Visionary Leadership. Jollibee Group Founder and Chairman Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong addressing students, faculty members, and fellow alumni at the culminating event of the UST Chemical Engineering Department’s 90th founding anniversary celebration.

MANILA, Philippines. 25 October 2024 – Jollibee Group Founder and Chairman Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong was recently honored with The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Awardee (TOTAL) by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for his inspiring leadership, service and contributions to business and society during the UST Chemical Engineering Department’s 90th founding anniversary celebration last September.

In his keynote address for the event, themed “Celebrating and Sustaining 90 Years of Excellence,” Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong emphasized the importance of competence, commitment, and compassion as essential drivers of success.

“The 90-year milestone is a testament to the Chemical Engineering Department’s relentless pursuit of excellence, commitment to innovation, and deep-rooted sense of purpose that transcends generations,” shared Tan Caktiong in his address to students, faculty, and alumni. He drew parallels between the values of the university and the success story of the Jollibee Group, which is also celebrating its 46th anniversary this year.

Dr. Tan Caktiong (center) receives the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award during the recognition ceremony held on September 7, 2024.

Dr. Tan Caktiong recalled how Jollibee faced a formidable challenge when a multinational fast-food chain entered the Philippine market in 1981. Despite the competition, Jollibee focused on its core strength – delivering great-tasting food. With this focus, the Company set its sights on becoming the number one restaurant company in the country and later in Asia. Today, Jollibee Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing restaurant companies globally, with 19 brands and over 9,400 stores in 32 countries.

Over the years, the Jollibee Group has received several international accolades including being among TIME’s World’s Best Companies two years in a row. It was also a three-time recipient of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award—the Jollibee Group being the only Philippine-based company to win this award. The Company has also been recognized three times as among the World’s Best Employers by Forbes. Its flagship brand Jollibee has been cited as the world’s 2nd fastest-growing brand and the 5th strongest restaurant by Brand Finance.

“The journey to success is not solely about competence. It’s about having big dreams and working towards them with malasakit (compassion with action), dedication, and a clear commitment to our vision,” he added.

Dr. Tan Caktiong also highlighted the role of the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), established in 2004, in promoting long-term, meaningful social impact. Through initiatives that support smallholder farmers, enhance educational opportunities, and provide disaster relief, JGF demonstrates how compassion can drive positive change.

“By continuing to embody the values of Competence, Commitment, and Compassion, both the Jollibee Group and UST Chemical Engineering Department are paving the way for greater success in the years to come,” Tan Caktiong said in closing.

Service to Humanity Awardee

In a separate occasion, Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) co-founder and chair, Grace Tan Caktiong, was honored as 2024’s The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (TOTAL) Awardee for Service to Humanity, in the TOTAL Awards – a biennial event where the University of Santo Tomas confers its highest honors upon the Thomasian alumni in recognition of their remarkable and exemplary impact on society.

Grace Tan Caktiong’s inspiring leadership over the past 20 years directly facilitated the Jollibee Group Foundation’s programs that have improved farmers’ livelihood, helped children continue their education through sustained school feeding and scholarships, and enabled wide-reaching disaster response programs to help prevent hunger during calamities. The Jollibee Group Foundation is the social development arm of the Jollibee Group that was established in 2004 to help uplift communities through the Jollibee Group’s food expertise.

The awarding ceremony was held on September 27, 2024 at the University of Santo Tomas with Grace Tan Caktiong being awarded by Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. UST Rector; Atty. Dwight Ramos, President of the UST Alumni Association, Inc.; and Asst. Prof. Joreen T. Rocamora, PhD, Director of the Office of Alumni Relations-UST.

JGF Chair Grace Tan Caktiong was awarded by Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. UST Rector; Atty. Dwight Ramos, President of the UST Alumni Association, Inc.; and Asst. Prof. Joreen T. Rocamora, PhD, Director of the Office of Alumni Relations-UST at the TOTAL Awards ceremony held on September 27, 2024 at the University of Santo Tomas’ Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. Building.