George T. Yang, the man behind the Golden Arches in the Philippines

What does it take to start an empire? For Dr. George T. Yang, it’s rejection and years of waiting. When he applied for the local franchise in 1974 of what is now the country’s quick service restaurant (QSR) pioneer, the then thirty-something was still finding his footing in business. Unfazed by the initial denial of his application, he persisted in his mission to bring the global food chain to the Philippines.

“I was determined to become an entrepreneur.”

While waiting for a decision from the head office in the US, he immersed himself in the restaurant business. He trained in Hong Kong and performed all service duties – flipping burgers, bussing tables and even cleaning restrooms.

“People were lining up, waiting to come in… We had to close the door to keep more people from coming into the store.”

After a box office opening of his first restaurant in Morayta, Manila in September 1981, a second one quickly followed in Cubao, Quezon City. His restaurant chain has since grown to over 650 stores nationwide and currently employs over 40,000 Filipinos.

Dr. Yang’s persistence positioned the Golden Arches as one of the most recognizable symbols of the quick-service industry in the country today. He may have Chinese roots, but his heart as a Filipino throbs in the fact that McDonald’s Philippines is a 100% Filipino-owned and operated company.

“I just knew that I wanted to do my own thing.”

His goal to provide Filipino customers a world-class experience of constant improvement launched some of McDonald’s many innovations. He initiated the addition of localized menu items such as the McSpaghetti, Chicken McDo and Burger McDo to cater to the Filipino palate. He envisioned making McDonald’s easier for more to enjoy with drive thru, a one number delivery hotline and 24/7 stores — some iconic firsts that were made possible through Dr. Yang’s visionary leadership.

“It’s a people business.”

McDonald’s was quick to recalibrate at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Its M Safe campaign underscored the company’s commitment in ensuring the health and safety of its people and customers. McDonald’s prioritized the mass testing of its workers and continues its efforts to vaccinate all its employees. The Kindness Kitchen, another pandemic-born McDonald’s initiative, has now served over 510,000 meals and remains faithful in providing meals to frontliners and marginalized families.

Dr. Yang’s belief in giving back to the community and championing the youth started the Philippine chapter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities in 1996. Its flagship program, the Ronald McDonald Read to Learn which was launched in 2002, aims to reinforce the reading skills of first graders in the public school system.

The founding father pioneered the hiring of working students in his branches in an effort to provide regular employment opportunities to the young population. This is another demonstration of his belief that if you invest in people, they will work to be the best that they can be. McDonald’s has never practiced contractualization of its restaurant employees from its first day of operations in the country until today.

“I’m shy. I don’t like to talk to people.”

The famous business tycoon also believes that it's never too late to chase your dreams. A self-confessed shy type, Dr. Yang discovered his talent for singing later in life. He released three recordings, and has even held a major solo concert at the CCP, making him achieve yet another dream, well into his senior years. His love for music also led him to put up the Klassikal Music Foundation (KMF) which supports talented Filipino musicians who don’t have the means to hone their craft.

“I’m known as the McDonald’s guy.”

Despite his diverse business, charitable and personal interests, Dr. Yang remains to be known as the QSR giant’s patriarch. Indeed, the Chairman, Founder, and Master Franchise Holder of McDonald’s Philippines, is our McDonald’s guy. He has not only set a benchmark in the country’s quick-service industry, but also brought home a global brand that not only represents meals shared, but more importantly, moments that matter.

Quotes taken from previously published interviews of Dr. George T. Yang in 2011, 2018 and 2020.