Grab and HOPE Take a Step Forward in Education with New Classroom in Bicol

Grab Philippines and HOPE have broken ground on a new public school classroom in Manito, Albay, after raising about P1.4M through in-app donations that turned everyday rides, meal deliveries, and rewards points into funding for education infrastructure.

The funding came from a combination of user-donated GrabRewards points through GrabBayanihan, which allowed customers to channel “GrabCoins” to the project; and a dedicated “Grab HOPE Hour” drive that generated additional donations from GrabCar rides and GrabFood deliveries during a designated 60-minute window.

Grab Philippines and HOPE  have officially broken ground on the first classroom to be built at Inang Maharang Elementary School. [L-R] Grab Philippines Country Head Ronald Roda, HOPE Founder and Executive Chairperson Nanette Medved

The classroom will be built inside Inang Maharang Elementary School, which serves more than 100 students in the remote barangays of Manito. The site was selected after Typhoon Uwan damaged public facilities in the area and destroyed two makeshift classrooms at the school, the partners said, leaving students without safe learning spaces and underscoring the need for more permanent, resilient structures.

Grab Philippines Country Head Ronald Roda shares, “Grab is dedicated to moving not just goods and people, but also moving malasakit into action. Together with HOPE, we’re giving our users a simple way to participate in digital bayanihan, turning their everyday rides, deliveries, and rewards into real classrooms. These are new safe spaces where Filipino children can learn, dream, and grow. By making it easier for communities to support these initiatives, we help build a stronger foundation for the country’s next generation.”

The Grab and HOPE classroom is designed as a 7-by-9-meter learning space with four windows, wall-mounted electric fans, complete electrical wiring with outlets and lighting fixtures, and an in-room bathroom with full plumbing. It will also include standard interior fixtures such as a teacher’s desk and a chalkboard.

HOPE Founder and Executive Chairperson Nanette Medved-Po underscored how the partnership is a major part of HOPE’s programs and is giving significant impact on public school education. “We are so excited about the ways we can continue to work with the Grab community to give their contribution and make an impact to public school education in the Philippines. HOPE’s partnership with Grab has been very engaging and exciting for their subscribers: from converting their Grab points to donations, to mounting last October our first-ever GRAB HOPE Hour, when every ride, every order contributed to the classroom we’re building in Bicol. This classroom is the first of many that we hope will not only guarantee safe access to learning but inspire communities around business for good. We look forward to more activities with Grab this coming new year, and more classrooms for our public schools.”

The companies plan to sustain the collaboration through 2026, expanding infrastructure and development initiatives beyond Bicol. To participate, users can navigate to the GrabRewards catalog in-app and allocate points to HOPE.

"This classroom serves as the starting line of our shared vision to bridge the educational infrastructure gap in the Philippines. We are dedicated to scaling this initiative, ensuring that our technology continues to translate into tangible structures for communities across the country,” Roda adds. 

Grab FanFaves 2025 Reveals the Food Items Filipinos Loved Most

Grab is once again celebrating the flavors that shape the Filipino appetite with Grab FanFaves 2025, the annual honors roll that spotlights the country’s most-ordered, most-craved, and most-loved dishes and drinks.

What makes FanFaves uniquely Filipino is its voting system. Every order on the Grab app from August 15 to September 30, 2025 counts as a vote, turning everyday cravings into a nationwide food election. This year, millions of orders determined which dishes rose to the top — and which brands have become true icons in the daily lives of Filipino diners. As a special treat, thirty top voters got a one-year supply of the winning menu items, rewarding the fans whose cravings helped crown this year’s champions.

A Celebration of Food Culture

Beyond recognizing top-performing restaurants, FanFaves underscores how active participation and smart engagement on Grab translate to real business outcomes.

Merchants who capitalized on platform tools such as GrabAds capabilities, Spotlight Campaigns, and strategic product bundling saw stronger order momentum and repeat purchases throughout the voting period. This year’s winners — from big-name chains to rising regional favorites — reflect how data-led discoverability and an engaged user base can meaningfully elevate a brand’s connection with consumers. 

Meet the Grab FanFaves 2025 Winners

These dishes and brands have earned their place as this year's most beloved cravings across national, sponsored, and regional categories — each one now carrying the Mark of Deliciousness, Grab’s seal of fan-approved food excellence.

1. NATIONAL ICONS 

a. Platinum Winners - The Country’s Top Favorites

■ Burger

● Yumburger Solo – Jollibee

● Buy 1 Take 1 Black Pepper Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

■ Cakes

● Round Chocolate Dedication Cake – Red Ribbon

● Classic Ube Cake (Whole) – Caramia Cakes & Gelato

■ Chicken Burger

● Crispy Chicken Sandwich Solo – McDonald’s

● Chicken French Quarter Sandwich with Fries & Drink – Popeyes Chicken

■ Coffee

● Caramel Macchiato – Starbucks

● Kape Kastila – PICKUP COFFEE

■ Flavored Chicken

● Ala King Zinger Steak Ala Carte – KFC

● Double Double Box – BOK Korean Fried Chicken

■ Fried Chicken

● 1-pc. Chickenjoy Solo – Jollibee

● Max’s Whole Fried Chicken – Max’s Restaurant

■ Fries or Onion Rings

● BFF Fries – McDonald’s

● Tera Fries – Potato Corner

■ Healthy Options

● Solo B Roasted Chicken – Kenny Rogers Roasters

● Chicken Teriyaki Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

■ Pasta

● Jolly Spaghetti Solo – Jollibee

● Spaghetti Ala Carte – Popeyes Chicken

■ Pizza

● Double Deal Plus – Angel’s Pizza

■ Rice Bowl

● Siomai Chao Fan – Chowking

● Everyday Bowl – Panda Express

■ Roast or Grilled Chicken

● Paa Large PM1 – Mang Inasal

● Peri Flavorite Plate B – Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar

■ Coolers

● Panda Milk Tea – CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

■ Dessert

● McFlurry with Oreo – McDonald’s

■ Filipino Dish

● 2 pcs Pork BBQ – Mang Inasal

b. Gold Winners - A Stamp of People’s Approval 

■ Burger

● Burger McDo Solo – McDonald’s

● Whopper Jr. – Burger King

● Buy 1 Take 1 Bacon Cheese Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

● Buy 1 Take 1 Minute Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

● The Cheeseburger – Sweet Ecstasy

● Umami Burger – Burger Beast

■ Cakes

● Mango Bravo – Conti’s

● Ube Vanilla Bouquet (6in) – Lemon Square Bakery Treats

■ Chicken Burger

● Crunchy Chicken Sandwich – Jollibee

● Zinger – KFC

● Buy 1 Take 1 Double Chicken Time Burger + Drinks – Minute Burger

■ Coffee

● Iced Coffee – Dunkin’

■ Flavored Chicken

● Ala King Rice Bowl – KFC

● Half Half Boneless – 24 Chicken

● Frankie’s Classic Buffalo (With Free Dip) Regular Wings – Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings

● Garlick Soy Chicken with Rice – Chicken NamNam by Sulit Chicken

■ Fried Chicken

● 1-pc. Chicken McDo Solo – McDonald’s

■ Fries or Onion Rings

● Jolly Crispy Fries – Regular – Jollibee

● Large Cajun Fries – Popeyes Chicken

■ Healthy Options

● Chicken Caesar Wrap – Healthy To Go

● Chicken Salpicao Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

■ Pasta

● Spaghetti with Garlic Bread – Pancake House

■ Pizza

● Hawaiian – Domino’s Pizza

■ Rice Bowl

● 1-pc. Burger Steak Solo – Jollibee

● Boneless Chicken Rice Meal (3 Pieces) – 24 Chicken

● Bacon Breakfast Bowl – Rice and Shine

● Chicken Salpicao Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

● Chicken Teriyaki Bowl – 24/7 Super Healthy

● Gyudon – Yoshinoya

■ Roast or Grilled Chicken

● Solo B Roasted Chicken – Kenny Rogers Roasters

■ Coolers

● 3 Buddies – CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

● Chocolate Chip Cream Frappuccino – Starbucks

● Pearl Milk Tea – CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

● Biscoff Cheese Salt Milk Tea – Cha Tuk Chak

● Cheesecake Oreo – Macao Imperial Tea

● Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Tea – Macao Imperial Tea

● Coconut Juice – Fruitas

● Mango Basic – Oh Mango

● Pearl Milk Tea – Chatime

■ Dessert

● Brownie Box – KFC

● Corn Muffin – Kenny Rogers Roasters

● Extra Creamy Halo-Halo – Mang Inasal

● Halo-Halo Supreme (Medium) – Chowking

● Peach Mango Pie – Jollibee

● Box of 6 Original Glazed Doughnuts – Krispy Kreme

● Dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts – Krispy Kreme

● Mango Sticky Rice – Thai Mango

● Oreo Blizzard – Dairy Queen

■ Filipino Dish

● Crispy Pata – Kuya J Restaurant

● House Crispy Sisig – Manam

● House Crispy Sisig Benta Box – Manam

● Kuya J Bulalo (Salo) – Kuya J Restaurant

● Sinigang na Baboy – Kuya J Restaurant

● Sizzling Tofu – Max’s Restaurant

2. COCA-COLA SPONSORED CATEGORIES 

a. Platinum Winners 

■ Coke Sulit Combo Deals

● Yumburger with Fries and Coke – Jollibee

■ Coke Zero Thrill Meals

● Family Lauriat for 4 with Coke Zero – Chowking

■ Royal Merienda Bites

● Yumburger Super Meal with Royal – Jollibee

■ Sprite Spicy Hits

● Spicy Chicken King Meal with Sprite – Burger King

b. Gold Winners 

■ Coke Sulit Combo Deals

● 1-pc Chicken with Rice, Fries, and Drink – Popeyes

● Cheesy Yumburger with Fries and Coke – Jollibee

● Party Package 28pcs with 1.5L Coke – 24 Chicken

● Pizza Combo with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

● Pizza Duo with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

● Pizza Party with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

● Pizza Trio with Coke – Shakey’s Pizza

● Pork Chao Fan with Fried Chicken and Coke – Chowking

● Solo A Roasted Chicken with Free Coke – Kenny Rogers Roasters

■ Coke Zero Thrill Meals

● 4-pc Chicken and Chao Fan Platter for 4 with Coke Zero – Chowking

● Beef Caldereta (450g) Frozen plus 1.5L Coke Regular or Coke Zero – Baliwag Lechon Manok

● Bopis (450g) Frozen plus 1.5L Coke Regular or Coke Zero – Baliwag Lechon Manok

● Lechon Manok with Free Coke Zero – Lembest Lechon

● Liempo Sisig with Free Coke Zero – Lembest Lechon

● Siomai Chao Fan Platter Bundle for 3 with Coke Zero – Chowking

■ Sprite Spicy Hits

● Siomai Spicy Chao Fan and Sprite – Chowking

● Spicy Chao Fan and Sprite – Chowking

● Spicy Chao Fan with Fried Chicken and Sprite – Chowking

3. REGIONAL FAVES - Leadership in the Region 

a. Metro Manila

■ Oh Mango

■ Seoul Chicken House

■ Gourmet Silog

b. Luzon

■ GoodTaste Restaurant

■ Pyesta Diner by GoodTaste

■ Grumpy Joe

c. Visayas

■ Jafar’s Shawarma Station

■ Dimsum Break

■ Orange Brutus

d. Mindanao

■ Penong’s Barbeque Seafood and Grill

■ Chingkeetea

■ Nath’s Food on the Go

4. FAVE DINE OUT MERCHANT - Go-To Grab Dine Out Merchant

a. Zhenbao Hotpot

5. SPECIAL AWARD - Best Creative FanFaves Campaign

a. Greenwich

The FanFaves Awards Night on November 19, 2025, will mark another milestone in Grab’s ongoing commitment to recognizing culinary creativity and fan loyalty across the country.

For more information about Grab FanFaves 2025, visit the official Grab FanFaves website at grabfanfaves.com or Grab Philippines at www.grab.com/ph/.

Grab PH launches a series of online videos "Sorry, Di Mo Na Kami Pwedeng Gawing Excuse"

Grab Philippines is taking a humorous approach to highlighting its improved booking reliability, launching a series of online videos that poke fun at extreme excuses people may give for being late or canceling plans – with GrabCar no longer being a viable excuse as it is now more reliable. 

The campaign, titled "Sorry, 'Di Mo Na Kami Pwedeng Gawing Excuse," is a direct response to the company's improved driver allocation for passengers and a more reliable booking experience.

The leading superapp reports that in the first half of 2024, GrabCar has seen a significant improvement in passenger experience, with nine out of 10 passengers trying to book a Grab ride being successfully allocated a driver. 

To emphasize this message, Grab partnered with Gigil, a multi-awarded creative agency, to produce three humorous videos showcasing absurd excuses people might use to avoid commitments now that booking on GrabCar is more reliable. From faking a dog attack, teasingly breaking the law, to accidentally dropping their phone in the toilet, the videos are designed to resonate with viewers and reinforce the idea that GrabCar is no longer a convenient excuse for being late.

The campaign has been a social media hit, garnering 20 million views in just three days and a warm reception among the online audience. 

J-anne Aruta, Grab Philippines Country Marketing Head, states, "Through the intriguing paradox in 'Sorry, ‘Di Mo Na Kami Pwede Gawing Excuse', we aim to instill confidence in our passengers that GrabCar is now a more reliable transportation alternative – a safe and convenient way to get back home to their families or reach their intended destination.” The marketing leader emphasizes the film's resonance with an insight that is a shared truth among many Filipinos. Aruta humorously remarks, "We've all found ourselves in this situation – crafting the most plausible excuses to avoid commitments or justify delays; sometimes even blaming the unavailability or challenges in securing a ride. However, Grab persistently strives to put an end to this amusing habit of playing the 'I couldn't book a ride' card."

Grab attributes this to various efforts in keeping more driver-partners active; and to an array of technologies and new features like Advance Booking, Multi-Taxi Type Booking, and Group Rides that enhance and optimize every GrabCar’s reliability and utilization.