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Taste of Vietnam

CHEFS Duong Dai Doan (right) and Le Duy Thanh of the Sofitel Legend Metropole’s Spices Garden restaurant in Hanoi are in charge of the Sofitel Manila’s Flavors of the World: Vietnam special at Spices.

THE VARYING climate of Vietnam paves the way for lush growth, which is expressed in its cuisine, where freshness is paramount.
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, as part of its “Flavors of The World” culinary series, brought two Vietnamese chefs, Duong Dai Doan and Le Duy Thanh to execute dishes from the country at Spiral and a Chef’s Table lunch earlier this week. Mr. Doan is the senior chef of Spices Garden restaurant at the Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi, while Mr. Thanh is a chef in the same restaurant.
The Flavors of the World Vietnamese promotion will run until April 29 in Spiral.
Mr. Doan opened his lunch with a Fresh Vietnamese spring roll, stuffed with prawn, smoked salmon, and green papaya, which tasted very fresh and vibrant, as if everything had just been caught from the sea or harvested in a garden, all wrapped in delicate rice paper.
While guests were expecting a pho for the soup, it might have been too heavy, so a Vietnamese chicken soup flavored with mushrooms, asparagus, and fresh herbs was served. For something so light, it packed quite a punch in terms of flavor, that made one see, smell, taste, and even hear, the color green.
A Vietnamese grilled salmon with turmeric sauce was served next, made with turmeric, fish sauce, and chili. The dish proved to be very fragrant, and the same supreme scent was reflected in its taste.
Dessert was dish made with taro, with spiced coconut sauce and tapioca balls, which might remind one of Filipino guinatan, down to the same pastel purple color.
Speaking about the freshness of the ingredients, well-reflected in the dishes, executive chef of Sofitel Manila Nicholas Shadbolt said, “In Vietnam, it’s really fresh. They don’t have big supermarkets; they don’t have hypermarkets.”
He knows of which he speaks since he too has worked in Vietnam.
“If you go to Vietnam, you don’t see a lot of overweight people,” he noted. — JLG

How healthy is too healthy? EU warns about green tea supplements

BRUSSELS — Taking high doses of supplements containing green tea extracts may be associated with liver damage, according to new research from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Tea infusions, as used for brewed tea, are still considered safe. Instant tea drinks are also fine as they contain lower levels of the antioxidants naturally present in green tea, Parma-based EFSA said.
Consuming too many of these antioxidants can be harmful, which is why the amount contained in supplements can have a harmful effect on the liver.
Most supplements provide an intake of 5-1,000 mg, while tea infusions typically only contain 90-300 mg, EFSA, which oversees food safety in the European Union, said.
Researchers determined that consuming over 800 mg per day led to higher health risks, but the EFSA said experts could not yet determine a supplement dosage that would be entirely safe.
However, high consumption of green tea infusions did not indicate liver damage due to the drinks having a lower concentration of antioxidants. — Reuters

Shareholders green-light merger of CHI, CPVDC

THE merger of two Ayala-led firms based in Cebu has been approved by its shareholders.
Cebu Holdings, Inc. (CHI) said in a statement that it will proceed with its merger with subsidiary, Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. (CPVDC), after securing shareholder approval during the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
The merger will be executed through a share swap that will result to 2.916 billion outstanding CHI shares. All CPVDC assets and liabilities will also be absorbed by CHI.
CHI is the developer of the 50-hectare Cebu Business Park in Cebu City, while CPVDC is the owner and developer of the 27-hectare Cebu IT Park. The two developments are 1.5 kilometers apart, and both house a mix of residential, office, retail, and leisure facilities.
“The merger will consolidate the company’s portfolio under one listed entity, creating a unified portfolio for its investments and is expected to result in operational synergies, efficient funds management, and simplified reporting to government agencies as a result of the merger,” CHI said in a Feb. 26 disclosure.
Shares in CHI went up by four centavos or 0.66% to close at P6.10 each on Thursday, while shares in CPVDC gained six centavos or 0.96% to close at P6.30 apiece. — Arra B. Francia

Does alcohol cause PMS?

PARIS — Researchers reported a link Monday between PMS and drinking alcohol, but could not conclude whether premenstrual suffering causes women to hit the bottle, or the other way round.
A trawl of data from 19 studies in eight countries found a “moderate association” between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as cramps, breast tenderness, fatigue, moodiness, and depression on the one hand, and a tipple on (in) the other.
The link was “more pronounced” with heavy drinking — equivalent to one average-sized drink per day or more — the researchers said.
This suggested drinking may be the cause, rather than the consequence, of some PMS cases, they said.
But the data “cannot strictly rule out that PMS causes women to drink in order to mitigate their symptoms,” study co-author Bahi Takkouche of the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain told AFP.
Either way, the findings “are important given that the worldwide prevalence of alcohol drinking among women is not negligible,” the team wrote in the online journal BMJ Open.
The data used in the meta-analysis was taken from studies conducted in the United States, Britain, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia.
PMS symptoms, which vary from woman to woman, usually last one to a few days before menstruation.
According to the NHS, about one in 20 women suffer symptoms so severe they interrupt their lives or work.
‘NOT SURPRISING’
In the United States, previous research has found, the economic cost can reach $5,000 per PMS case per year due to women staying away from work, and seeking medical pain relief.
The majority of cases are never recorded, however, as many women simply carry on as best they can.
Worldwide, the proportion of women who drink alcohol is about 29%, said the research team. “Heavy” drinkers made up about 6% of the female population.
In Europe and America, these figures are “much higher” — about 60% of women drink in Europe, and 13% heavily.
Based on these figures and the study findings, the team estimated that about one in 10 PMS cases may be associated with drinking worldwide, and one in five in Europe.
“Furthermore, heavy drinking may be associated with four percent of the PMS cases in the world and over 9% in Europe,” the researchers concluded.
In a comment on the study, gynecologist Nick Panay of the Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London said the “potential causal association” between alcohol use and PMS was “interesting.”
It was, however, “not surprising given the impact of alcohol on hormones and neurotransmitters” — the body’s chemical messengers, he said via the Science Media Centre. — AFP

Global Ferronickel CEO says planned mining curbs may hit output this year

Global Ferronickel President and Chief Executive Officer Dante Bravo — WWW.GFNI.COM.PH

MANILA — The Philippines’ second-biggest nickel miner, Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc., said planned government curbs on mining may hit its long-term output and would force it to make adjustments to meet its 2018 shipment goals.
Manila wants to restrict the amount of land that miners can extract mineral deposits from at any given point in a bid to boost environmental rehabilitation, according to a draft government order.
“It is possible because you lose the flexibility,” Global Ferronickel President and Chief Executive Officer Dante Bravo told Reuters in an interview, when asked whether the planned curbs would limit future output.
“Yes, in future, but for this year, we’re still confident that we can hit our target.”
The company, which sells its nickel ore to top buyer China where it is used to produce stainless steel, is aiming to ship 6 million tons this year, the same as 2017.
Under the government plan, mines producing up to 1 million tons of nickel ore a year will be allowed to work on 50 hectares at any one time. That goes up to 100 hectares for mines with output of 9 million tons and above. Projects with a processing plant will be allowed up to 162 hectares.
Global Ferronickel’s extraction area will be reduced to 90 hectares from more than 100 hectares currently when the new rule takes effect, Bravo said on Wednesday.
“We will have to make adjustments. We will have to concentrate on mining blocks that will suit our target for this year,” he said.
The miner cannot stockpile too much ore due to the risk of heavy rains during the monsoon season between November and March, he said. Prolonged rains can reduce the quality of ore stored outside.
“For the time being, (if) the (government’s) intention is to limit the area and they want us to follow, then we’ll follow. It’s as simple as that,” said Bravo.
The Philippines was the biggest nickel ore supplier to China last year, shipping nearly 30 million tons. Indonesia has been the biggest supplier so far this year after Jakarta relaxed its ore export policy.
On Tuesday, top Philippine nickel miner Nickel Asia Corp said its export plans this year remain unchanged despite the proposed new rules.
Global Ferronickel, which in 2016 signed a memorandum of cooperation with China’s state-owned Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co. Ltd. to look at the potential of building a nickel processing plant in the Philippines, has no immediate plans to pursue it.
“The necessary ingredients for us to make it viable are not there yet,” Bravo said, citing costly power, among other factors. — Reuters

Malbec: France’s gift to Argentina

A CELEBRATION of the Malbec wine varietal led guests on April 19 to pick their poison: red meat, or red wine.
Slabs of Argentine roast beef were laid out for guests to consume at Makati’s Buddha Bar, washed down with glasses of Malbec from wine importers in Manila. Around 50 wines were on offer.
This was part of the 8th edition of Malbec World Day, the international celebration of Argentina’s icon, which takes place on April 17 every year. This year the celebration was called “Malbec Argentino: You Know Me and You Don’t.”
The Malbec grape was brought to Argentina from France in the 19th century by Aimé Pouget, a French agronomist who was hired by Argentine President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. By this time, most of the vineyards in Europe had been ravaged by the phylloxera plague, killing off vines probably hundreds of years old. The difference in terroir between France and Argentina led to a divergence in the taste of the wines made from the grape. Malbec is now the flagship grape associated with Argentina, which is only proper, since the Argentine government declared wine as the country’s national liquor in 2010.
Argentina is the world’s fifth largest wine-producing country. The Malbec wine varietal displays a punchy fruitiness punctuated with some spice, reminiscent of pepper; a certain oakiness, with a light floral aroma. Said Flavio Chomnalez, the Head of the Commercial Section of the Argentine Embassy about growing the grape, “Let’s just say we have a special environment for it.”
As for the beef, he said that Argentine beef was mostly exported to Europe, but, “We are developing new markets for our beef… now we want to develop other markets because there are people who want to consume [more] beef.”
According to him, wine and beef are tied to the Argentine way of life. A man is supposed to know how to make an asado (a form of barbecue) when he comes of age.
As for the wine, “Wine represents a part of our culture. Malbec is our grape. It’s a French grape in origin, but we adopted it.” — JLG

Bosch opens business hub in Baguio

THE Bosch Group opened a new business hub in Baguio City, its fifth in the country as it expands to tap customers in the northern region.
In a statement, Bosch said it decided to open its first business hub in Northern Luzon after seeing strong potential in the construction, mining and hospitality industries in the area.
“The Baguio business hub is a testament to Bosch’s ongoing commitment to help Northern Luzon accelerate its momentum of progress,” Bosch Philippines Managing Director Richard Walker was quoted in a statement as saying.
The Baguio business hub, located along Otek St., features a showroom, training spaces and after-sales support for Bosch products.
Bosch said the Power Tools division will provide the construction industry with high-performance tools needed in property and real estate projects.
“With the aggressive implementation of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ campaign announced by the government earlier this year, big-ticket infrastructure projects are on the rise and will contribute significantly to the economy of the Cordillera region,” Bosch said.
Its Automotive and Drive & Control divisions are expected to cater to the mining industry. Bosch will be supplying companies with parts and services for their heavy-duty vehicles used in transporting materials. The company’s hydraulic technologies are also expected to help in the region’s hydropower and mining activities.
For the hospitality industry, Bosch’s Building Technology division aims to provide audio systems in events places and hotels.
“We are optimistic that the hub will be essential to our future business growth by providing strong support to local distributors and customers, just like our other business hubs in Taguig, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro,” Mr. Walker was quoted saying. — Denise A. Valdez

New World hotel offers traditional Chinese engagement package

A TRADITIONAL part of a Chinese wedding is the Ting Hun ceremony — the official announcement of an upcoming marriage and the union of two families.
With the New World Makati Hotel’s Ting Hun package, couples can leave the planning and details to the events experts of the hotel.
There are a number of event venues to choose from: the intimate The Glasshouse, the contemporary The Press Club, or accommodate a large family at the Grand Ballroom. Feast on a customized and authentic Cantonese menu by Chinese executive chef Wong Kam On of Jasmine restaurant.
The Ting Hun package includes access to a professional bridal consultant, a reception venue, engagement ceremony noodles, sweets, and eggs good for 14, an engagement backdrop with the Double Happiness symbol, and an overnight stay in a bridal suite, to name a few. Couples may choose between the Classic or Grand Ting Hun packages to suit their needs.
Couples who book both their Ting Hun and wedding ceremonies before May 31 will receive complimentary pre-event cocktails worth P75,000, and an additional two nights in a Deluxe room with breakfast for two at Café 1228. For details call New World Makati Hotel at 811-6888 ext. 3280.

PCC aims to complete Grab-Uber review by May

GRAB Holdings, Inc. has faced regulatory roadblocks in its acquisition of Uber’s assets in Southeast Asia. — REUTERS

By Janina C. Lim, Reporter
THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) is looking to complete its review of Grab Philippines’ acquisition of Uber Philippines as early as next month, an official said, noting a prolonged review process may make it difficult to undo the partially consummated deal.
PCC Commissioner Johannes Benjamin R. Bernabe said in a phone interview they are now in the process of securing all the necessary documents from the ride-hailing firms, including their compliance or non-compliance with the interim measures imposed by the competition watchdog.
Mr. Bernabe said the PCC’s review of the Grab-Uber deal may only take about 30 days to complete, instead of the original estimates it would take between 75 days to six months.
The PCC earlier this month started a motu proprio investigation into Grab’s acquisition of the Southeast Asian businesses of rival Uber, saying it believes the deal “may likely substantially lessen, prevent, or restrict competition.”
The PCC had directed Uber to continue its operations, independent of Grab Philippines during the review period. However, Uber shuttered its app in the Philippines on April 15.
Mr. Bernabe noted Grab and Uber have already taken steps to consummate the deal, since they claimed it falls below the PCC’s notifiable threshold.
Under PCC guidelines, mandatory notification is required for all merger and acquisitions (M&A) with a transaction size of P2 billion and size of person of P5 billion.
Mr. Bernabe said the PCC would rather have the results of the review “sooner than later” since it would be difficult to dissolve the deal which have been partially consummated.
“The parties think that they did not need to notify so they consummated right away,” Mr. Bernabe said. “If we take more time, then it will be more difficult to unscramble if that is what is necessary or required.”
Under the law, the PCC can prohibit the consummation of mergers and acquisitions that will substantially prevent, restrict, or lessen competition in the relevant market.
Mr. Bernabe explained that while the PCC has the authority to dissolve the deal, it can also propose remedial measures or mitigating actions from Grab and Uber to prevent negative effects on market competition that may arise from the deal.

TDF yields climb as BSP cuts offer volume

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez, Senior Reporter
YIELDS FOR term deposits climbed across all tenors amid smaller volumes offered this week, with banks eyeing bigger margins as they expect market rates to keep rising.
Banks wanted to place P96.262 billion under the term deposit facility (TDF) yesterday, slightly higher than the P90 billion which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) wanted to sell. Total tenders dropped compared to the P112.07 billion bids received last week, against a P110-billion offering.
In return, these players asked for rates which were around five basis points higher from the previous week’s average.
Demand for seven-day term deposits remained strong despite the reduced auction size, with bids reaching P47.031 billion to surpass the P40 billion which the central bank floated on Wednesday. This, however, slipped from the P50.446 billion tenders received a week ago versus a P50-billion offer.
The week-long instruments fetched a 3.4397% average yield, rising from the 3.3967% seen the previous week as banks wanted returns ranging from 3.3-3.5%.
The 14-day tenor also saw tempered demand as bids amounted to P31.297 billion, higher than the P30 billion dangled by the BSP. This follows P38.15 billion in awarded bids the previous week against a P40-billion offering.
The average yield picked up to 3.4648% from 3.437% from the April 18 auction.
On the other hand, demand for the 28-day instruments slipped to P17.934 billion compared to P23.474 billion received a week prior, settling below the BSP’s P20-billion offer.
Market players also sought for bigger returns to hit a 3.4574% average, which inched up from 3.4097%.
The TDF is currently the central bank’s main tool in capturing excess funds in the local financial system. The BSP expects to keep market rates closer to the 3% benchmark rate by paying margins to banks who decide to park unused cash under the window.
The central bank trimmed the auction volume to P90 billion this week in anticipation of tepid demand ahead of the May 1 holiday, when banks will likely opt to hold more cash to service withdrawals and client demands.
Sought for comment, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said lenders are demanding wider margins for placing their excess funds under the TDF as they take advantage of movements in the financial market.
“Banks are leveraging on what they think are tightening market conditions that would include prospects for higher inflation in the country and several rate hikes expected in the US Fed,” Mr. Guinigundo said in a text message.
“They also cite higher funding requirements for the infrastructure program of the national government and their consequence on domestic interest rates.”
During their March meeting, members of the US Federal Reserve saw the economy gaining strength and inflation rising “in the coming months,” fuelling investors’ belief that the central bank will continue to hike its interest rates this year. Back home, several analysts are calling for a rate hike from the BSP as early as May 10, although policy makers have said that inflation remains “manageable” despite trending above four percent.
The government intends to spend P1.068 trillion on public infrastructure this year, in line with the “Build, Build, Build” agenda of the Duterte administration.
Market rates have been on the rise to mirror the trend in global yields, particularly as rates of US Treasuries are hitting four-year highs.
Next week, the central bank will put up the P90 billion in term deposits for offer again — P40 billion in the seven-day tenor, P30 billion for 14-day, and P20 billion in the 28-day deposits.

Google aims to lure Microsoft Outlook users with biggest Gmail redesign

SAN FRANCISCO — Alphabet, Inc.’s Google unveiled on Wednesday its first Gmail redesign since 2013, capping what the company says was an expensive overhaul two years in the making to adopt security and offline functionality and better resemble Microsoft Outlook.
It is Google’s most extensive update to software in its G Suite workplace bundle since accelerating efforts to steal business from Microsoft Corp.’s dominant Office workplace software suite. Previously, G Suite added instant-messaging and spreadsheet features.
With Gmail, Google said it restructured e-mail storage databases, unified three dueling systems for syncing messages across devices and upgraded computers underpinning the service. That shift to Google’s self-developed Tensor processing chips enables smart-assistant features such as “suggested replies” to messages and “nudges” to respond to forgotten e-mails.
“This is an entire rewrite of our flagship, most-used product,” said Jacob Bank, product manager lead for Gmail, which 1.4 billion people use each month.
Unreliable offline access to e-mail has long discouraged would-be customers, while recent high-profile corporate data breaches have increased their desire to lock down e-mail. Analysts estimate G Suite generated about $2 billion in revenue last year, 10 times behind Office.
Google declined to specify costs associated with the redesign. But parent Alphabet reported Monday that first-quarter capital expenditures nearly tripled year over year to $7.3 billion.
Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat told analysts that half of the spending resulted from hardware purchases to support expanding use of machine learning, which describes automated programs that can, among other things, identify spam and predict which e-mails users would find most important.
SECURITY AND SMARTS
Google’s Bank said the overhaul was required primarily to provide offline access to up to 90 days of e-mails for users who turn on the feature.
The changes also fulfill another top demand of business executives — message expiration.
Users who enable a “confidential” option when sending an e-mail can time-limit its access to recipients and also require they enter a one-time passcode sent to their phones to read it.
The new setting does not override corporate e-mail retention policies or present new obstacles to law enforcement.
“Nudges” and a higher bar for new-mail notifications round out Google’s revised sales pitch. The company estimated that nudges will lead 8% of business users each week to remember to follow-up on something important.
Cosmetic changes bring Gmail’s website in line with Office by placing Google’s calendar, tasks and note-taking services within the same page as e-mails.
Bank said testers have advanced from “neutral to positive to very positive” on the new look. — Reuters

Keeps kids busy this summer with Maya cooking classes

PARENTS looking for a fun, productive activity for this children over the school holidays can consider enrolling them in cooking classes.
In The Maya Kitchen’s Kids Can Cook classes this summer, children can try their hand at tasty culinary basics they’ll enjoy preparing as much as they’ll like eating them. The classes are also a great way to introduce them to healthy eating and taking on more responsibility at home. Classes for kids ages six to 12 will be held from May 15 to 18 and May 29 to June 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Classes cost P6,000.
The Maya Kitchen is also offering a Teens Summer Cooking Series. Over the course of four days, participants will learn how to whip up recipes for sharing with friends and the family, from game night snacks to Italian dishes and even samgyeopsal (Korean pork belly) barbecue. Open to children between 13 to 18 years old, the classes will be held from May 22 to 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and cost P7,000.
For details visit www.themayakitchen.com, e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com, call 892-1185 or 892-5011 local 108 or 0929-679-6102, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center (Tuesday to Saturday) at 8F Liberty Bldg., 835 A. Arnaiz Ave., Makati City.

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