黑料社

LEGAZPI CITY鈥擶hen close friends Nena Bichara, Teresa Buenaflor and Maricar Manjon started Mang Donald鈥檚, a small takeout place in Naga City in Camarines Sur province in 1983, they never thought it would become the giant brand now called Bigg鈥檚.

Mang Donald鈥檚 first served hamburgers and fries when the founders thought that the city needed quality but affordable takeout food.

When Mang Donald鈥檚 opened its doors on Jan. 18, 1983, there were no fast-casual dining options for Nague帽os. The only options for dining out in the city were Chinese restaurants.

鈥淲e even used to go to Albay (province) to eat out there,鈥� Buenaflor recalls.

The idea for a takeout place came from Buenaflor and her husband, Bichara says.

鈥淚 have to give credit to [Buenaflor] for that. It was a brainchild of hers and her husband,鈥� the now Makati-based Bichara says in a Zoom interview. 鈥淭hey were New Yorkers at some point. Then they moved to Naga City. They thought that it was time to bring in the burger and fries kind of food.鈥�

Forty-one years since Mang Donald鈥檚 opened, Bigg鈥檚, with its chain of 23 branches, has become the most recognizable Bicol-grown fast-food and catering brand.

Trendsetters

At the time, fast-food giant McDonald鈥檚 was so new in the Philippines that Bicolanos called french fries 鈥渒alingking na may asin鈥� (salted kalingking) in reference to a Bicol sweet potato delicacy usually sold in the streets. The fast food was the inspiration for Mang Donald鈥檚 name.

鈥淚 think we have the bragging rights to claim that we were trendsetters in Naga. I think that鈥檚 a very fair statement,鈥� Bichara says.

But a legal suit forced them to change the restaurant鈥檚 name from Mang Donald鈥檚 to just Nald鈥檚 (takeout section) and Carl鈥檚 Diner (dine in).

By September 1984, during the Pe帽afrancia Festival, the diner鈥攏ow named Carl鈥檚鈥攚as already serving large portions in casual dining environments while remaining affordable for its local patrons.

Ten years later, in October 1994, Carl鈥檚 Diner was renamed Bigg鈥檚.

As women entrepreneurs, the three found it hard to find people to invest in their business.

鈥淲hat bank would be willing to lend money to three housewives?鈥� Bichara asks.

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鈥淣ot even our husbands trusted us with the P5,000 each,鈥� Buenaflor says. 鈥淲e went to the banks and borrowed on our own personal account.鈥�

Boss

鈥淏uenaflor was the 鈥榖ig boss.鈥� She practically ran the show,鈥� Bichara shares.

Buenaflor鈥檚 own kitchen became the takeout place鈥檚 kitchen and their house helpers were later employed as salespersons in the business.

Their operation was so small that they even had help from Buenaflor鈥檚 mother as a part-time cashier.

鈥淲e would take turns. My mom鈥攕he would visit at times, and we would put her there without calculators, without computers,鈥� Buenaflor says.

In January 1984, the takeout place expanded to include a dine-in area, and its food offerings grew from just burgers and fries to include Filipino dishes 鈥済oto鈥� and 鈥渄inuguan.鈥�

Inclusive

The three are not as involved in the day-to-day operations anymore, but they continue to see a bright future for Bigg鈥檚.

鈥淎s CEO, we have [Buenaflor鈥檚 son] Carlo Buenaflor鈥攙ery energetic, very charming鈥攔unning the show,鈥� Bichara says.

Bigg鈥檚 employs people with disabilities in its commissary and dining outlets. Its mostly deaf employees have a pin on their uniforms to inform customers.

鈥淭hey are very good workers,鈥� Bichara says. 鈥淚n the past, they were in production, but now we鈥檙e putting them on the front lines.鈥� INQ