Christmas gatherings are something many Filipinos look forward to, but behind every memorable handaan is often one person making sure everything comes together. From planning the menu and managing the budget to preparing food and welcoming guests, the punong-abala can have a full day before the celebration even begins.
This Christmas, foodpanda wants to make sure that the person taking care of everyone else gets to enjoy the festivities, too.
Through its Make Christmas Delicious campaign, foodpanda is recognizing Filipino holiday hosts and offering convenient ways to prepare for gatherings, whether that means ordering food, having groceries delivered or getting other essentials without making another trip outside.
Making room for the punong-abala at the Christmas table
For many Filipino families, the holiday handaan is about more than the food. It's a chance to reconnect, share family favourites and make memories around the table.
But hosting can also mean juggling several responsibilities. There are dishes to prepare, guests to accommodate and last-minute additions to consider. The person coordinating everything may end up spending much of the celebration making sure everyone else is comfortable.
foodpanda's Make Christmas Delicious campaign puts this often-overlooked host at the centre of the holiday conversation. The idea is simple: make some parts of hosting easier so the punong-abala can spend less time managing preparations and more time enjoying the gathering.
"Christmas is one of the most anticipated celebrations for Filipinos, but for the people who take on the responsibility of bringing everyone together, it can also mean hours of preparation and making sure everyone is taken care of. Through Make Christmas Delicious, we want our home hosts to feel seen and appreciated, and give them more opportunities to enjoy the celebration, too. Whether it's having groceries delivered or ordering food for the handaan, foodpanda is here to lend a hand so the host can finally take their seat at the table," said Patricia Jacinto, Growth & Marketing Director at foodpanda Philippines.
A little help for the holiday handaan
One way foodpanda is helping customers prepare for Christmas gatherings is through a promotional offer of ₱125 off eligible orders using the code PASKONA.
The offer is available with varying minimum spends at selected restaurants, giving customers another option when adding food to their holiday spread. It could mean ordering an extra dish for unexpected visitors, including another family favourite or choosing delivery instead of spending more time preparing everything from scratch.
The campaign is not about taking the host out of the preparations altogether. It's about making it easier to share the work and giving the person behind the gathering a chance to enjoy the occasion.
There is also something sweet to look forward to. Red Ribbon Bakeshop supported the program by sharing its well-loved Chocolate Dedication Cakes with event participants. The cake inspired Red Ribbon's upcoming Holiday Chocolate Dedication Cake, a festive seasonal variation launching on November 11 and available through foodpanda.
For families planning their Christmas spread, it offers another dessert option to consider for the celebration.
Spreading holiday cheer beyond the dinner table
foodpanda's holiday initiatives also extend to the people who help make its delivery service possible.
Through Pau-nalo Holidays, the company is recognizing its delivery partners with a series of festive activities. These include digital games and trivia, on-ground pop-up treats during shifts, wish-granting initiatives under Pau-nalo Spotlight and raffle prizes.
The company is also bringing holiday cheer to communities across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao through partnerships with national agencies, local government units, local merchants, the private sector and the academe.
Planned activities include medical missions, community feeding programs, in-kind donation drives and employee-led volunteer days.
These efforts extend the campaign's message beyond the household, recognizing that the people who help make the holidays happen deserve appreciation as well.
This Christmas, let the host enjoy the celebration, too
The punong-abala is often the person making sure everyone has enough to eat, a comfortable place to gather and everything they need to enjoy Christmas. But they deserve to be part of the memories being made, not just the person working behind the scenes.
With Make Christmas Delicious, foodpanda is encouraging families to make room for the host at the table, too. A little help with the food and preparations can make the gathering more enjoyable for everyone, especially the person who brought it all together.
After all, Christmas is best shared when everyone gets to take part in the celebration. And that includes the one who makes the handaan happen.