01/04/2026
Kuya, kay ano kamo magsasara?
Hala sayang!
Marasa ko pa naman iyo manok!
Mamimiss ko iyo Chicken Skin.
Padayun la kamo, Bry!
Pwedi man, pag rebrand nala kamo.
…………………………………………………….
It was four years ago, during the pandemic, when The Crunch Tacloban started.
Our goal was to build a business where we could earn money while also providing good food to consumers during the pandemic. We searched for multiple franchise opportunities and eventually chose The Crunch.
The Crunch - Boneless Fried Chicken is owned by Joel Javier and Kat Ermino. We were I think 13th franchisee and trusted the brand even without tasting the food because the owners were so sincere that time and earned our trust. Fast forward—The Crunch Tacloban officially opened on September 8, 2021.
Our first year went smoothly, and everything seemed to be on the right track. But that changed when they became popular vloggers, leaving us franchisees hanging. Internal problems started surfacing: inventory shortages, no sauce, no breading mix—our main ingredients—making it extremely difficult to operate.
There were instances when we had to close our shop because we had nothing to sell. But we believed in the owners and held on to hope that this was just a season—and that things would improve. We suggested ways for them to address the issues and even requested a general meeting, but it never happened.
Eventually, a general meeting was held—but only after an email glitch exposed communication problems. An email was mistakenly sent to franchisees via CC instead of BCC, and franchisees started replying publicly, sharing the struggles at their branches.
The meeting itself was disappointing. We couldn’t ask questions or provide input—it was just the owners talking. They scheduled it two weeks after the email glitch, and those two weeks of waiting led to nothing.
At that point, we realized things were unlikely to improve. We fought hard and gave our all, trying to sell food despite the lack of support, innovation, or improvements. For four years, we sold the same product, with the main branch seemingly unaware of the challenges. Selling the same thing for four years is extremely difficult—nothing changed. WALANG BAGO!
Because of this, we decided to temporarily cease operations until the management makes the necessary improvements. I personally still believe in The Crunch—that our chicken is truly good, and that we have what it takes to compete with other popular chicken brands. But continuing without support or innovation would only exhaust us and disappoint our customers. For now, we need to pause, reflect, and regroup. We want to come back stronger, better prepared, and ready to serve the quality and variety that our customers deserve.
We are not posting this for clout or to defame anyone—this has been our reality for almost five years. We fought really hard. Maybe this is just a season, and until next time, we will wait.
To Joel & Kat, I was a fan of yours back then and admired how you built your brand. Thank you for opening doors for us, especially during the pandemic. You were very hands-on and inspiring at that time. Perhaps your involvement has just lessened now? Please consider stepping in again—several branches are closing, and if action isn’t taken soon, the next one could be yours.
To the owner of The Crunch Tacloban, Richelle Eder, thank you for always being my number one supporter. Whether as a boss or a sister, you are simply the best. Not everyone knows how hard I fought to keep this going, and you were the first person who told me, “If The Crunch no longer makes you happy, it’s okay to let it go.” Thank you for everything, Ate! Love youu!
To Princess Creations Wedding and Event Styling, we are always grateful for trusting us as your crew meal supplier during your events. Thank you for consistently recommending us to your clients—you truly hold a special place in our hearts.
To my college best friends (BBM), I owe so much to all of you. On days when our sales were low and I would message you hoping for a little support, you never hesitated to place an order. It always melted my heart. Thank you for being there for me in ways that truly mattered.
To my high school best friends, especially our graphic artist, thank you for being such a blessing to me and to The Crunch. During the times when things felt heavy and uncertain, you were always there—quietly supporting me, never leaving my side. There were moments when we needed a pubmat late in the evening, and without hesitation, you would simply say, “Okay, I’ll make it.” That kind of presence, especially during the darker days, meant more to me than I can ever fully express.
Thank you for standing by me through it all.
To everyone who believed in us and supported us, our hearts are filled with deep gratitude. To the people I met along the way who became friends, thank you for the genuine connections, the laughter, and the memories we shared, those moments will always stay with me.
From our physical store to the bazaars we joined in different schools and universities, thank you for welcoming us so warmly and for choosing to come back, again and again. Your support, no matter how big or small, carried us through both the good days and the challenging ones.
We are where we are today because of each and every one of you, and for that, we will always be grateful.
Lastly, to our Almighty Father, thank You, Lord, for making me braver, wiser, and stronger. Without You, I could not have done any of this. Thank You for the wisdom You have given me. There were times I questioned You, especially when things did not go according to my plans. Yet, You never left me—you continued to shower me with Your presence, guidance, and grace.
This may not be a farewell, but a promise we carry in our hearts—that if it is God’s will, our paths will cross again and this journey will continue.
Until the next crunch,
The Crunch Tacloban
