July 03, 2011
09:27:00 PM

A TRADEMARK tiff between two fastfood chains that serve meals on banana leaves has been settled out of court with the accused copycat agreeing to change its logo, complainant Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc. said in a statement yesterday.

Rafael L. Chu, the proprietor behind Nid’s Express Binalot, reportedly agreed to forgo the use of the “Binalot” trademark in negotiations held after it lost the case filed with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines back in 2007 and was ordered to pay damages.

Mr. Chu then appealed the decision to the state agency’s director-general.

The cases were then referred to mediation,

Binalot Fiesta said.

Mr. Chu could not be immediately reached for comment.

“In exchange for withdrawing the cases, Mr. Chu recognized and agreed to observe [our] exclusive right to the trademark Binalot and to revise the trademarks it applied for registration,” Binalot Fiesta said in its statement.

The agreement has been submitted to the state agency to formalize the deal.

Binalot Fiesta noted that the settlement was accomplished via the recently established alternative dispute resolution center and hailed it

as a “strategic move in terms of improving services and efficiently managing the process and resources.” — EJD

By: Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Homegrown food chain Binalot Fiesta Foods Inc. has agreed to an amicable settlement of cases it filed against the owner of Nid’s Express Binalot for allegedly using trademarks similar to those of the Binalot brand.

According to Binalot trademark owner Rommel Juan, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ (Ipophl) Bureau of Legal Affairs had already approved the settlement arrangement between Binalot and Rafael Chu, the owner of Nid’s Express Binalot.

Ipophl director general Ricardo Blancaflor would have to issue a separate approval to deem the case resolved.

Binalot in 2007 filed a trademark infringement case against Chu for allegedly using trademarks that were “confusingly similar to and infringing on the Binalot trademark.”

Ipophl ruled in Binalot’s favor and ordered Chu to pay the former for damages.

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MY LIFE AS A BINALOT FRANCHISEE

Growing up, I never thought that I would be a businessman. The books that surrounded me in childhood pointed to a life of writing—and to a great degree, that was what I pursued. I started with plays and later dabbled in film and television before settling down with fiction. I never thought my brain and temperament was in any way wired beyond the comfort and power of words. But life likes to throw curveballs once in a while.

One evening I went to pick my wife up from her workplace. Arriving early, I was invited to brainstorm with the creative folk at her agency while waiting for her. So I dove in, contributed an idea or two. This ultimately resulted in my being the group’s GM for their Hong Kong arm—a whirlwind that firmly affixed me in the corporate world. From there, a series of fortunate events and great partnerships led me to the realm of the entrepreneur, founding my own company. But through all of this I considered myself an accidental businessman.

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“I like what I’m doing because it keeps me on my feet,” says the 25 -year old entrepreneur. “Everyday there are new challenges but I have learned to face up to each one with an innovative solution,” he says. Ken is one franchisee who has his own Binalot mascot, who even directs traffic on Legazpi City’s main thoroughfare where Ken’s Binalot branch is located.

Young businessman Ken Clemente chooses the Binalot franchise route to establish his own entrepreneurial venture in Legazspi.

“After college in Manila, I thought Legazpi was boring, but I was wrong,” says Ken Clemente, a young entrepreneur born into a family of business people. Ken’s parents are in the glass and aluminum business, and as with most children these days, Ken wanted to try his hand at something new.

Ken applied for a Binalot franchise last year after seeing its stand at the Franchise Show. “I was looking around for a good business I could bring back to Legazpi and Binalot was it!,” he proudly exclaims. Ken could relate to Binalot’s green ways and the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the company because he himself is active in a civic group, the Jaycees.Continue reading→

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In recent years, franchising has become a popular business concept among Filipinos who want to jump into the entrepreneurial bandwagon. It has been proven an effective method to boost profits in a shorter span of time. Fast-food chains, bakeshops, and even clothing lines are part of the rising popularity of franchise businesses in the country.

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By Junep

Ocampo (The Philippine Star), philstar.com, May 22, 2011

MANILA, Philippines- A local fastfood chain has preserved its right over its brand name through the mediation proceedings conducted by the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHL).

Binalot Fiesta Foods Inc. (BFFI), a 14-year-old quick service restaurant with more than 35 branches nationwide, has been recognized by the IPOPHL as the only entity that can use the name “Binalot” in its establishments.

BFFI filed a case against another restaurant named Nid’s Binalot in 2007, but the case had dragged on due to the tedious process of litigation.

Fortunately, the IPOPHL under its new head, Director General Ricardo Blancaflor, has made the referral of cases to the mediation office mandatory, resulting in a virtual fast tracking of the resolution of intellectual property conflicts. This is in line with the vision of IPOPHL in a demystified, development oriented, and democratized IP System by 2020.

Read full article on philstar.com

Binalot’s DAHON wins Intel-AIM Corporate Social Responsibility Award (IACRA) in Kuala Lumpur last October 23, 2010.

Click on the links below to find out more.

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December

2010 Issue

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By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman), philstar.com, November 03, 2010

CEBU, Philippines – All-Pinoy fastfood chain Binalot Fiesta Foods is utilizing social media as its competitive edge amid the stiff competition in the fastfood industry in the country.

“We have pioneered a lot of interesting efforts in the Fast Food Industry such as green delivery services. This time, we are among the first to use social media as a marketing communications strategy,” said Rommel Juan, President and chief executive officer (CEO) of Binalot Fiesta Foods.

Having an online population of some 30 million people with an average age of 22.7 years, the Philippines is believed to be highly receptive to new media based on the Digital Life study conducted by insight and consultancy firm TNS.

Read full article on philstar.com

From PH People’s Journal, September 20, 20210

COLLABORATING on a series of initiatives to create greater awareness and educate Filipinos about the importance of a green environment, Discovery Channel, the flagship network of Discovery Communications, and Gawad Kalinga recently launched Green Wall Urban Farming during a planting ceremony in one of the

GK Communities in Taguig.

The Green Wall Urban Farming initiative encourages people to use the walls of their homes to plant vegetables such as upo, patola, ampalaya, and string beans.

“Through Discovery Channel programming, we are inspiring Filipino viewers and motivating them to learn more about the world and this includes embracing ideas about how we can care for our environment better,” said Jacque Ruby of Access, the local representative for Discovery Channel.

GK Jack & Jill Village is the 2^nd Gawad Kalinga community to adopt the Urban Farming activity with a goal to provide nutritious food to the residents.

Jose Luis Oquinena, Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga, said the partnership is very timely and also increases the program’s effect on the community. Discovery Channel and GK are gearing up for more joint initiatives in the future.Continue reading→