McDonald’s Philippines recently celebrated the dedicated store crew members behind its famous fried chicken by crowning its first-ever Chicken Legends. Following an exciting, months-long nationwide search, three store experts were officially recognized for their outstanding skill, precision, and passion in maintaining the gold standard of every serving.
Crowning the First-Ever Chicken Legends
To kick off the celebration, McDonald’s Philippines brought together top talent from across the country during a special simulcasted event held across three branches on October 6.
Ultimately, Michael Gomez of McDonald’s Quezon Ave.-Ligaya, Ken Eirod Toribio of McDonald’s San Vicente San Pedro, and Rowel Jhan Dave Limbago of McDonald’s Davao Sta. Ana were honored as the country’s premier Chicken McDo Experts.
These three crew members stood out by bringing exceptional passion, precision, and pride to their work every single day.
Expressing the company’s pride, Senior Brand Manager NJ Caballar-Azurin shared:
McDonald’s Philippines is very proud of Michael, Ken, and Rowel. They have proven their competence, excellence, and love for making and serving the Chicken McDo that Filipinos across the country are growing to love. The Chicken McDo Experts Competition, and the presence of Chicken McDo Experts themselves in every McDonald’s branch in the Philippines testify to our commitment to only serving the gold standard of napakalaki and napakasarap Chicken McDo to all fans and customers,”.
The Secret Behind the Gold Standard
Behind this national recognition lies a continuous, store-level commitment to quality across every branch in the country.
Specifically, each store keeps at least four trained Chicken McDo Experts on shift to ensure every piece meets strict gold standards—golden in color, slightly flaky, perfectly crispy, balanced in savory flavors, and tenderly juicy to the bite. As Caballar-Azurin explained,
Our Chicken McDo Experts demonstrate competence, consistent execution of standards, commitment to food safety, operational excellence, and the ability to influence and develop others when it comes to preparing and serving Chicken McDo. Together with them, McDonald’s Philippines lives by the commitment that if a Chicken McDo does not pass the gold standard, we will not serve it.”.
The Journey to the Top and Crew Pride
In addition, earning the title of Chicken Legend was no small feat, as the competition originally began back in August with over 800 participants competing through increasingly challenging local rounds. The journey culminated in a simultaneous grand finale hosted at McKinley West, Southwoods, and Cosico San Pablo. Highlighting the importance of this milestone, Caballar-Azurin noted,
Every Chicken McDo served represents the dedication and expertise of our restaurant teams. Through the Chicken Expert program and the Chicken Expert Competition, we equip our crew with the skills and discipline needed to consistently deliver the gold standard for Chicken McDo that our customers know and love. The Road to Chicken Legend event celebrates those who embody these standards at the highest level,”.
Celebrity endorser Vice Ganda, who hosted the event at McKinley West, also shared her admiration:
I’ve always loved Chicken McDo, but seeing firsthand how much skill, care, and attention goes into every piece gave me an even greater appreciation for it. Meeting the Chicken McDo Experts and hearing their stories made me realize that behind every napakalaki at napakasarap na Chicken McDo are McDonald’s crew that’s truly passionate about what they do,”.
Ultimately, this event shows that preparing Chicken McDo is far more than routine kitchen work—it is a craft, a standard, and a genuine source of pride for the entire crew.
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