“Mas espesyal ang signing na ito dahil it also signifies my inclusion sa history ng Mesa, sa brand, dahil napag-usapan namin a couple of years ago na kapag tama na ang opportunity bilang proud ambassador, kailangan meron talaga akong physical evidence na parte talaga ako ng MESA. Gusto ko lang i-announce na I will soon be one of the proud partners of branch 88, which will be announced very soon kung saan ang location,” Mesa ambassador Dingdong Dantes announces during his contract renewal with the popular Filipino restaurant,” shares Dingdong Dantes as he opens the Q&A with the media during his contract renewal with Mesa Philippines.

From a single vision to a lasting legacy, MESA continues reinventing Filipino dining by giving classic dishes a fresh, innovative twist. As one of the nation’s most cherished homegrown restaurant chains, MESA is steadily expanding nationwide and beyond, driven by a shared mission.

When asked what made Dingdong Dantes stay with Mesa for six years and counting, “Aligned ‘yung values sa umpisa pa lang, maraming mga bagay na in common sa amin pero siguro pinakamaganda doon, pareho kami na gusto makapag bigay ng quality dining experience especially when it comes to Filipino food. Kasi I’m a food lover and sila ay advocates of delicious food. Talagang nagtugma ang mga gusto namin and even beyond Mesa, natutuwa ako na na-develop ang friendship namin eventually.”

What has been the significant impact of having a celebrity as their brand ambassador?

“Our restaurant has been in the industry for more than 30 years now. It took us 10 years to decide whether or not to have an endorser and when Dingdong was on the table, we felt that he was the perfect person to represent the brand. We want someone wholesome, we want someone who’s a family man, we want someone humble and like I said, never ako nagka-problema dealing with Dingdong. He’s always a text away, he’s always a WhatsApp or phone call away. Sometimes nga siya pa ang tumatawag dito kapag walang sumasagot, eh. But it has become more than just a business relationship but more of a friendship. So, very happy to prolong this relationship with him and grow the brand with him,” answers Mesa Chief Operation Officer Mr. Eric Dee.

Check out more photos from the contract renewal event:

Since opening its first restaurant in Greenbelt 5, Makati in 2009, Mesa now operates 80 stores nationwide, making it a household name for those who crave both familiarity and innovation on their plates.

Due to the brand’s recognizable growth, MESA has received prominent awards like the “Best Binakol in the Philippines”, the “Best Crispchon In The World” from Taste Atlas and recognized as one of the “Best Filipino Restaurants” in the Philippines for twelve (12) consecutive years by Philippine Tatler and awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry in collaboration with Philippine Retailers Association as “Best Retailer of the Year”.

Mesa is an integral pillar within the Foodee Global Concepts family, a powerhouse in the Philippine restaurant industry.

They introduced Michelin-starred restaurant concepts like Tim Ho Wan, Hawker Chan and Kam’s Roast, Europe’s best-selling yogurt llaollao, homegrown brands like Sunnies Café, and original Chef-curated concepts like Pound, Pound x Flatterie, and more.

Watch our coverage from the contract renewal Q&A: