Since it was launched in 2011, the Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA) has recognized numerous Filipino families for their exemplary advocacies that improve the lives of people in their communities. Now, Jollibee introduces a new batch of selfless and value-centered families who have chosen to be great for others.
Out of hundreds of entries from the country and abroad, the finalists include eleven families from Luzon, one family from Visayas, one from Mindanao, and two overseas Filipino worker (OFW) families from Australia and the United States.
Among the finalists are: Arquiza Family (Camarines Norte), Bacudio Family (Manila), Cua Family (Manila), Delos Reyes Family (Caloocan City), Homan Family (Sorsogon), Idzenga Family (Bacolod City), Manuncia Family (Quezon City), Marcial Family (Pasig City), Pedro Family (Rizal), Rubico Family (Laguna), Sibug Family (North Cotaboto), Vinuya Family (Tarlac City), and Zulueta Family (Makati City).
Two OFW families, Alegado Family (United States), and Roa Family (Australia) are also included in JFVA’s top nominees.
The finalists will vie for the six JFVA Family Awards and Special Citations during the Gabi ng Parangal para sa Pamilyang Pilipino, the search’s culminating event, on September 26 at Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan.
After an extensive search and rigorous internal screening, the chosen families were further deliberated upon by an esteemed panel of judges chaired by Maribel Dionisio, veteran JFVA judge, and parenting and relationship consultant.
“I’m taking it more seriously each year and so are the other judges. There’s even more vigor this year because we continue to see more amazing and selfless families with inspiring advocacies. This day was good because we ended it with beautiful stories and a renewed hope for our country,” she shared.
Reprising their role as judges are TV host and news anchor Edric Mendoza, renowned writer and inspirational speaker Francis Kong, and lifestyle columnist and children’s advocate, Audrey Tan-Zubiri. Other returning judges include actress Dimples Romana and TV host and news anchor Christine Jacob-Sandejas.
For first-time judge and Jollibee Philippines HR Head, Jazel Mendoza, it was an enriching experience as she discovered the stories of the nominees. “The diverse entries represented different sectors so it gave the judges a lot of opportunity to really see the different needs of the country and how people address those things.”
Completing the panel of judges were Jollibee Brand CMO and Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head Francis Flores, and Jollibee Group Foundation Executive Director Gisela Tiongson.
As each year brings in more families dedicated to goodwill and service, the judges are looking into opportunities to further enrich and sustain the families’ advocacies.
“Most of the judges are very eager to help out and share their knowledge. It’s really more on how to connect these families to really strengthen and make the awards more meaningful,” shared Dionisio.
“What I enjoyed during the deliberation was our discussions on how to further elevate each families’ efforts and really make the program sustainable, not only recognizing the family but also finding ways to help them collaborate, link them to the right organization and past JFVA winners, empower them, and build their capacities so they can do more for Filipinos in the country and abroad,” added Jazel Mendoza.
The 8th JFVA will honor five exemplary families and one OFW family with a P300,000 cash prize, Jollibee gift certificates, and a trophy designed by renowned sculptor Michael Cacnio.
Jollibee and its citation partners will also confer special awards to families supporting advocacies on Education (National Book Store), Children (Children’s Hour), Minority Groups (KATRIBU), and PWDs (National Council on Disability Affairs). Family awardees will each receive P50,000 cash prize, Jollibee gift certificates, and a plaque.
The JFVA is made possible with the support from campaign partners Coca-Cola Philippines, Jollibee Group Foundation, and Maynilad, official hotel partners Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, and sponsor HKTV.