Last September 22, the Queen City of the South was glowing pink as foodpanda brought the CRAVE Partner Summit & Awards 2025 to Waterfront Hotel Cebu. After lighting up Davao, the CRAVE series continued its nationwide celebration of partnerships, and this time, Cebu took center stage.

CRAVE, which stands for Celebrating Relationships & Advancing Valuable Experiences, was more than just an awards night. It was a full-on Pink Gala with a Cebuano flair, where foodpanda gathered top restaurants, retail partners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening filled with stories, milestones, and exciting performances.

A Night of Stories and Success

The event wasn’t just about trophies and titles. It was about the people behind Cebu’s favorite food spots. Local brands like Got Tea? Crafted Milk Tea and Jafar’s shared how their partnership with foodpanda has helped them reach more customers and grow their businesses in Cebu’s buzzing food scene. Hearing these stories added a personal touch to the night and reminded everyone that every order has a bigger impact.

Pushing Partnerships Forward

One of the highlights of the evening was the spotlight on foodpanda Capital, an initiative launched with GoTyme Bank. The program gives partner vendors access to hassle-free financing with no collateral, simplified requirements, and flexible repayment terms. It’s designed to help MSMEs scale up, especially during peak and lean seasons. With this, foodpanda is showing that it’s not just about deliveries, but also about giving local businesses the boost they need to thrive.

And the Winners Are…

Of course, the night wouldn’t be complete without recognizing the stars of Cebu’s food community. The CRAVE Awards honored outstanding partners across different categories:

• Pau-Pau’s Top of Table – Alberto’s Pizza, Don Silog, Ribshack, Cebu’s Tasty Lechon, Dimsum Break
• Pau-Pau’s Momentum Master – Jafar’s, Braddex Batchoy & Steamed Rice, Hukad Everyday Filipino, Kai Royal Tea, Thirsty
• Pau-Pau’s Ad-Star – Hyderabad Dine In, Itealicious, New York Buffalo Brads Hot Wings, Mom Rose Grill & Restaurant, Tiffles
• Operational Excellence – Somac Korean Restaurant, Golden Sugar, Scarborough Seafoods, Sipchew, PorkHub
• People’s Palate Award – Ned Nanay’s Grill, Got Tea? Crafted Milk Tea, Bunado’s Lechon, Felisa’s Café & Restaurant, Ram’s Pizza, Pasta & Milktea

Seeing familiar Cebu favorites get recognized definitely brought out a sense of pride, and the cheers in the ballroom proved just how much these brands mean to the community.

A Celebration to Remember

The evening was packed with cultural showcases, live entertainment, networking, and even raffle prizes that sent a few lucky attendees home with travel packages and shopping treats. But more than the glitz, CRAVE stood out as a celebration of partnership, growth, and shared success.

As Daniel Jaramillo, Managing Director of foodpanda Philippines, shared: “From Davao to Cebu, CRAVE embodies our gratitude to the partners who help make foodpanda a household name across the Philippines. Tonight is about recognizing excellence, but also about looking forward, building stronger, smarter, and more sustainable partnerships.”

With Manila set as the final stop on October 7, the nationwide celebration continues. But for Cebu, this Pink Gala was a night to remember — one that highlighted the strength of the city’s food community and the exciting road ahead with foodpanda.