McDonald’s Morayta marks 44 years of memories in Manila
On a humid Manila morning, a crowd gathered around a newly polished marker outside the first McDonald’s store in the country. In the heart of the University Belt, the scene felt like a moment, a pause to honor history.
The marker, unveiled on Oct. 28 by McDonald’s Philippines president and CEO Kenneth S. Yang and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, is dedicated to Dr. George T. Yang, who brought the brand to the Philippines. Students hurried past, parents guided toddlers, and office workers paused to take photos.
Inside the store, familiar sounds—the clatter of trays, the hum of conversation. And just like the store, the location, Morayta, has always been a backdrop for many stories that students, in particular, can relate to, like exam week breakfasts, late-night cram sessions, first dates, and long lunches between classes. The atmosphere carried decades of shared memories, to say the least.
Over 40 children from the Manila Child Development Center arrived for a McDo Party, while employees gladly helped with games and party preparations.
Dr. Yang recalled the early vision of opening just 10 branches. “Forty-four years later,” he said, “the Philippines now ranks as one of the top 10 McDonald’s markets in the world, with more than 800 stores.” Morayta, the original store, remains a testament to that growth.
He underscored another key legacy: the first batch of working students, who balanced school and work to gain experience. That tradition continues today, with 70 percent of McDonald’s workforce still made up of working students. Small gestures, like an employee adjusting a child’s party hat, reflected the company’s enduring commitment to its people.
Significant milestones followed. In 2005, McDonald’s Philippines became fully Filipino-owned, and earlier this year, Dr. Yang secured a new 20-year license to operate.
Kenneth Yang emphasized that consistency drives this growth and stability, where customers expect the same taste and service across all 800-plus stores nationwide, a standard that the Morayta store embodies.
McDonald’s Philippines employs over 70,000 people and remains the only quick-service restaurant practicing direct hiring, with no contractualization since 1981. Training programs support employees’ growth both within the company and beyond. The company was named Employer of the Year by the People Management Association of the Philippines this year, highlighting its commitment to talent development.
Outside, the marker stands against the constant motion of Manila, a reminder of beginnings, of working students chasing dreams, and of communities shaped by meals and shared moments. After 44 years, McDonald’s Morayta continues to hum with energy, its legacy alive in every visitor, employee, and memory created within its walls.
