McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc once said these words: “We have an obligation to give back to the community that gives so much to us.” And their social responsibility even says it more clearly: “As an integral part of society, McDonald’s is committed to fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities, building a sustainable community and creating values for the environment and society at large.”
I couldn’t agree more. That is why I do not understand why Kenneth S. Yang, President and CEO of Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC) would allow a celebrity like Jose Marie Borja Viceral aka “Vice Ganda” to be its endorser.
Now, if Mr. Yang’s reason is for pure profit regardless of the social responsibility that builds all giant corporations (as stated), so be it.
But to pick someone like Viceral is a mistake because he is not the role model we all seek for ourselves and most especially for our children who love going to fastfood stores like McDonald’s because they have their playgrounds, Happy Meal and toys.
And my personal opinion is also because McDonald’s stores are generally tidier than Jollibee’s.
An endorser like Vice Ganda simply will not fly. But Filipinos are a forgiving lot and won’t mind a "kalaswaan" episode or two. But should it continue?
So now we see kids talking and behaving like him like it’s the way to go to be successful in life. And they say he is a comedian and brings laughter to the public.
But to make people laugh at the expense of another is unacceptable. Remember the time he cracked a joke about Jessica Soho? And how about the other guests and contestants in his show? Is this the quality of endorser you want for your product?
I wonder what you would do if all of a sudden another celebrity calls for a boycott of your store? How will you react? I know you won’t, because you’re already too big even if Pinoys still prefer Jollibee over McDonald’s.
And if it weren’t for the untidy surroundings of the former, they wouldn’t be going to the golden arches.
Nevertheless, “Ronald McDonald’s boss” should get rid of Vice Ganda for the sake of the kids that enter their stores and are met by a huge poster and a “Busogera” ad of Vice Ganda which should really just be “Intrigera.”
Let’s bring in wholesome endorsers for every McDonald’s branch. Forget profit for a moment and think of the social obligation to the community.
It would certainly make us happy and make the late Mr. Kroc even happier, with or without the Happy Meal.
Our streetchildren need help
The plight of underprivileged children roaming our streets trying to eke out a living is something we should all be concerned about.
In a previous column, I wrote about the exploitation of children by perverts and sex offenders. These street children are not exempted from them. Every single day, we see them on the streets., in market places, in parking lots, on jeepneys and any other place they can be just to survive another day.
Under the Constitution, these children have the right top assistance which includes proper care and nutrition, and a guaranteed special protection against all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their interests.
The embattled Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) needs all the help as this is the agency that can really do something about our kids before pedophile vultures feast on them.
In addition, let’s point out the following: the number of street children should call us all to a sympathetic alarm as their number increases a few weeks before Christmas season; the risk and extent of damage brought about by street life to the child’s total development is too serious to be ignored; in a developing society, it is very apparent that unsupportive conditions surround the child’s home and life environment;
Metro Manila’s street children are compelled to work and learn survival skills at an early age as they are deprived of their basic needs for normal physical development, proper nourishment, adequate sleep, clothing and shelter;
theses street children are deprived of the needed amount of proper social, intellectual, and psychological stimulation, and thus experience feelings of betrayal, abandonment, rejection, helplessness, and other insecurities at various degrees; and, their places of work, the streets, are hazardous and the nature of their work and life make them easily vulnerable to pseud-rewards, habit-forming vices such as the sniffing of rugby, which are associated with dubious and exploitative characters of the underworld.
Calling DSWD, please save these kids pronto.
Marcos should shop around for a new Education Secretary
So the Vice-President has said a mouthful. She recently declared that “The UniTeam was a tandem during the 2022 elections. The elections are over, we won and we are grateful to those who supported us.”
Truth is, she comes as one who is full of ingratitude, but that is so Duterte, ungrateful and arrogant.
Furthermore, she said “we are not candidates anymore,” which really shows the not-so-hidden agenda of this ambitious woman.
Let’s leave it then to the thirty-one million voters to decide on her political fate this next presidential elections. If she believes that the UniTeam was only good then, then she was really never for unity.
However, this early, "delicadeza" should knock on her morals and remind her that she should step down from the cabinet post voluntarily. In doing so, she now becomes the official opposition of the current administration.
But then delicadeza dictates (once more) that if you are part of an organization, say the cabinet, then you must toe the line which you did not.
And this shows what a true gentleman the president is. She should have been booted out when her father and brother called for PBBM’s resignation and are obviously part of a conspiracy to oust the current chief executive.
And sure enough, the President opted for her to stay and continue working in his administration as education secretary.
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Factoid: Jose Abad Santos’ older brother Pedro was one of the founders of the first Communist Party of the Philippines. He was also the mentor of "Hukbalahap" leader Supremo Luis Taruc. The brothers often argued and were at odds with each other, including one incident in Pampanga where Pedro admonished both President Manuel Quezon and his brother for not doing enough for the working class.
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