International fast food chain McDonalds held the grand opening of its Binalonan Branch on May 20.

Congressman-elect Ramon V. Guico III of the 5th district of Pangasinan, and newly elected Binalonan Mayor Ramon N. Guico Jr. assisted by Vice Mayor Melicio F. Patague II, did the ribbon-cutting. Also present during the ribbon-cutting were Councilors Josephine Caburnay, Bryan Louie Balangue, and Mrs. Arlyn Grace Guico, wife of Mayor-elect Ramon Guico Jr.

A motorcade with Ronald McDonald and some employees of the restaurant followed after the ribbon-cutting.

A day before the opening, a blessing and dedication of the building and the store officiated by Sto. Nino Parish Priest Rev. Father Numeriano Gabot Jr. was held.

Vice Mayor Patague, some department heads and employees of the municipal hall, McDonalds employees, barangay officials, and other guests graced the occasion.

Patague who spoke on behalf of Mayor Guico said, “We appreciate and thank you for the trust of putting up your branch in Binalonan. It is a manifestation that our economy in Binalonan is improving.”

The opening of the store is expected to generate employment in Binalonan and the nearby towns.

McDonald’s is the world’s largest restaurant chain, with 34,480 restaurants in 119 countries. It is an American fast food company, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, USA. In 1955, Ray Kroc, a businessman, joined the company as a franchise agent and proceeded to purchase the chain from the McDonald brothers.