JT's Manukan Grille Opening in Singapore is PROOF That Filipino Businesses Can Survive in Economic Charter Change

Here's some news that I failed to catch up with. The news that Filipino actor Jole Torre is opening JT's Manukan in Singapore can be a source of Pinoy Pride. Yes, it's something that I, as a Filipino, can be proud of not myself as a Filipino, but of my fellow Filipino. Just as Jollibee made me jolly with furthering relations between Singapore and the Philippines, I believe Torre's business opening in Singapore should make me jolly too.

Harimanok Inc., franchise company of JT’s Manukan Grille, announced that it has finalized a joint venture agreement with food court operator Asian Food Mall for the opening of a new outlet in Singapore in May 2024.

The new international store will be located at Asian Food Mall in Lucky Plaza mall along Orchard Road. Lucky Plaza has proven to be one of the most successful shopping centers in Singapore.

Joel Torre, veteran Filipino actor and indie film producer/director and Harimanok, Inc. CEO said: “We are excited to represent the inasal in Singapore because the city-state is a significant socio-cultural and food hub. The move is in line with our vision to make JT’s a global brand, serving Filipino regional food to our kababayan expats and people of other nationalities as well.”

Wong Ban Ming, managing director of Asian Food Mall said: “We are excited for the arrival of JT’s Manukan Grille to the vibrant and diverse food scene in Singapore. Together with Joel Torre, we look forward to satisfying the taste buds of the locals and the Filipino community here, bringing the authentic taste of Bacolod Chicken Inasal to the Lion City.”

This is JT’s Manukan Grille’s second venture internationally. The restaurant opened a branch in Guam in 2019 but had to close shop at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Their Singapore store will be its first foray in Southeast Asia and the company sees it as a springboard for growth around the region.

Wong the managing director, instead, shares excitement with Torre working with him. It's because Asian Food Mall would serve as a blending pot for Asian cultures. Singapore has a Malaysian community, an Indian community, and a Chinese community. Wong's words don't bring nervousness about a Filipino investor. Instead, the way he said that he's actually excited to see Singaporeans try more Filipino food. Torre is there in Singapore as an investor and not as an invader.

If Kishore Mahbubani (read his lessons that Filipinos must learn here) were to make a statement about it, he would say, "Let the Filipino companies invest in Singapore. If Filipinos can give more jobs to Singaporeans, so be it." The late Lee Kuan Yew didn't want to remove OFWs because he saw their value. That's why it's better to listen to Mahbubani over Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr. Davide Jr. only spoke nonsense about FDIs. Mahbubani saw their potential and I don't think he'd mind if his fellow faculty members ate at JT's Manukan Grill. Chances are that Mahbubani may even shake hands with Torre. Mahbubani might even whisper to Torre, "Tell Davide that Singapore progressed also from accepting FDIs."

Here's Migrante International's migraine of an argument on Facebook. I'm going to translate the words here for the sake of non-Tagalog speakers:

They say, If we further open up the Philippines to foreign direct investment (FDI), the jobs will multiply in the country. There will be no more OFWs.

Answer: Foreigners don't wish to give progress to the local economy. They are stopping the Philippine industries' progress because they don't want competition. If cha-cha continues, they will keep salaries low and anti-worker policies in the countries. That would mean there will be more Filipinos forced to become OFWs in other countries.

The logic is surely baffling. I wonder if this was made in response to Torre's plan to open up in Singapore? Every year, they still mourn for the late Flor Contemplacion, a woman convicted of murder (read here). This kind of talk is nothing more than pessimism. I shared quotes from LKY's book From Third World to First but they simply replied with articles from the IBON Foundation The IBON Foundation is highly biased in its fact-finding. When I asked them to cite a country that got rich through protectionism, I felt they just dropped their jaws and couldn't answer. They keep citing the IBON Foundation which I believe is purposely misrepresenting what FDIs are all about (read here), all the while Rosario Guzman shows off her MacPRO. I wonder if Migrante did this move on purpose because they can't imagine a Filipino business opening in the land that executed Flor for murder. Until now, some Filipinos still hate Singapore believing that Flor was a victim of injustice.

To go further, don't tell me JT's Manukan Grille was protected all its life. JT's Manukan Grille has to face off against the likes of Kenny Roger's Roasters, which is an FDI. Jollibee faced off against Wendy's and McDonald's, both are FDIs. Bo's Coffee Club still faces off against Starbucks, Chatime, and Tealive, all of which are FDIs. Jollibee is now an MNC. JT's Manukan Grille might become a fast-growing Filipino food brand in Southeast Asia. Torre's success against similar competitors proves it's innovate or perish. Any restrictions on FDI applied must be rules like the fair competition act, needing identification papers, paying their landlords, and paying taxes according to Philippine law. FDIs will still be bound to Philippine laws. Torre will be found to Singaporean laws. That's why I want to yell at Atty. Neri Colmenares that he's living with oudated ideals.

For Torre's business, hopefully it will grow to be one of the fastest growing Filipino MNCs. Filipinos are capable of innovation and the like. The problem is that decades of Filipino First Policy had held Filipinos back. Pinoy Pride Economics has only held the Philippines back (read here). That's why I support econ cha-cha because I know Filipinos like Torre, can certainly show MNCs that they can survive competition.

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