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For the past 20 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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JERSEY CITY -- Red Ribbon, the Philippines’ largest bakeshop, has expanded in Jersey City, opening its 19th shop in the U.S.
Red Ribbon hopes to capitalize on the recovering US retail market for baked goods, which is projected to make a $12.2 billion sales in 2010.
“This is a great platform to move forward. We are ready to open more stores in New Jersey and New York. We are very optimistic on the East Coast, “ said Danny Moran, President of Red Ribbon bakeshop.
The opening of the store last Thursday at the Five Corners in Jersey City was attended by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
“The Filipino community is a large, growing and important part of Jersey City. We have a big immigrant population. Traditionally, the immigrants support their own enterprises. Puerto Ricans support Puerto Rican businesses, Italians and Germans support their own, too. The community patronizes the businesses here,” said Healy.
Moran said Red Ribbon also opened a baking facility in Union City recently. It has acquired a new building in Englewood, NJ to be its big factory. The company sees a golden opportunity in NJ.
“Clients as far as Pennsylvania and in Rockland County patronize Red Ribbon, the store is moving to greater heights,” said Philip Grosse of Newmark Knight Frank, the company handling the real estate property acquisition of Red Ribbon.
“We position ourselves on the growing the number of Filipinos. Our clients are diverse with Hispanics, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese buying many of our products,” said Moran.
With a buying power of $400 billion, Asian Americans represent the single most affluent consumer group in the U.S., according to Market research.
Moran said Red Ribbon is ready to join the fiercely competitive bakery market in New Jersey.
Serafina Sengco, a Filipino-American and an auditor for Jersey City, said she regularly buys cakes from Red Ribbon because she likes its soft, moist and delicious cakes.
Moran said they would also open this year a store in Woodside, Queens and in Bergenfield, N.J. One of the biggest challenges for the company is to find qualified workers who will stay in the company longer, Moran said.
Jollibee, the Philippines largest food chain with over 1,200 stores in nine countries acquired Red Ribbon last year to expand globally.
The opening of more stores in the U.S. is seen to bolster revenues. Red Ribbon earned 2.5 billion pesos last year or about $490 million.
“We want to grow more aggressively and we are planning to open a store in India next year,” said Moran.
To date, Red Ribbon to date has over 150 store outlets in the Philippines and California, competing with another popular Philippine bakeshop called Goldilocks.
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JERSEY CITY -- Sumisibol, a non-profit organization focused on youth and leadership development, is spearheading the commemoration of 100 hundred years of Filipino-American immigration in the United States through “Pamana ng Lahi: Connecting Many Journeys, Continuing One Legacy.”
Pamana ng Lahi, a youth-focused, two--day event will consist of a forum to take place on Saturday, December 2, and a festival to be held on Sunday, December 3.
The forum and festival will be held at Victory Hall, located at 186 Grand Street in Jersey City. The forum will consist of speakers, presentations, and various interactive activities that will engage high school youth in the exploration of Fil-Am history, culture, community, and above all, themselves.
The festival will feature performers, various acts, vendors, raffles, games, and a variety of Filipino food and flavors. Gathering local youth, families, and the community from throughout New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan area, the event will not only foster a sense of unity and connection to all that participate, but also contribute to the preservation and continued development of the Filipino-American legacy. All are welcome to attend.
Online registration for the Youth Forum and Festival is available at www.sumisibol.org and highly suggested due to limited space.
Call Julman Tolentino (julman@sumisibol.org) or call (201) 963-4470 or visit www.sumisibol.org.
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