Foodie Goodie | Macaroons for a Cause!

I love macaroons. No, not the meringue-based macarons, but macaroons with a 'double o'. Those tasty little treats that have coconut in it. And so when I heard about this collaboration between Red Ribbon, Franklin Baker Company (it's based here in my hometown of San Pablo City), and Apl.de.Ap Foundation, I was more than excited to share the good news with you, my dear readers.

MacarOOns! 

With the Philippines being among the top five countries where children do not have access to education, organizations such as Red Ribbon, Apl.de.Ap Foundation and Franklin Baker Company teamed up to help address the problem through the

A lot of Filipino children are deprived of the chance at a better life because they have limited access to education. Even if it is every child’s right to go to school, a lot are forced to drop out while others can’t go at all due to varying problems they encounter in their childhood. In fact, an estimated 1.5 million out-of-school youth were recorded in 2011. the severe shortage of classrooms nationwide. For school year 2011-2012 alone, the Philippine public school system lacked about 70,000 classrooms.

In the heart of Manila at the Teatrino Music Hall, well-known Philippine-based bakeshop Red Ribbon, Apl.de.Ap Foundation, and global natural ingredient company Franklin Baker Company, joined forces and launched “Red Ribbon Macaroons for a Cause,” to help bridge the education gap in the Philippines.
“Macaroons For A Cause” is our newest offering that lets you create more sweet moments with your family and friends,” says Zinnia Rivera, General Manager of Red Ribbon. “With each pack you buy, you’ll be giving our youth a better future through the gift of education,” she continues.

Apl.de.Ap performing during the event.

Allan Pineda of Angeles City, Pampanga, more popularly known as apl.de.ap of the world-famous pop sensation The Black Eyed Peas, knows from his own experience that education is the only ticket to a better life. “I just wanted to have an education - to have a better life. In every Filipino family, the children want to help their parents – that was my goal,” he shares.

Sharon Chandran, Chairperson of the Franklin Baker Company, a global natural ingredient company and the leading branded coconut ingredient establishment in the United States flew to Manila to share this message, “As we celebrate 90 years in the Philippines, this is our way of thanking the country and sharing the natural goodness of Franklin Baker Company’s ingredients. The coconut taste and quality that will be experienced in Red Ribbon Macaroons for a Cause” is the same “gold standard” that Franklin Baker delivers to its food customers in the US. We congratulate Red Ribbon for only choosing the best ingredients for its customers.”

Apl.de.Ap, Sharon Chandran, Zinnia River, and guests
from Franklin Baker Company enjoying the macaroons.

Macaroons for a Cause is all about coconut goodness in creamy perfection. Each pack contains 10 pieces of macaroons and sells for Php50.00 at all Red Ribbon Bakeshops nationwide. From every pack of Macaroons for a Cause sold, 14% or P7 will go directly to the Apl.de.Ap Foundation to help in building a public high school that will pave the way for students to gain access to education and pursue their interests in becoming global professionals in the field of music and technology. The group aims to sell 4.2 million packs of Macaroons for a Cause to build the first school of the foundation.    

Apl.de.Ap Foundation is a non-government charitable organization that is committed to improving the quality of life of children in the Philippines through education, technology, and music.

Zamboanga, one of the provinces that are in need of basic education facilities, was selected to be the beneficiary of the project’s pilot school that will benefit more than 600 students when it is completed. Rivera notes that sharing the vision of a future where no Filipino child is deprived of education is the reason behind the harmonious collaboration of Red Ribbon, Apl.de.Ap Foundation, and Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines. “Their goals are very much in tune with ours,” she quips. “We are confident that this collaboration will make a difference in the lives of Filipino youth.”

Shared with Food Trip Friday and Food Friday.