The initiative opens doors for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to work at Shakey’s company-owned restaurants across the city.
This marks the fifth local government unit to partner with SPAVI on inclusive hiring, following the group’s efforts to promote equal employment in the communities it serves.
The collaboration was formalized in a ceremonial signing attended by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, SPAVI national operations director Carlos Robles III, and SPAVI chief human resource officer Marielle Santos. Also present were representatives from the Social Services Development Department (SSDD), the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), and the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD).
“We are excited to partner with SPAVI and provide both senior and PWD QCitizens with a chance to work,” said Belmonte. “Here at QC, we believe everyone should have an opportunity to build a better life through respectable livelihoods.”
The partnership involves onboarding senior citizens and PWDs as store staff members, subject to a health check-up and assessment by the QCHD to ensure they are fit for work. SPAVI is now actively preparing to place these individuals in roles suited to their abilities, reinforcing its broader goal of creating meaningful job opportunities for all.
Beyond employment: A social mission called ‘Love ‘Em Down’
In line with its 50th anniversary, Shakey’s is also doubling down on its flagship social impact program, Love ‘Em Down, launched in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Inc. (DSAPI). Since its inception in 2018, the program has empowered 58 individuals with Down Syndrome through inclusive hiring and community engagement.
Earlier this year, SPAVI hosted its first Pizza and Smiles event, a hands-on pizza-making activity designed to build confidence and social interaction among children with DS. The event, held on World Down Syndrome Day (March 21, 2025), welcomed 45 kids into a fun, supportive environment guided by Shakey’s employees.
The celebrations continued with SPAVI’s participation in DSAPI’s annual "Happy Walk", where employee-volunteers and their families joined in festivities including meet-and-greets, performances, and of course—pizza. These events reflect SPAVI’s holistic approach to inclusion: not just hiring, but also community-building
Purpose as a business strategy
“At heart of it all, we are a people business,” said SPAVI president and CEO Vic Gregorio. “That means cultivating an organization where diverse talents and abilities are not only valued but also harnessed. With inclusive hiring and Love ‘Em Down, we aspire to make a meaningful difference in their lives—and hopefully extend this impact to their families.”
Since 2023, SPAVI has employed 261 senior citizens and PWDs through its inclusive hiring program. The Group continues to expand partnerships with LGUs and civil society to provide not just jobs, but dignity, purpose, and opportunity.
As it enters its 50th year, Shakey’s is proving that profitability and purpose can go hand in hand—one pizza slice at a time. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
