VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — For CDO Foodsphere, its 50th anniversary was never just about looking back at five decades of business. It was about celebrating the people, partnerships, and Filipino families who have been part of its story.
That milestone year has now earned CDO two Excellence Awards at the Philippine Quill Awards for programs that brought its 50-year story to life, alongside a Merit Award for CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino, reflecting the strength of a brand built over decades.
The Philippine Quill Awards recognize excellence in business communication, honoring organizations and programs that demonstrate strategic and effective communication.
“For 50 years, CDO has had the privilege of being part of the lives and tables of Filipino families. But reaching this milestone also reminded us that our story has never been ours alone. It was built with our employees, our partners, our communities, and the consumers who have trusted our brands through the years. These awards are meaningful because they recognize the stories we wanted to share in our 50th year, stories that are really about the people who brought us here,” said Jerome Ong, President and CEO of CDO Foodsphere.
Bringing 50 years of CDO to life
CDO’s “One Story. Three Experiences. Fifty Years of CDO Foodsphere” received an Excellence Award for Special and Experiential Events under the Communication Skills Division.
Rather than mark its golden anniversary with a single celebration, CDO created three distinct experiences for its stakeholders.
The anniversary began by opening the doors of CDO’s Malvar manufacturing facility to members of the media for a “Welcome to Our Home” experience.
This was followed by two celebrations at the SMX Convention Center. Around 2,200 customers, suppliers, banking partners, government stakeholders, influencers, and other guests came together to mark CDO’s 50th anniversary.
The following day, more than 4,000 CDO employees from across the country gathered for its internal anniversary celebration and inaugural Golden Spoon Awards, recognizing outstanding and long-serving employees.
Together, the three experiences brought to life the journey of a small family business that began in Valenzuela in 1975 and grew into one of the country’s leading homegrown food companies.
Opening CDO’s story to a wider audience
The media plant visit also became the starting point for CDO’s 50th Anniversary Media Relations Program, which earned a second Excellence Award under the Communication Management Division.
The program extended CDO’s anniversary story to a wider audience, offering a closer look at the people, operations, sustainability efforts, and community programs behind its familiar brands.
“We believe one of the best ways to understand CDO is to experience the business firsthand. We wanted our guests to meet the people behind the brands, see how our products are made, and understand the values that have guided us for five decades. It was our way of welcoming them into our home and sharing the story behind the food that has become part of so many Filipino homes,” said Patricia Magbanua, CDO Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications.
CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino’s “Battle of the Best: The Real #1” also received a Merit Award for Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communication under the Communication Management Division.
Built on decades of brand-building and Funtastyk’s strong place on the Filipino breakfast table, the campaign reinforced its market leadership as the country’s #1 tocino brand.
As CDO Foodsphere begins its next 50 years, the three Quill wins recognize both how the company tells its story and the enduring strength of its brands, built on relationships with consumers, employees, partners, and communities over five decades.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
