100 years of innovation: Whirlpool celebrates legacy of quality appliances

MANILA, Philippines - One of the most significant milestones for Whirlpool, the country’s leading manufacturer and marketer of quality home appliances, came when it recently celebrated its 100th year anniversary.

Hosted by Tessa Prieto-Valdez, a night of thanksgiving and celebration was recently held at the grand ballroom of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel Manila wherein Whirlpool took the opportunity to thank and give back to the people who have supported and trusted the brand for the past 100 years.

“Our aim is to bring Whirlpool to every home not only here in the Philippines but also to the whole world. We want to bring ease and comfort to every family everywhere through our products,” Blanco Wong, managing director of Whirlpool Southeast Asia, said during the festivities.

Even before coming to the Philippines in 1992, Whirlpool had become among the few brands Filipinos trusted. It has been Whirlpool’s passion to make home life better, which drove it to constantly develop innovative home appliances worldwide.

Whirlpool appliances are exclusively distributed here in the country by Exatech. Its president Nixon Sioco said, “A century definitely speaks of fullness. It enhances even more the value of a brand and the credibility of a company in the eyes of its customers or clients. I’m proud and happy to say that in all our years of promoting Whirlpool, its line of home appliances has consistently garnered consumer confidence and secured its reputation for quality, durability and dependability.”

“True to our name, our company, Excellence Appliance Technologies Inc., is founded on excellence in appliance retailing and customer service. Whirlpool, and everything that it stands for, is instrumental in helping us build on this foundation of excellence. Rest assured that we will continue to strengthen our partnership with you and help more Filipino customers realize greater value through Whirlpool appliances as we face our next 100 years,” Sioco said.

In addition to celebrating Whirlpool’s centennial anniversary, Exatech also recognized the dealers who were the first companies that supported the brand and who have witnessed the company’s growth in the Philippines.

Several companies were recognized as Whirlpool’s Pioneer Dealers in the Philippines led by Duty Free Philippines who was the very first dealer in the country to have supported the brand.

As Whirlpool’s marketing manager Joy Catiis-Cruz puts it: “These companies were the first that supported Whirlpool and Exatech. These brought about the business growth of both companies in the Philippine market, and at the same time helped strengthen Whirlpool’s reputation for high quality and dependability.”

Giving back 100-fold

In honor of its centennial, Whirlpool also donated P100,000 to two charitable institutions, which share the same advocacy of giving comfort to people that Whirlpool upholds — Charity First Foundation and Operation Smile Philippines.

Began by a group of Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurs in 2001, Charity First Foundation was borne out of the desire to give comfort and help to the Filipino poor. It conducts various relief and enlightenment programs touching on education, livelihood, health and agriculture.

Operation Smile Philippines, meanwhile, is the first in-country organization of Operation Smile International, a private, non-profit volunteer medical services organization and worldwide children’s medical charity. 

Operation Smile gives free reconstructive facial surgery to indigent Filipino children and young adults born with cleft lip and cleft palate deformity.

A new century of opportunity

“With our commitment to quality, Whirlpool will be focusing on making innovative products and services that would definitely benefit our consumers. New features will definitely be a target for the upcoming products that will truly make family life more convenient and enjoyable,” said Tom Jansen, senior director for global finished product sourcing of Whirlpool Corp.

As the celebration drew to a close, Whirlpool and Exatech vowed to do more than just provide great products, but to also continuously create innovative solutions that will make life a little easier for families all over the world.