By Irah Marie Tan
“To most people, it may just be a mere chicken nuggets meal. But to a fan, being able to share this experience of having BTS’ go-to McDonald’s order with my fellow ARMY is a special moment.” This was how entrepreneur and BTS fan Jing Carigma described the BTS Meal experience.
Fast food giant McDonald’s has collaborated with worldwide phenomenon BTS to serve, for a limited time only, the group’s favorite meal to everyone, fans or otherwise. On June 18, the meal tour arrived in the Philippines to the delight of Filipino ARMYs like Carigma.
A symbol of positivity and unity
I think the whole BTS Meal collaboration was forged to make a difference in the lives of us fans during these trying times.
Jae Castor, a talent acquisition manager, said that BTS songs helped her heal through her darkest years, while blogger Ava Te Zabat was inspired to stay positive during the pandemic while listening to the boys’ Love
Yourself album.
Fans like HR specialist Wency Ang also appreciate how through the music and their favorite McDonald’s meal, BTS helps people feel that they are not alone.
The ARMY noted how the BTS Meal is presented with chicken nuggets, and not burger like the other celebrity meals from McDonald’s, so that Muslim fans can enjoy them too.
Being able to share this meal in the way that the boys enjoy it with millions of ARMYs around the world reminds the fans that their idols think of them and that they are on this journey together.
Special sauces
The special sauces that come with the meal add excitement to it, to fans and non-fans alike.
Thomasian Troy Quinan said he was not a fan of the original BBQ sauce of the chicken nuggets meal, but the two sauces in the BTS Meal—sweet chili and cajun—sealed the deal for him.
Freelance actress Maxine Ignacio, meanwhile, has her own combination using the sauces. She enjoys the chicken nuggets dipped in two-thirds cajun sauce and one-thirds sweet chili.
“The sweet chili and cajun sauces go very well with the nuggets. [The meal] is worth buying because [the sauces] are available for a limited time only,” enthused Carigma.
Fun in the package
A huge part of the BTS Meal experience for many true-blue fans is preserving and upcycling the packaging. Some have turned the brown paper bags and purple cartons into works of art, phone cases, bags, key chains, toy robots, or just preserved them for display.
Rose Ann Rescobillo, mother of three young BTS fans, shared, “It gives them excitement and happiness looking at the packaging of the meal. Napapakanta pa nga sila ng Dynamite.”
ARMY took to social media to share their BTS Meal packaging washed, dried, and displayed on the wall.
“I am amazed and touched that McDonald’s crew knows that the meal packaging is important to ARMY and they treat it with utmost care before handing it to us,” said Carigma.
The BTS Meal consists of 10 pieces of Chicken McNuggets with sweet chili and cajun dipping sauces, a medium serving of fries, and a medium Coca-Cola.