Ministop Honors Filipino Culture in 30th Anniversary of Halo-Halo

By Florenda Corpuz

TOKYO – What began as a Filipino comfort food has, three decades later, become a summer icon in Japan. As Ministop celebrates the 30th anniversary of its best-selling halo-halo, the Japanese convenience store chain turned the spotlight back to the dessert’s roots, with heartfelt recognition of the Philippines.

Held on July 31 at the Philippine Embassy, the commemorative event, “Thank You, Halo-Halo. Thank You, Philippines,” underscored the cultural journey of halo-halo from Filipino dining tables to Japanese convenience stores.

Ministop President Masashi Hotta presented a certificate of appreciation to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, thanking the Philippines for inspiring the shaved ice dessert. In a symbolic exchange, Hotta tasted an authentic Filipino-style halo-halo, while the ambassador sampled Ministop’s latest seasonal variant, Kajitsu Gori Condensed Milk Strawberry.

“For Filipinos living in Japan, Ministop’s halo-halo can take them back to the comforting memories of their homeland. For Japanese customers, it has served as a delicious introduction to Filipino heritage,” said Garcia-Albano during her speech.

She praised the dessert as more than just a mix of ingredients: “Halo-halo is a cultural symbol representing unity amidst the diverse influences that have shaped the Philippines. It demonstrates the act of coming together to form a vibrant, cohesive whole.”

The celebration was held during Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, adding sentimental depth to the event. Garcia-Albano noted its significance as a prelude to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026.

“I think the Filipino community is very honored by the fact that a Filipino dish is being featured by such a company as Ministop,” she told Filipino-Japanese Journal. It shines a spotlight on Filipino food and the delicious dishes we have in the Philippines.”

She also welcomed Ministop’s ongoing efforts to include more Filipino ingredients in their seasonal offerings: “It makes the halo-halo even more attractive to Filipinos living here in Japan.”

Since its debut in 1995, Ministop’s halo-halo has evolved into a uniquely Japanese version of the Filipino favorite, offering new flavors each year while staying true to its tropical inspiration. Developed as a parfait-style shaved ice dessert, it reflects the versatility and visual appeal of the original, which means “mix-mix” in English.

To mark the occasion, Ministop launched a special campaign at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station, displaying a large poster replicating the certificate of appreciation with the message: “Thank You, Halo-Halo. Thank You, Philippines.” The campaign runs through Aug. 6, which is officially recognized as Halo-Halo Day in Japan.

(Cover photo: Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano, third from left, and Ministop President Masashi Hotta, fourth from left, mark the 30th anniversary of Ministop’s halo-halo at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo on July 31.)