Bing Limjoco: From franchising pioneer to pillar of Philippines retail
From the infancy of franchising to its current golden age in the Philippines, Ma. Alegria “Bing” Sibal-Limjoco has been a driving force in shaping the country’s retail and franchising landscape, earning her the moniker “the mother of Philippine franchising.”
Ma. Alegria "Bing" Sibal-Limjoco has been a pivotal figure in the development of franchising and the retail industry in the Philippines. In 1996, Limjoco, alongside PFA chairman emeritus Samie Lim and prominent retailer Manuel Siggaoat Jr., co-founded Francorp Philippines, a division of Francorp International. This organization has been instrumental in guiding numerous brands towards successful franchising partnerships.
Through the collaborative efforts of PFA and Francorp Philippines, the local franchising landscape has expanded dramatically from around 50 concepts in the early years to over 2,000 distinct franchising brands today. In 2002, Limjoco and her associates signed an agreement with the International Franchise Association and the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives in Washington, D.C., to introduce the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program to the Philippines. Limjoco was the first individual from Asia to earn this prestigious certification in 2003.
Limjoco's expertise has played a significant role in shaping the careers of over 290 graduates of the CFE program in the Philippines, with more than two-thirds being Filipino and the remainder from neighboring ASEAN countries. She currently holds leadership positions within PFA, representing the organization's interests in the Asia-Pacific Franchise Confederation, as well as being involved with the Philippine Retailers Association and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Limjoco's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in foreign service from St. Theresa's College, interior design studies at the New York School of Interior Design, and a master's degree in business and economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific. She also completed a Mini MBA in Franchise Management from the University of St. Thomas and the Asian Institute of Management, both of which are recognized by the International Franchise Association.
Through her advocacy efforts and strategic partnerships, the franchise industry in the Philippines has not only grown into an economic powerhouse contributing 7.8 percent to the country's GDP, but has also created more than two million direct and indirect jobs. As the vice chair of Francorp Philippines, Limjoco has helped numerous successful franchises, including Jollibee, Max's Restaurant, Goldilocks, Penshoppe, and others, leading to the establishment of over 320 members in PFA and establishing the Philippine franchise industry as a regional leader in Asia.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
