Electric Vehicle Alliance plans 4th Electric Vehicle Summit

The Electric Vehicle Alliance, the group that organized the hugely successful first three editions of the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit, is now gearing up for the fourth one. This will be held at the Meralco Multipurpose Hall at Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City from February 26-27, 2015.

Electric Vehicle Alliance is composed of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), Meralco and Clean Air Initiative Asia (CAI Asia). EVAP President Rommel Juan said that for this year’ EV Summit, EVA has aptly chosen as its theme: “Sustaining the gains in Philippine electric vehicle development.”

He reveals that the EV Summit will offer business professionals and vehicle industry experts the opportunity to learn the latest advances in EV technology, network with colleagues both here and abroad and exchange ideas regarding electric vehicle technology and sustainable mobility. “We also expect some business partnerships to be forged between foreign and local EV players during this event.”

“We will review the contributions that EVs have made and continue to make toward healthier living spaces by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We will likewise seek to bring together relevant stakeholders from vehicle parts and components, manufacturing, assemblers, information and communications systems companies, energy companies, electric utilities, systems integrators as well as representatives from government and academia. We hope to share ideas, to collaborate, and to co-develop initiatives for making sustainable mobility a reality.”

Juan is happy to note that foreign investments in joint venture with local EV players have taken off the ground. “Several local manufacturing facilities of electric tricycles are in place

and off-site charging stations have been set up. Many institutions have adopted the use of EJeepneys for mass transport applications such as the Eco Loop in Filinvest Alabang, the DLSU EJeepney Ikot at its Dasmarinas campus and Ateneo’s EJeepney system with a dedicated charging station put up by Meralco inside Ateneo’s Katipunan campus.”

With these gains that they will sustain, Juan says EVA hopes that more foreign investments will continue to pour into the local EV industry and in the very near future, make the Philippines the EV manufacturing hub in the region. “Some foreign EV investors are on the lookout for local partners, especially in the manufacturing and assembly sectors and we just need to show them that we can do it.”

For inquiries about the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit 2015, please contact the EVAP Secretariat at 9307003, text 09239432073 or email secretariat.evap@gmail.com or you may check out the EVAP website and Facebook page for more details.

BINALOT GOES VISAYAN

For the Lenten season, Binalot has chosen favorite dishes from the Visayas region: Bangus Sinugba, Kinilaw and Laswa. Healthy favorites from the South will be offered at selected Binalot branches starting Feb 18, Ash Wednesday and throughout the Lenten Season.

Sinugba means “grilled”, Kilaw means “vinegared” and Laswa means boiled vegetables. The bangus sinugba is filled with chopped onions and tomatoes and then slowly grilled to a nice finish. Healthy not only for the body but also good for the soul.

Binalot recently celebrated its 18 years in the business and recently signed up a foreign franchise for Dubai, UAE. Binalot was founded by Rommel Juan and his friends in 1996 when they realized there were no real Pinoy options for dining that was fresh and portable using eco-friendly packaging.

Binalot now has 45 branches all over the country, all serving Filipino food favorites in its trademarked wrapper of banana leaves, naturally preserving the food’s freshness. It now also offers Franchising options with a number of pre-approved sites for the interested applicants. You can visit www.binalot.com for more information. Find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, too.

KINILAW NA ISDA- The freshest fish marinated in Pinoy vinegar and Ilocos onions and garnished with red hot peppers. A favorite of our Visayan brothers, now at a Binalot near you! Perfect for the Lenten season.

LASWA- What could be healthier for body and soul but a fresh boiled vegetable medley of local greens and other Pinoy vegetables called Laswa. BINALOT offers this Visayan favorite to start its Lenten specials. Check www.binalot.com for the branch nearest you.

BANGUS SINUGBA- Our national fish is now available stuffed with chopped onions and tomatoes and grilled to a nice finish. Sinugba is the Visayan term for "grilled". Catch our Visayan specialties starting this Lenten season. Visit a BINALOT store nearest you. www.binalot.com. Find us in Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, too.

 

UST and Hercor College are National Champions in the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge year 6

UST is the back-to-back Umami Bowl Champion and the winner of the National Cooking Showdown for the My Own Umami Creation Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao Showdown.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) won the Umami Bowl Award (for the 2^nd year) and the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao Showdown for My Own Umami Creation during the recently concluded Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) 2015. Sharing the spotlight with UST is Hercor College from Roxas City, who won the Best Filipino Umami Dish Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao Showdown. The event attracted thousands of HRM and Nutrition students in 54 schools from NCR, Ilocos, CALABARZON, Central Luzon and Bicol Regions and regional winners from Visayas and Mindanao.

On its 6^th year, UCC organizer, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC), put together the best culinary teams from Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao in one (1) cooking arena to showcase their masterful culinary creations. UCC remains to be the biggest, intercollegiate, multi-category culinary competition that focuses on the delicious potential of umami, the 5th basic taste. Mr. Taro Fujie, APC President was present during the awarding ceremony. He happily remarked, “I thank all partner Chefs, Medical and Nutrition experts, who loyally support and give credibility to UCC and to all the students, who poured their hearts to deliver their best dishes. Ajinomoto will continually support Aspiring Filipino Chefs and promote cooking and serving delicious and healthy food.”

                                          Mr. Taro Fujie, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation President 

Apart from the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao Cooking Showdown, UCC 2015 features three (3) competition categories: Best Filipino Umami Dish, My Own Umami Creation and My Eat Well, Live Well® Plate. The competing teams were judged based on intensity of their dish’s umami taste, culinary technique and creativity, dish preparation and plate presentation. One of the major criteria was Eat Well, Live Well.® Cooking, which referred to culinary nutrition or the integration of culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to create delicious and nourishing umami dish.

Winners received the following prizes: first place winners – gold medals and P10,000, second place winners – silver medals and P8,000 and third place winners – bronze medals P5,000. National Showdown winners received gold medals and P15,000. Major winners also included gifts from UCC 2015 sponsors: La Germania, Solane, Masflex and Fujidenzo.

Umami, the scientifically recognized and proven 5^th basic taste alongside sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, was first identified and isolated by Dr. Kikunae Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University in 1908. 

Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge Student-Competitors happily pose for the camera in the Competition Arena.

Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge attracted 54 Schools, thousands of HRM and Nutrition Students in their 6^th year.

Culinary Luminaries – Judges for the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao Showdown.

A spread of umami or delicious food.