Farewell to the first McDonald’s branch in Iloilo City

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

From Generation Y to Generation Z up to the millennials, almost all Ilonggos had their fair share of memories of the first McDonald’s branch in Iloilo City.

The branch did not only satisfy the hunger of customers with its all-American dining experience but it also cultivated friendships and connected a lot of people.

Perhaps this is the reason why Ilonggos were deeply saddened when news broke out that the store is permanently closing after more than 20 years of serving generations of Ilonggos.

Since its inception, McDonald’s Atrium branch played a huge part in every Ilonggos’ childhood.

City Tourism Operations Officer Florence King Erlano recalled meeting the famous mascot of McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald, during its branch opening at the Atrium mall sometime in 1994.

“I was in elementary. There was a special activity for kids at the main lobby of the Atrium. We had games and we met Mr. Ronald McDonald. I was with my sister and our neighbors,” he said.

Through the years, Erlano said McDonald’s Atrium branch became a common meeting place for friends, emphasizing that it has become a staple in the culture of Ilonggos.

“I’m surely gonna miss the first McDo in Iloilo. It played a part in my childhood and the play area is a favorite place to visit. In the later years, McDo Atrium has become a common meeting place when seeing friends. It has been a staple in Ilonggo culture and it will be missed,” he said.

For some Ilonggos, McDonald’s Atrium served as a home for its employees who were mostly working students.

“My first job, my second home since 2003-2010. I spend my best teenage life here with my McDonald’s Atrium 067 family. The best working experience,” Den Fuentes shared.

Another netizen, Seth Gumban said McDonald’s Atrium became his inspiration during his college days in STI Iloilo.

“During that time, I cannot afford to buy any McDo products since my money is not enough asta lang ko tan-aw sa mga naga kaon. Nakatilaw lang ko sang McDo burger nila sang ginlibre ako sang my very good friend from Antique and I told myself someday when I have a job I will eat my heart out here and it happened. Thank you McDo for serving as my inspiration,” he said.

Ilonggo netizens added that McDonald’s Atrium branch also hold some of their fondest memories with their family members.

“My son tasted his very first cheeseburger in this place. The look of pure happiness on his face caused a couple of female student nurses to look at him and smile. My son was a cute 6 yrs old then. Still cute at 22 yrs old. Will miss this McDonald’s,” netizen Weng Gonzales Los Banes said.

Karlo Basco said she had precious moments with her mother in the same branch.

“It is where my brother celebrated his birthday. I had a lot of memories from this branch including moments with my late mom and it breaks my heart,” she said.

Some Ilonggo netizens recalled how the branch connected them with their present partners and at the same time became a witness to their heartbreaks.

“This McDo branch was where ako gin sabat sang girlfriend ko sang college sa St Paul College back in 1995 when it first opened. Subong misis ko na siya,” Facebook user Zands Pio shared.

“Sa Mcdo atrium ko nakilala kag na meet ang ex-girlfriend ko sang una. Siya to ang ginpalangga ko sang sobra. Kag everytime magpa city ako, dira gd ko gakaon kag sa usual napungkuan ko is kung sa diin kami duha nagpungko kag nag istoryahanay,” Facebook user Zrej Hebrona shared.

McDonald’s Atrium branch was permanently closed on December 31, 2019.

Information reached the Daily Guardian that the lease contract of McDonald’s with the Atrium mall expired on the same day.

According to them, the McDonald’s Atrium franchise is not owned by the owners of the mall.

QHP Realty Corp. which owns the Atrium mall claimed that Mcdonald’s offered too low a price for their rent renewal thus forcing the mall Directors to franchise Jollibee instead.

Regardless of the issues that surmount the closing of McDonald’s Atrium branch, one thing’s for sure, the branch will always have a special place in the hearts of Ilonggos.

The physical store may be gone but the memories will surely remain.

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