Whenever you talk about Filipino food with anyone, especially outside the Philippines, chances are the
first thing that will come to mind is the legendary adobo. There are so many different variations you can
find in around the country, with every household having their own special take on what the best adobo
tastes like.

Everyone loves adobo, so much so that, over the years, our signature dish has been making quite an
impact around the world. Some restaurants in the US and Europe have been offering their own renditions of adobo. Popular American cable channel the Food Network even released several recipes of
adobo on their website.

In 2021, Filipino adobo returns to the spotlight once again. Iconic actress and pop artist Selena Gomez
has been spotted attempting to prepare Filipino adobo on the upcoming season of her cooking show
Selena + Chef. 

At 232MW, the project in Ilocos Norte Province is the largest integrated wind and solar power plant in the Philippines. LONGi was selected as the exclusive module supplier, delivering 100MW high efficiency monocrystalline solar panels.


The project, developed by Qingdao Zhongzi Zhongcheng Group Co., Ltd., started construction in March, 2017. The site is in a primeval forest in the region of Pasuquin. To ensure smooth delivery, Chen Jinliang, LONGi Logistics Manager and Bai Liwen, LONGi Solar Sales Manager visited the area many times to design the optimal transport scheme and build the roads to deliver the modules to the site. LONGi completed the supply of all modules in 2018 as planned.



“The 232MW project is the first large-scale wind and solar power integration project developed by Chinese enterprises in Philippines.” Lu Min, former President of Qingdao Hengshun Zhongsheng Group, said at the ceremony marking the start of construction work in Philippines. “The project is a new start for our group, we are willing to contribute to the national construction of the Philippines through successful overseas development experience.”



According to the news report, this integrated solar and wind project is the first large-scale project in the
energy sector of bilateral economic and trade cooperation after President Duterte;s visit to China in
December, 2016. It is also a major project by Chinese enterprises to respond to the ;Belt and Road; initiative.


LONGi, headquartered in Xi’an, China, focuses on manufacturing PV products and providing solar power technology solutions. Its product offerings range from wafers, cells, modules and PV solar power
equipment to solar power systems. The LONGi Group has evolved into a global company with assets of
approximately US$8.38 billion and more than US$4.65 billion in annual revenues in 2019.

With the holidays over, thousands of Filipinos are coming back from their hometowns or simply traveling to get to work.

If you are one of these commuters, please remember that the pandemic is not yet over, and strict health protocols are still in place. However, there are ways for you to be able to get to your destination safely. AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, is here to give you some tips on just that.

Prepare for cashless payments. Many transport services have implemented cashless paying schemes as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 virus. For example, ride-hailing apps only accept bookings if you will pay through your e-wallet or credit or debit cards. Also, trains and some buses only allow passengers to ride if they have a reloadable contactless smart card. To avoid any hassle, make sure that you have the necessary apps and cards. But if you have to pay with cash, it’s best to prepare the exact amount to lessen physical contact.


Always bring your essentials. When you take public transportation, you may be at risk and be exposed to many strangers. Remember to always protect yourself by properly wearing your face mask and face shield. It’s also best to bring a spray bottle of alcohol and a pack of sanitary wipes to not only clean your hands, but to also sanitize handrails, windows, and other surfaces in a public vehicle.

Check required travel documents. Since regions in the country are under different levels of quarantine, some places may have stricter policies and health measures than others. This means that some cities may require you to present certain documents prior to entry. These may include a travel pass issued by municipal offices or city chief of police, medical certificate, company ID, and a negative RT-PCR result. Because of this, make sure to do your research before traveling and prepare whatever is necessary.

Keep yourself entertained. If you’re going to ride the train, a bus, or a van service, expect the lines to be long. Since these modes of transportation can’t operate at full capacity, you probably have to wait in line for a long time. So, fight the boredom and frustration by keeping yourself entertained. Before you leave the house, you can download movies or a television series that you can binge-watch on your phone as you wait in line. You can also create a music playlist, listen to podcasts, install new games, or bring a pocketbook to help you pass the time.

Avoid talking and eating. When in public transportation, refrain from talking or eating as this will require you to open your mouth or take off your mask. Conversations can wait until you are indoors and no longer around strangers. Likewise, make sure that you eat before you leave the house so that you won’t get hungry while travelling.

Have an emergency contact. When you’re on the road, regardless if you are commuting or riding a private car, it’s best to have someone to reach out to in case of emergencies. To help with this, AXA Philippines has Rescue Line, a special service accessible through the Emma by AXA app that provides 24/7 free access to emergency response such as roadside assistance, police, and ambulance anytime, anywhere. With just a few taps, professional help may be requested, and your loved ones will be
simultaneously notified of your emergency situation and current location. 

Allianz officially began its eight-year worldwide partnership with the Olympic & Paralympic Movements on Jan. 1, building on a collaboration with the Paralympic Movement since 2006.

“Allianz is proud to be the „Worldwide Insurance Partner” of the Olympic & Paralympic
Movements,” said Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE. “As a supporter of the sports ecosystem and through shared core values of excellence, friendship, inclusion and respect, Allianz and our 148,000 employees and 100,000 agents are excited to care and deliver for athletes, their families and their ambitions.”

Since announcing the partnership in September 2018, the insurer has engaged fans, athletes, teams and employees through health across four pilot markets – Australia, China, France and Spain. Allianz presented the Australian Olympic Committee’s Wellbeing Week to showcase ways to improve mental health. Allianz also worked with the Organizing Committee Olympic Games Paris 2024 to encourage people to walk and run for “Club Paris 2024”, an initiative to move and be part of the Games.

Allianz will expand local initiatives to connect with athletes and fans across the world. To name a few, the global insurer will offer consumers and employees the chance to take part in the Olympic Torch Relay at Beijing 2022 and will engage youth with the spirit & values of the Movements at its Allianz Sports Camps through trying sports, building friendships and learning from athletes. Furthermore, it will support the Movements with tailored insurance solutions and services.

“Having announced this new agreement in 2018, our teams have already been working together in key pilot markets to support athletes and the Olympic Movement,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “As we start this new Olympic year, we are excited to begin in earnest our global collaboration with Allianz.”

“Allianz brings global visibility to the athletes and values of the Paralympic Movement and we look forward to our next phase working together,” added IPC President Andrew Parsons.

The partnership runs from 2021-2028. More details can be found on Allianz’s website .

VS1 and Mototek tapped motoring personalities Zach Lucero and Gaki Azurin, better known as Gaki Girl, to close the 2020 Purposeful Ride campaign with twin year-end celebration rides. The pair rode out for holiday shopping and distributed their loot to families living along the streets of Manila. They then proceeded to Gilmore to buy Christmas parols, which they gifted to their moms.

Both Lucero and Azurin then demonstrated how to condition the motorcycle for its optimum performance before riding, highlighting the two-pronged protection that the motor care line brings. The motorcycle aficionados also shared tips on how they kept their vehicles in tip-top shape despite being dormant in their garage for the months- long quarantine.

“2020 was a bit more restrictive than normal but we wanted to still spread joy with our partners Zach and Gaki, who are solid VS1 and Mototek fans, and their viewers. With one ride, we hoped to bring meaningful connections back with motoring as a way to reach out to those who were hit the worst by the pandemic,” said Assistant Product Manager Alek Barcia.

Earlier in August, Rica “Jet Lee” Cabarrubias and Philip “JT” Elliot took to their wheels to show their support to frontliners. Elliot donated face masks and face shields to Los Baños Doctors Hospital and Medical Center and exchanged quarantine stories with the hospital’s cardio technician, Jena Crisologo, and security guard, Jamal Navarete.

“It’s a very meaningful day, a very meaningful vlog. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam to reach out and makipagkwentuhan sa mga frontliners natin,” shared Elliot. Cabarrubias, for her part, stopped by all the checkpoints in Cebu City to distribute food packs to the enforcers on duty.

The purposeful Christmas ride is an initiative of the Consumer Care Products Incorporated’s motor line to keep the momentum for supporting modern-day heroes, uplift communities, spreading love in the time of the Pandemic. Follow @VS1ProtectorPH on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on the latest.

Lucero summarizes the mission of the Purposeful Ride campaign well. “If we have a little more than others, it is our duty to do something for them kahit sa maliit na bagay lang.”

Diabetes and COVID are not a good match. In fact, in the largest epidemiological investigation from the Chinese Center for Disease Control, The COVID-19 mortality in the presence of diabetes rose up to 7.3 percent. A report by EpiCentro also shows that diabetes accounts for 30.5 percent of comorbidities among COVID-related deaths in Italy. And here in the Philippines, the World Health Organization reported that 77 percent of COVID-related deaths had either one or several known co-morbidities like diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, cardiac disease, bronchial asthma, and cancer.

“COVID-19 and diabetes are both inflammatory disorders. That being said, the presence of diabetes can make one’s COVID infection worse,” said Dr. Jeremy Robles, President of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEDM).

According to Dr. Robles, controlling diabetes will depend largely on patient adherence because diabetes is both a chronic and a lifetime disease. Patient adherence refers to the willingness to take care of one’s own health by following the treatment the doctor prescribed. Adding to that, the patient will be able to experience better outcomes when they continuously and consistently follow the doctor’s advice. 

While the series typhoons late last year have gone, many of those severely affected are still trying to rebuild their lives. To help fast-track recovery, ACE Hardware staff recently donated needed items such as bed & mats, PPEs, and cleaning materials to affected residents of Kasiglahan Village in Rodriguez, Rizal. This activity was done jointly with SM Foundation and the local DSWD chapter.

To fulfill its Helpful Place; promise, ACE Hardware serves communities through outreach initiatives like this, as well as provide customers nationwide with relevant and helpful products.

For convenient shopping at Ace Hardware in SM Bulacan Malls, join their Viber community at bit.ly/AceMarilaoViber for SM City Marilao, bit.lyAceSJDMViber for SM City San Jose del Monte, and bit.ly/BaliwagViber for SM City Baliwag.

Also don’t forget to visit SM Bulacan Malls official Facebook Pages for more updates https://www.facebook.com/SMCityMarilao , https:www.facebook.com/SMCitySanJoseDelMonte , and https://www.facebook.com/smbaliwag