TripZillaThe Philippines is probably the only country in the world where McDonald’s is not the most popular fast food chain, all because of a mighty bee called Jollibee. Filipinos grew up with Jollibee; it’s a place where toddlers spend their first birthdays, where kids and adults eat the staple sweet spaghetti, and gorge on the juicy Chickenjoy. Jollibee is so popular that Filipinos all over the world lineup from the wee hours of the morning whenever a new Jollibee location opens up overseas.
Image credit: Jollibee Official Facebook Page
So here’s a bittersweet story that happened in Cebu City, Philippines: On 24 Sep 2021, a Jollibee outlet manager named Mechelle Centurias took to Facebook to share a note that was left by a customer. When the Jollibee crew gave the note to her, she expected it to be a complaint, but it was the complete opposite. It was, in fact, a last goodbye note from a loyal Jollibee customer who was diagnosed with stage four cancer.
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The Jollibee goodbye note
Mechelle started her post by saying, “I was told that feedback is a gift. But this one is a totally different gift. It hits me to the core.” In the bittersweet note, the customer expressed his gratitude to Jollibee and said he’s been a fan all these years. He believes the Jollibee meal he ate will be his last as his doctor said he had three more months to live.
The heartbreaking note translates to, “My Jollibee, thank you for 32 years. Today, I will eat here for the last time, because starting tomorrow, I will begin chemotherapy. I have stage four cancer. My doctor said that I only have three months. Once again, thank you, my Jollibee. Until my next life. I love you, my Jollibee.” His last goodbye to Jollibee was punctuated with a lot of hearts at the very end.
Image credit: Mechelle Centurias
Mechelle, who was utterly shocked by the Jollibee goodbye note, tried to find the customer but he had unfortunately left. However, she remembered seeing him on the CCTV and described how his eyes smiled at her when his order was ready. Her Facebook post also wrote, “After silently eating at one corner of the store, he cleaned up his table, brought the tray to the claim area and left.”
Image credit: Mechelle Centurias
In the comment section of her post, Mechelle also requested the readers to keep sharing her post until it reaches the loyal customer. As of writing, the post has more than 7,000 reactions, 230 comments, and almost 3,000 shares. See her public post here.
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Jollibee moments
Jollibee Philippines has a saying and hashtag #kwentongjollibee, which translates to “a Jollibee story.” The fast food chain has witnessed plenty of touching Filipino moments over the years, from love stories to graduation stories, that all started and ended in Jollibee. This one has got to be the most touching one of the year yet.
To the loyal Jollibee customer, we hope Mechelle’s response to your goodbye note reaches you: “To this ‘brave someone’ who just prepared himself for a big fight, we pray for your recovery. The three months your doctor gave you can be three years or three decades or longer. God gives miracles. We just have to believe and strengthen our faith. I hope we served you better and made you happy at Jollibee. Welabyu ❤.”
Featured image credit (L-R): Jollibee | Official Facebook Page ; Mechelle Centurias | Facebook
