by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2020 | Business
The Asset Magazine and Alpha Southeast Asia, two of the leading finance publications in Asia, have recognized the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as one of the most sustainable financial institutions in the region that champions market and environment sustainability through its banking activities.
In the Asset ESG Corporate Awards 2019 of the Asset Magazine, BPI was given an award for being the Highly Commended Bank in Environmental Responsibility, citing BPI’s Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF) Program, now called Sustainable Development Finance (SDF), which helps finance green projects for the private sector.
For its part, the Marquee Awards of Alpha Southeast Asia Deal & Solution Awards measured BPI’s contributions to its clients and markets that made 2019 a standout year for the Bank, making it the Best Sustainable Finance House in the country.
Jo Ann Eala, Head of BPI Sustainable Development Finance, said BPI’s programs have integrated sustainability in its clients’ business models for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience projects, harnessing its experience as the pioneer and one of the leading banks in sustainability in the Philippines since 2008.
Jo Ann Eala, Head of BPI Sustainable Development Finance
“We are happy that our sustainable banking efforts have been recognized by industry leaders and influencers. What makes the BPI SEF Program sustainable is our clear business model and mantra to ‘turn business green to gold.’ By ensuring that sustainability projects of clients comply with IFC standards to achieve energy, water, and materials savings, as well as lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, our clients are able to achieve overall project success and profitability,” said Ms. Eala.
In partnership with IFC of the World Bank Group, BPI introduced sustainable energy and climate finance in the Philippines in 2008. The bank has continued to lead in both the number of projects funded and portfolio size, with 333 sustainable energy projects funded and loans reaching over Php 133 Billion as of June 2019.
BPI has recognized the fact that shifting to sustainable business practices may be perceived as costly for SMEs. It has therefore provided technical consultations and advisory services free of charge to SMEs who cannot afford to set up their own engineering teams.
“It is not enough to comply with laws and corporate social responsibility targets. It is imperative that sustainability projects actually make money. In short, it is not enough that the project is green, it needs to yield gold. It needs to be successful and profitable to be sustainable,” Eala said.
As a result of these efforts, BPI’s program has been showcased in several Green Finance, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and other Responsible Finance conferences in the Philippines and abroad. BPI belongs to the Ayala Group of Companies who has adopted sustainability in the conduct of its business—a commitment that started in the 1980s and has continued to the present.
BPI’s new Sustainable Development Finance (SDF) program expands the bank’s green finance initiatives and bolsters the bank’s commitment to enable sustainable businesses in the country and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). With SDF, BPI has consolidated its financing activities beyond renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience and included sustainable agriculture, in response to the increasing need to adopt more efficient and climate-ready food production processes that will help the country achieve lower cost of food production as well as food security.
About BPI
The 168-year-old Bank of the Philippine Islands is the first bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We are a universal bank with an expanded banking license. We provide diverse financial services that include deposits, cash management, asset management, securities brokerage, foreign exchange, and capital markets investments, bancassurance, corporate lending, leasing, and investment banking. BPI has the significant financial strength, with strong Tier 1 capital adequacy ratios and profitability, underpinned by a strong risk management regime. BPI is rated investment-grade by international credit rating agencies.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 20, 2020 | Health and Wellness
It has been made clear by now that the Global pandemic, CoVid19, poses a clear and present danger to those who have a low immune system, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes. This is why social distancing is very important … we need to steer clear of unnecessary contact with other people, refrain from leaving the house if it isn’t necessary to, especially now that the region is on enhanced community quarantine.
While we continue to do everything that we can to evade the virus, some of us inevitably have to go out on errands hence posing danger to our family members at home. In this situation, the only thing we can do is to strengthen our immune system by taking vitamins and consuming healthy food.
Hearty Bread, Gluten-free & Sugar-free bread is one with the nation in providing healthy food for the family and to help everyone with their healthy bread requirement, the brand is reiterating their commitment to providing your needs thru Grab food delivery in most of their branches during this time.
To know more about Hearty Bread and how you can order, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartybreadph/ or you may call their delivery hotline at 09178567313.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 17, 2020 | Bon Appetit
I do most of the cooking at home and my most requested dish for everyday cooking is chicken and pork adobo. Here is my recipe. Warning, it is probably more work than most people want to put in but I promise you, the end result is super delish!
I actually combined 3 or 4 adobo recipes I found in our cookbooks here to come up with this version.
Chicken and Pork Adobo
A simple traditional Filipino dish that can be cooked in hundreds of ways ... each region (and possibly household) have their own way of making it.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: adobo, chicken, comfort food, pork
Calories: 165kcal
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
measuring cup
chopping board
2 pots
tongs or a slotted spoon
cooking spoon
large non-stick pan
- 1 kg pork cubed
- 1 kg chicken cut up
- coarse sea salt we use salt from Alaminos, Pangasinan
- water to cover
- 1 head garlic
- black pepper coarsely ground
- bay leaves (laurel)
- 3/4 cup regular vinegar
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 cup light soy sauce
- 4 cups water
Preparation
Wash the pork and chicken separately, then place them in the pot. I recommend the pork below and the chicken on top.
Take a small fistful of salt (around 2 tbsps.) and sprinkle it on the meat then pour in enough water to cover.
Boil for 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure your pot is deep enough that it won't overflow. This will accomplish two things: a) it will soften the meat and b) it will remove that funky smell meat sometimes gets
Get a fat skimmer and skim off all the gunk (fat, etc.) that will float on the water. This usually looks like light brown bubbles or soap suds. DON'T MIX THE CONTENTS OF THE POT! That will just make the gunk mix back in and we are trying to remove it. Note: You don't have to wait until the 20 to 30 minutes are up to do this. I usually check every 5 minutes and remove what I can. This way, more gunk is removed.
Turn off the stove.
Cooking Phase 1
Take another pot put in the cracked garlic.
Using tongs or a slotted spoon lift out all the pieces of meat and put them in the pot containing the garlic.
Throw in the pepper and bay leaves.
Pour in the vinegar, rice wine vinegar, light soy sauce, and water. DO NOT MIX!
Turn on the stove and boil the pot for 30 minutes or until your nose tells you that the dish is cooked. This usually means it does not smell so "vinegary". You can cover the pot but make sure not to close the lid completely or place a wooden spoon across so that it won't overflow. At this point you will also notice that there is less water.
Taste and add salt or spices as you feel is needed.
Turn off the stove and let the adobo "sit". I like to just keep it in the pot covered properly to keep the household pests from getting to it first. But if you prefer, you can put it in the ref once it is cool. For the flavor to really seep in it is best to let it sit for 24 hours.
Cooking Phase 2
Take a large frying pan, preferably non-stick so you don't need oil. But if you have a regular one that is ok, too.
If using a regular frying pan, heat the pan then add oil. Once the oil is hot add the meat pieces and brown the meat. If using a non-stick pan, put the meat pieces in even if the pan is not yet hot. Turn on the stove to brown the meat.
Be careful when turning the meat to fry the other side. Since we pre-cooked the meat, it should be super soft and will likely shred ... unless your objective is adobo flakes, in which case, have at it! 🙂
Once all the meat is browned pour what sauce you have remaining over the meat to heat up.
Place in a bowl or serving platter and feed to your family.
I honestly do not know how many servings this recipe makes but it is a lot!
If you like this recipe and will replicate it, take a pic and share it on Facebook or Instagram and don’t forget to tag me and use the hashtag #slvrdlphnrecipes
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 15, 2020 | Health and Wellness
Mayor ISKO MORENO threaded an impoverished area in Manila while growing up. As the elected City Mayor of Manila, more popularly known to Filipinos as Yorme, he never wavered amidst adversities hurled at him for taking several steps in making a better version of the city he fondly calls his home and crowning glory. Bold and fearless, Yorme puts his heart and mind in anything he does – “Believe in yourself! You’ve got nothing to lose.”
Yorme recently signed Ordinance 8607 declaring the permanence of Arroceros Forest Park dubbed as the “Last lung of the City”, home to 61 tree varieties and 8,000 ornamental plants. The new ordinance forbids the cutting of trees and dumping of waste within the park. Part of his plan is to allocate P1 million solely for its preservation and maintenance away from the urbanization and all these efforts stem from his greater plan to make Manila a “Green City”.
Believe in the Power of Nature
Yorme firmly believes in the power of nature. It’s no secret that he advocates using natural products. No wonder, early this year Yorme became the newest brand ambassador of NOVUHAIR, Nature’s Answer to Hair Loss. Watch the video below.
Novuhair Unboxing Experience Promo
Want to try NOVUHAIR? In line with our 10th Anniversary celebration, here’s the chance to win a NOVUHAIR VIP Gift Box!
Find out what’s inside the box. 10 VIP winners will be randomly chosen via electronic raffle per week for 1 month. NO PURCHASE REQUIRED!
It’s so easy. Simply visit https://web.facebook.com/NovuhairOfficial/videos/300441577602930/ or watch the video here below to find out how to join this contest:
LET’S GO GREEN!
#NothingToLoseNovuhair #ChooseNatural #Novuhair #UnboxingNovuhair
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 13, 2020 | Advocacy
Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, recently set up a cooking station at Batangas Sports Complex to provide freshly cooked meals to more than 3,000 evacuees who were displaced during the Taal eruption. Solane also teamed up with Batangas Divers Association to help set up cooking stations at the Batangas Provincial Capitol where at least 700 evacuees stay. Solane designated a team dedicated to organizing the relief operations.
Mayor ISKO MORENO threaded an impoverished area in Manila while growing up. As the elected City Mayor of Manila, more popularly known to Filipinos as Yorme, he never wavered amidst adversities hurled at him for taking several steps in making a better version of the city he fondly calls his home and crowning glory. Bold and fearless, Yorme puts his heart and mind in anything he does – “Believe in yourself! You’ve got nothing to lose.”
Find out what’s inside the box. 10 VIP winners will be randomly chosen via electronic raffle per week for 1 month. NO PURCHASE REQUIRED!
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