Last November 24, 2015, Ajinomoto hosted a press conference entitled Ajipanda: Best Day Ever! at the Torre Venezia Suites in Quezon City with three important agendas.

First was to launch their newest and cutest icon, the AjiPanda, whom you might have seen on Ajinomoto's newest TV Commercial. When asked "why AjiPanda?", Ms. Roann Co, Ajinomoto's Marketing Department Head, explained that AjiPanda personifies a humble pack or bottle of Ajinomoto® Umami Seasoning as an ever-reliable way of bringing out the natural deliciousness of food and it fills the role of "Your Best Friend in the Kitchen" that will help you work wonders in your cooking to be able to share happy meals with the whole family.

Ms. Roann Co, Ajinomoto’s Marketing Department Head presented the media launch of AjiPanda™

During the event, invited doctors educated the attendees with regards to umami and monosodium glutamate (MSG) and they also cleared up issues involving MSG especially the negative connotation it has worldwide.

Dr. Frances M. Tan, diplomate of the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Philippine Pediatric Society, explained scientific facts about umami and glutamates

Dra. Frances Tan, who specializes in General Pediatrics with sub-specialty in Allergy and Immunology, discussed Umami as the 5th basic taste which is more commonly known as savory or "malinamnam". 

Dr. Celeste Tanchoco, Board Member of the Nutritionist-Dieticians’ Association of the Philippines (NDAP), Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO) and the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE), talked about the role of glutamate in nutrition

As for enlightening us on how safe it is to use MSG, Veteran Nutritionist Dra. Celeste Tanchoco imparted the role of glutamate in nutrition and she also assured everyone that MSG is safe for general consumption as affirmed by credible institutions like World Health Organization (WHO) and The United Nation's Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (UN JECFA) through scientific evidences.

Contract renewal of Ms. Kathryn Bernardo as Brand Endorser of AJI-NO-MOTO®. Mr. Masato Wada, Board of Director for Marketing, Sales and Public Relations, represented Ajinomoto in this undertaking

Cuteness Overload. Ms. Kathryn Bernardo poses with AjiPanda™

Lastly, Teen Queen Kathryn Bernardo graced the event for the renewal of her contract as brand endorser with Ajinomoto Umami Seasoning. She was very happy to have been a part of Ajinomoto for quite some time already because she really grew up eating meals that her mom prepared with the use of Ajinomoto and now, she also enjoys cooking meals with the help of her best friend in the kitchen, AjiPanda.