices contributing to SDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.”

JGF’s FoodAID program provides disaster relief by ensuring communities have immediate access to food by producing and distributing food items to calamity-affected communities and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. To date, they have served 3.12 million meals as of 2023 or 12.82 million meals since 2020; and have 105 partners helping 92 cities and municipalities across the country.