Jackie Chan to open coffee shops in the Philippines

INTERNATIONAL action star Jackie Chan yesterday signed a deal with a group of Filipino investors to put up a chain of coffee shops in the Philippines.

Businessman Leandro Bantug and Yolanda Ong of Campaigns and Gray Advertising signed the deal with Chan to put up the Jackie’s Java coffee shops.

Chan signed on behalf of Jackie’s Java Co., a Hong Kong-based firm representing his coffee business.

“There are few things in the world that has no language barriers—my movies, music and coffee,” Chan told a press conference in Makati.

“Coffee is also a language in itself. When you watch my movies, you think of Jackie Chan. When you drink coffee, I hope you will also think of Jackie Chan.”

He said part of the proceeds from his coffee shop business and all other businesses would go to the Red Cross, World Wildlife Fund, United Nations Childrens Fund, and UNAIDS.

“This will be the pioneer outlet,” said Irene Joy Besido Garcia, the local investors’ legal counsel.

“We will be ahead even of Hong Kong. There are lots of negotiations but we were first to clinch the deal. Talks are ongoing in Beijing, Shanghai, Malaysia and other locations in Asia.”

Besido-Garcia said the partners planned to open at least 20 outlets in the first five years.

“We want to build a chain similar to Starbucks,” she said. Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news06_aug05_2006