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The Vikings are back: Valhalla series brings more adventures to screen

Vikings: Valhalla (2022) — NETFLIX

LONDON — The new show Vikings: Valhalla, which premieres on Netflix on Friday, pairs history with drama to narrate Viking adventures from more than 1,000 years ago, starting with a revenge mission against the English throne.

Set some 100 years after the end of the hit series Vikings, it tells the tales of Norse figures like explorer Leif Eriksson, his headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and determined Prince Harald Sigurdsson.

“It was great to dive into the legend that lives in these sagas but stripping it back down and really telling a human story,” actor Sam Corlett, who plays Leif, told Reuters.

The plot follows Greenlanders Leif and Freydis who travel to Kattegat on a personal vendetta, but he is soon drawn by Harald (Leo Suter) and King Canute (Bradley Freegard) to avenge fellow Vikings killed in England.

Meanwhile Freydis, portrayed by Frida Gustavsson, is taken under the wing of female Kattegat leader Jarl Haakon, played by Caroline Henderson, developing a strong bond also shared by the two actresses.

“It was incredible to work on a show where you have space for two strong female leads who are working together,” Ms. Gustavsson said.

“It’s not a walk in the park … long, long, long days … we were freezing and we were tired … It’s not easy but I think the work ethic that we had together and the friendship with the rest of the cast as well just really helped,” Ms. Henderson said.

The series features plenty of seafaring and bloody battles. It also looks at the distrust between pagan and Christian Vikings.

“It tracks these characters through the reasoning of … where did they get their motivation to do that? And I found that that was really exciting,” showrunner Jeb Stuart said.

“There’s a lot of history involved in it but it’s also a grey area that a historical dramatist like myself can actually play in without making stuff up that’s outside my zone.”

Asked about the enduring popularity of Vikings, Mr. Suter said: “We’re still talking about them, right? They did amazing things. King Canut glued together a North Sea empire. Harald Hardrada was a ferocious fighter who travelled across Europe, Leif connected Europe and America.”

“So, the feats they did were historic … They were legends of their time.” — Reuters

New Zealand vs India in the opener of FIBA Qualifiers

GILAS coach/program director Chot Reyes — SBP

Gilas without two-time best point guard Jayson Castro

GILAS Pilipinas relishes a chance to scout and prepare as New Zealand and India take the center stage in the opener of 2023 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A games at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Philippine team, which has been reduced to a spectator for now after the withdrawal of its opening day opponent South Korea, will not play until tomorrow against India at 3 p.m.

India, led by NBA G League standout Princepal Singh, and New Zealand lock horns also at 3 p.m. today before meeting anew on Monday for the last day of the window.

Gilas for its part, will take a break on Saturday before plunging back into action against New Zealand on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The Nationals were supposed to play a dreaded four-game schedule in five days until Monday, but South Korea pulled out at the last minute due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) issues in its squad before departure to the Philippines.

Gilas is expected to name its final 12-man roster before each game against India and New Zealand from the 15-man pool it brought to the Novotel-Smart Araneta Coliseum bubble earlier this week.

Six players from coach Chot Reyes’ TnT Tropang Giga banner the cast in Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, Gab Banal and Kib Montalbo.

Two-time Best Point Guard in Asia Jayson Castro is the notable absence from the list that also has Japan B.League stalwarts Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos along with naturalized player Ange Kouame.

Young guns Juan Gomez de Liaño, Lebron Lopez, Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel and NorthPort ace Robert Bolick complete the pool.

“Our preparation is our health to stay focused mentally and emotionally for whatever the schedule is,” said Mr. Reyes. — John Bryan Ulanday

Insurance demand to rise once restrictions are eased

MORE FILIPINOS may start buying life insurance products once the economy is under the most relaxed alert level amid excess liquidity in the market, BDO Life Assurance Company, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Renato A. Vergel de Dios said.

“As we move to Level 1, I anticipate that there will be an uptick [in demand for life insurance]. There’s a pent-up desire…[with people thinking] okay, what can we do? Because there’s also some liquidity in the marketplace,” he said at a virtual forum on Wednesday.

There will likely be interest from people that have increased savings during the pandemic as they have cut down consumption due to restriction measures, Mr. Vergel de Dios said.

“For those who did not lose their jobs, for those whose incomes have continued, they probably did not go out much for dining, spending or shopping,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“I expect that there will be some uptick [in demand] if mobility will not be restricted,” he added.

Mr. Vergel de Dios said that while insurance can already be bought online, some people may likely opt to buy insurance in person as it is a big purchase.

“For slightly bigger purchase, you feel more comfortable to see a face transact with you,” he said.

He said they will focus on targeting BDO clients for their life insurance products. Eventually, he said they will also look into offering services even for nonbank customers.

Metro Manila Council Chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez said mayors in the National Capital Region unanimously support the move to relax restrictions to Alert Level 1 next month.

Business leaders have also backed the idea of easing restrictions further as infection cases have declined.

BDO Life’s premium income in 2020 reached P15.137 billion, the eighth highest among life insurers, based on data from the Insurance Commission.

Its new business annual premium equivalent was the seventh biggest in that year at P2.261 billion.

Meanwhile, the net profit of its parent lender BDO Unibank, Inc. dropped by 10.6% to P11.033 billion in the third quarter of 2021 amid increased expenses and lower net interest income. The bank’s net income for the first nine months of 2021 jumped by 95.7% to P32.484 billion.

BDO’s shares closed at P134.80 apiece on Wednesday, down by 20 centavos or 0.15% from its previous finish. — L.W.T. Noble

Carousell says online trade, ads to expand this year

COMMUNITY marketplace Carousell Philippines expects an expansion in the e-commerce and online classified ads landscape in 2022, as more consumers turned to online buying during the pandemic.

“In 2020, everything accelerated. The pandemic has provided customers with access to a variety of products from the safety of their own homes. We see this shift as an opportunity and inspiration not only to make Carousell even better but most importantly, to serve Filipino customers better,” Carousell Philippines General Manager Djon Nacario said at a virtual briefing on Wednesday.

“We have always strived to make sure there is every kind of thing for every kind of person,” he added.

Mr. Nacario described the Philippines as the most receptive market for secondhand goods in greater Southeast Asia.

“Listing views and monthly active users grew in 2021 and Carousell has become an essential platform for Filipinos during the pandemic with many of our users rallying together to help during the typhoon,” he said.

On March 8, Carousell is set to merge with Property24, an online property portal.

“This will provide an effective online platform for leading real estate developers, agencies, and brokers to help them showcase their property listings to a wider audience of qualified prospective buyers including the 4.62 million monthly visitors on Carousell,” Mr. Nacario said.

“In line with this, Carousell is also working on initiatives to improve the user’s experience on its platform to ensure that customers are able to find every kind of home for every kind of family,” he said. “We have taken in various feedbacks from our partners, developers, and users to make our property category even better.”

Carousell is also planning to team up with Premium Warranty Services Philippines, Inc., a provider of used vehicle inspection and warranty services, to launch the Carousell Autos Inspected and Warranty program.

The program is designed to provide buyers of secondhand cars “confidence and peace of mind when searching for vehicles in the Carousell platform.”

“We recognize that knowing the real condition of the car is a legitimate concern for most buyers. Carousell Autos Inspected and Warranty program will boost buyer’s trust in secondhand cars and will give them the assurance that the items listed on the platform are safe from hidden faults or defects,” he said.

In 2021, the online marketplace launched Carousell Media Group, a full-service platform that offers advertising solutions across the Carousell group’s family of brands.

It also launched Carousell Property Expo, which was the first experiential online event for property with over 1,500 listings from developers.

“Last year, Carousell secured an investment of $100 million from STIC Investments to accelerate its leadership in the region, and to reimagine the classifieds experience with a focus on convenience and trust, to make secondhand the first choice,” Mr. Nacario said.

In October last year, the company acquired Ox Street, one of the leading end-to-end marketplaces for authenticated sneakers and streetwear in Southeast Asia.

Founded in 2012, Carousell first began in Singapore as a web-based, classifieds marketplace before expanding operations to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

K-pop sensation BTS to return to US for in-person concerts

South Korean boy band BTS — IBIGHIT.COM

SEOUL — South Korean boy band BTS will return to the United States for a series of concerts in Las Vegas in April, their agency said on Wednesday.

The concerts, part of their Permission to Dance on Stage tour that has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, will be held on April 8-9 and 15-16, with the last show live-streamed, Bit Hit Music said in a statement.

Since debuting in 2013, BTS has spearheaded a global K-pop craze with catchy, upbeat music and dances, as well as lyrics and social campaigns aimed at empowering young people, many of whom have formed massive online fan bases.

The seven-member group played its first in-person concerts since the onset of the pandemic in November, in Los Angeles, and last week announced it would put on the first shows for their home fans since the pandemic began, with three concerts in the capital, Seoul, next month.

On Tuesday Big Hit said V, the band’s singer and songwriter whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, had recovered from a coronavirus infection.

He was the band’s fifth member to contract coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including three who tested positive in December shortly after their return from the US shows.

As the pandemic spread in 2020, the band postponed and then called off what was meant to be their biggest international tour involving nearly 40 concerts. They held some online shows instead. — Reuters

Sotto jersey best-seller among Adelaide 36ers, fourth in NBL

KAI SOTTO tops the jersey sale of Adelaide 36ers. — ADELAIDE 36ERS FB PAGE
KAI SOTTO tops the jersey sale of Adelaide 36ers. — ADELAIDE 36ERS FB PAGE

ON AND OFF the court, Kai Sotto is proving his worth and impact for the Adelaide 36ers in the Australia National Basketball League (NBL).

The 7-foot-3 Filipino sensation topped the jersey sales for the 36ers according to the NBL release on Wednesday midway through the regular season that marked Sotto’s international pro debut.

Mr. Sotto, 19, also placed fourth in the entire NBL with only seven games played so far after being sidelined by a knee soreness issue at the start of the season.

Chinese giant Zhou Qi of South East Melbourne Phoenix, NBA veteran Matthew Dellavedova of reigning champion Melbourne United and Josh Adams of the Tasmania JackJumpers were the only players with more sales than Mr. Sotto.

Reigning NBL MVP Bryce Cotton (Perth) completed the top five with Chris Goulding (Melbourne United), Mitch Creek (South East Melbourne), Will Magnay (Tasmania), Xavier Cooks (Sydney), and Jack McVeigh (Tasmania) rounding out the top 10.

Slowly but surely, Mr. Sotto has earned the stripes in the rotation of 36ers mentor with an efficient average of 7.71 points on 55% clip, 4.71 rebounds and a block in only 15 minutes of play.

Adelaide is currently at seventh place of the NBL with a 5-7 card entering its crucial battle against the fifth-running Illawarra Hawks tomorrow. — John Bryan Ulanday

Collaborative platforms seen to boost firms’ operations

VECTORJUICE-FREEPIK

DESPITE the rapid adoption of technological solutions, a human-centric approach is integral to any business aiming for customer success.

Kissflow CEO Suresh Sambandam told BusinessWorld its Community Platform aims to let users collaborate, which will be used by firms to improve their operations.

Kissflow, a SaaS (software-as-a-service) management solutions provider, designed the aforementioned product for companies to build their business around a customer community.

“The biggest value our Community Platform brings to customers is that they can help each other and can rely less on customer support executives,” he said, adding that the platform’s features allow companies to collect feedback, understand issues, and facilitate more encompassing types of discussions.

Customer engagement is one of the challenges that SaaS businesses encounter, Mr. Sambandam said, and building communities helps boost human-centricity.

“Well-managed communities can drive engagement, facilitate peer-to-peer learning, and convert customers into loyal brand advocates,” he added.

Kissflow is also rolling out its low-code platform for Asia-Pacific in the coming weeks to allow citizen developers to create applications at scale.

“By the end of this year, we aim to onboard over 25 channel partners in the Southeast Asia region who share our vision of supporting customers in accelerating their digital transformation journey,” Mr. Sambandam said.

In the Philippines, Kissflow has five channel partners, two distributors, and customers that include a retail chain, a bank, and an oil and gas corporation.

The company’s other offerings include a digital workplace platform that can integrate different tasks and projects like budget requests, advertising campaigns, and customer inquiries.

Founded in 2003, Kissflow’s name was derived from the principle, “Keep it simple, stupid.” Mr. Sambandam told BusinessWorld that the complexity of rule engines in the 2000s made him want to pursue the dream of democratizing rule-based computing and application development.

The post-pandemic SaaS landscape is bright, he said. The widespread adoption of the cloud has only expanded the utility of SaaS products.

“What SaaS is doing for business is the flexibility to choose solutions based on the [business’] needs and demands,” he added. — Patricia B. Mirasol

BoE hawk says modest rate path needed in fight vs rising prices

BANK OF ENGLAND (BoE) Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden said the UK is likely to need “modest” tightening in interest rates, a remark that drained speculation for a larger increase in borrowing costs next month.

The policy maker, who was among four people on the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to vote for a 50-basis-point rise in rates in February, said the bank was facing its biggest challenge on inflation since it gained independence in 1997.

Still, he also said his vote was “finely balanced” and pushed back against the markets’ aggressive bets on hikes this year. Current pricing showing rates peaking at nearly 2% would leave inflation below the BoE’s target within two years, he said.

“Some further modest tightening in monetary policy is likely to be appropriate in the coming months,” Mr. Ramsden said Tuesday in a speech in Birmingham, England. “The word ‘modest’ is significant here though.”

Money markets trimmed their bets on future rate hikes after the comments. They are now pricing a tightening of 33 basis points in March, versus 35 before the speech and 43 about a week ago. That suggests a quarter-percentage-point increase to 0.75% is likely for bank rate, but the prospect of an increase to 1% next month is fading.

“The comments from Ramsden to me suggest that the likelihood of a 50-basis-point hike is diminishing,” said Stuart Cole, head macro economists at Equiti Capital UK Ltd. in London. “Ramsden at best seems to be wavering on the need for a 50-basis-point hike. And given the data we had last week, I cannot see enough in those releases that would make me think any of the remaining five MPC members who voted against the 50-basis-point hike will be changing their position.”

Mr. Ramsden said the policy makers face a difficult balancing act in navigating three big shocks to the economy — Britain’s departure from the European Union, the resurgence of the coronavirus and the crisis in Ukraine that’s helped fan a surge in energy prices.

“I think on inflation I haven’t seen as challenging a set of circumstance as this,” Mr. Ramsden said in response to questions after the speech. “I began working as chief economist in the Treasury 2007, on the eve of the financial crisis. It was a different kind of challenge than we face at the moment. This really is the age of uncertainty.

His main priority is to ward off “second-round” effects on inflation where a surge in prices leads to workers demanding higher wages and a generalized expectation for further increases in the years ahead.

“We can not tolerate generalized rise in inflation for long,” Mr. Ramsden said. “We do want to guard against an inflationary mentality right across the economy, in firms price setting behavior and the inflation that you experience. We have seen the damage that persistent and high and volatile inflation does to the economy. It makes it difficult to invest and plan for the future.”

Even so, the level of rates needed to combat inflation won’t rise to “anything like its pre-2007 level of 5% or above, let alone to the kind of levels we used to see” in the early 1990s, he said.

“We take this as signaling an intent to vote for a 25-basis-point hike in the March meeting, rather than voting again for a 50-basis-point” hike, said Jari Stehn, chief European economist at Goldman Sachs in London. “We continue to expect the BoE to hike in back-to-back meetings through August.” — Bloomberg

Ayala creates sports center, plans program for athletes

AYALA Corp. has established Ayala Center for Excellence for local athletes and announced plans to launch its “Atletang Ayala” program by the first quarter this year.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it will be using its resources for the “next generation” of Filipino Athletes.

“We believe strongly that Filipinos deserve better access to world-class sports facilities across the country and will continue to work to find ways to support the next generation of Filipino athlete to achieve their full potential,” said Jan Bengzon, program director of Ayala Center for Excellence.

The company plans to redevelop Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, which is located in Imus, Cavite, into a “world-class training center for national athletes.”

Meanwhile, the “Atletang Ayala” program is aims to support athletes who wish to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

“The Ayala Group has long seen the impact that sports can have on many facets of its businesses,” Mr. Bengzon said.

“In fact a number of our senior executives have represented the country on national teams in different sports, including Ayala Land’s Chris Macasaet in men’s volleyball and AC Energy’s Jaime Urquijo in rugby,” he added. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Courtside love story on PSC Rise Up! Shape Up!

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) brings together romance and love for sports in a special love month webisode of Rise Up! Shape Up! this Saturday.

The special episode will feature the love story of former volleyball stars Arlene Apostol and Antonio Ladimo on how the sport became a cupid matchmaker in their 20-year relationship.

Ms. Apostol and Mr. Ladimo both played in the UAAP Volleyball and were part of the men’s and women’s volleyball teams who played in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the 1980s -1990s.

Both had stellar performances in the international games with Ms. Apostol being part of the national volleybelles which bagged three gold medals for the country in 1985, 1987, and 1993 SEA Games. Her winning record also included silver and bronze medal wins during the 1983 and 1991 biennial meet, respectively.

Mr. Ladimo, on the other hand, was part of the men’s squad that won a bronze medal in the 1991 Games.

“The episode hopes to show a different picture of sports and its players, by showcasing how it can be fertile ground for blossoming friendship and love instead of just competition,” PSC Women in Sports Commissioner oversight Celia H. Kiram said.

“Aside from the romance, we want our audience to understand that love and passion for sports do create meaningful and life-changing connections. Sports, beyond the competitive spirit in the court or fields, bring people together,” added Ms. Kiram who will discuss the brief history of volleyball in her “K-Isport” segment.

The love story of Arlene and Antonio Apostol will be streamed live on PSC’s Rise Up! Shape Up! Facebook page at 7 p.m.

Activision to delay next year’s planned Call of Duty game

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. will delay a Call of Duty game that had been planned for next year, the first time the franchise will be without an annual mainline release in nearly two decades, according to people familiar with the plan.

The company is pushing off the release after a recent entry in the series failed to meet expectations, leading some executives to believe that they’re introducing new versions too rapidly, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to discuss the deliberations. The decision was not related to Activision’s agreement to sell itself to Microsoft Corp. for $69 billion, the people said.

Activision is working on other projects to fill the gap next year. A Call of Duty game set to come out this fall will receive a steady stream of additional content, and there will be a new, free-to-play online title next year, said the people. Treyarch, the Activision-owned studio working on the now-delayed game, will also help with the free-to-play title, the people said.

“We have an exciting slate of premium and free-to-play Call of Duty experiences for this year, next year and beyond,” a spokesman for Activision wrote in an e-mailed statement. “We look forward to sharing more details when the time is right.”

The delay will have a massive effect on the video game industry. Every fall since 2005, Activision has put out a new, premium entry in the lucrative shooting series. Call of Duty games regularly top yearly sales charts and have sold more than 400 million units since the series began in 2003.

Last year’s entry, Call of Duty: Vanguard, failed to meet Activision’s sales expectations, leading executives to suspect that it had been cannibalized by the previous year’s game. A free-to-play version released in 2020, Call of Duty: Warzone, remains a massive success and may have drawn players away from the premium entries.

Activision remains autonomous, and Microsoft could decide to change these plans after the acquisition, which is expected to be finalized by the summer of 2023 pending approval from regulators. The shares declined as much as 1.4% in extended trading on Tuesday on news of the delay.

Call of Duty games are developed by a rotating stable of Activision’s development studios. This year’s entry, a new Modern Warfare game, will be made by Woodland Hills, California-based Infinity Ward. Bloomberg earlier reported that Activision executives were seriously considering skipping a year of Call of Duty. — Bloomberg

Dining In/Out (02/24/22)

Starbucks offers new digital services

STARBUCKS Philippines recently launched three new services that bridge both physical and digital experiences. With customer convenience and safety in mind, Starbucks Philippines makes ordering easy, contactless and rewarding. Partnering with e-wallet platform, GCash, the first of these services include gifting of digital Starbucks gift certificates through GLife. In addition, the company now allows Starbucks Rewards members to collect Stars with purchases from the official Starbucks LazMall Flagship Store on Lazada, and expanded their Mobile Order & Pay features with new pickup options. Customers can now order and send Starbucks eGifts starting at P300 through GLife on GCash. Customers can choose to share Starbucks eGifts through messaging apps and redeem by showing the eGift QR code to pay for drinks, food or merchandise in any Starbucks store in the Philippines. For more information, visit https://starbuckscard.ph/sbcard/egift or through https://gcashapp.page.link/Starbucks via mobile. Meanwhile, Starbucks Rewards members who link their accounts to Lazada will earn one Star for every P25 spent on purchases from the Starbucks LazMall Flagship Store. To link a Starbucks Rewards account, customers can simply click the “Member” tab found in the Starbucks LazMall Flagship Store, and sign-in using a registered Starbucks Rewards e-mail and password. For more information, visit https://starbuckscard.ph/sbcard/faq. Finally, Mobile Order & Pay allows Starbucks Rewards members to place orders ahead of their visit and pick it up at their chosen Starbucks store, all within the Starbucks app. The app estimates wait time. When the order is ready, the customer can get their order from the handoff. For more information, visit https://starbuckscard.ph/sbcard/orderandpay.

Tatatito opens in Makati

A NEW restaurant in the heart of Makati City, Tatatito serves classic Filipino dishes done the Tatatito way. Crispy Pata, fried chicken, Sarsaparilla BBQ pork liempo, Sizzling bulalo steak, and Crispy binusog na pusit which are just some of the chef’s recommendations. Located in the OPL Building, 100 Don Carlos Palanca St., Legazpi Village, Makati City, Tatatito occupies two stories with a full seating capacity of 72 persons. There is space for safe distancing in these times. Its spacious, modern, and relaxed interiors feature geometric motifs and curves on the walls that derive from bamboo and banana leaves.  Custom-made tables and solihiya-accented chairs stand on muted-tone and Machuca-tile flooring, well-lit by funnel-shaped lamps. Reagan Tan, CEO of The Mc Wilson Restaurant Group, says “Tatatito has full trust in the standard of Filipino recipes and delivers from the rich anchor of Filipino culture. We want to showcase Filipino food in the global setting.” Tatatito had its soft opening on Feb. 22. Tatatito also offers delivery. To order, call 0991-300-5000.

Heart health with the Philips Essential Airfryer XL

SINCE the signing of Proclamation No. 1096 on Jan. 9, 1973, the month of February in the Philippines has been designated as Philippine Heart Month. The proclamation aims to promote awareness of heart disease as a serious health concern among Filipinos. To achieve better heart health, there are many practical steps Filipinos can take. One of these is adopting a healthier diet. As more Filipinos are becoming increasingly health-conscious, there exists a need to create home environments that allow for people to easily practice and sustain healthier eating. Philips Domestic Appliances has devised a kitchen innovation that allows for the creation of delicious fried foods made with up to 90% less oil —  Philips Essential Airfryer XL. The Rapid Air Technology used in the appliance makes it possible to cook food using only heated air. Through its unique “starfish” design that quickly and precisely circulates hot air, anyone can create delicious meals that are both crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The airfryer allows home cooks to fry, bake, grill, roast, and even reheat, all while sparing homes from the odors that come with traditional deep-frying. It cooks food using up to 90% less fat. Designed with families in mind, the Philips Essential Airfryer XL has a 1.2 kg capacity basket and a 6.2 liter pan to easily cook up to five meal portions in one go. The QuickClean basket is treated with a non-stick coating for easy cleaning, and 100% of all removable parts of the appliance are dishwasher safe. The Philips Essential Airfryer XL is available on Lazada and Shopee.

Panda Express opens a new store in downtown Manila

AMERICAN Chinese dining concept Panda Express rang in the Lunar New Year with a new store at Level 1, Pedro Gil Wing, Robinsons Place in Ermita, Manila. The new store is the sixth Panda Express in the whole Metro Manila area, since opening its first location at SM Megamall in Ortigas, Pasig City in late 2019. “The continuous expansion of Panda Express is a response to the clamor and cravings of Filipinos for delicious American Chinese cuisine,” said a company statement, pointing in particular to its entrée, The Original Orange Chicken, a crispy chicken dish wok-tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce, and the Honey Walnut Shrimp, an entrée made with crispy shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts. Other dishes on the menu include Panda’s Wok Smart entrees — dishes with at least eight grams of protein and 300 or less calories, such as Black Pepper Chicken, a stir-fry with marinated chicken, celery and onion, coated in a bold black pepper sauce, Kung Pao Chicken, a Sichuan-inspired dish made with chicken, fresh vegetables, peanuts and dried chilis, and the classic Broccoli Beef, a beef entrée with fresh broccoli wok-tossed in a savory ginger soy sauce. Panda Express also offers plant-based options on its menu including Eggplant Tofu, featuring lightly browned tender tofu that is crispy on the outside, simmered in a sweet and spicy sauce with eggplant and red bell peppers. Panda Express Robinsons Place Manila is open for dine-in, take-out and delivery through order.pandaexpress.com.ph, GrabFood, and foodpanda. Delivery locations include select areas in Manila, Pasay and Makati City. To get more information on Panda Express, visit www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram).

Finding Margaritas for Margarita Day

INTERNATIONAL Margarita Day fell on Feb. 22, but that does not mean you can no longer celebrate it. And a true Margarita is made with Cointreau — a premium orange-flavored, triple-sec liqueur used in over 500 cocktails and considered a staple among bartenders. As the story goes, back in 1948, socialite Margaret “Margarita” Sames hosted an extravagant soiree for her friends and concocted a special drink where she mixed two of her favorite spirits, Cointreau and Tequila which gave birth to the classic Margarita. This month, Cointreau pays homage to Margaret Sames by creating the Perfect Margarita drink in collaboration with Patron using Patron Silver tequila. Both Cointreau and Patron will take over bars in the Metro to celebrate the Perfect Margarita with their own concoctions. The bars are: Alamat (Poblacion, Makati), which serves Juanderlast, made with Cointreau, tequila, mezcal, camias/orange, vanilla pandan, citrus, and salt, available for P300 from Feb. 22 until 27 (details on their Facebook or Instagram or call 0906-407-8466); Southbank Café + Lounge (Alabang, Muntinlupa), which created the Fresh Daisy, made with Cointreau, Patron Silver, Ancho Reyes Verde (citrus cloud foam), simple syrup, and egg white, which is available for P300 from Feb. 21 to 27 (for details visit their website or Instagram to know more or call 8296-0706; Baccarat Room & Bar (Solaire Resort and Casino, Parañaque) which serves a Mezcla de Baya Margarita or Mixed Berry Margarita inspired by Fresas con Crem’, a traditional no-bake dessert from Mexico mostly consumed during summer (for details visit their Instagram, or call 8888-8888 loc. 60388); HQ Poblacion (Poblacion, Makati City) whose Notorious Margarita is made with Cointreau, Patrón Reposado (Silver), spicy mango syrup, fresh lime juice, and garnishes with salt, sugar, lemon powder, cayenne, and basil (check out their Instagram for more information); The Hotel Bar at Pinks (Ground Floor, Shangri-La at the Fort, Taguig) which serves Petty Cash Margarita, sold at P420 per glass from 5 to 8 p.m. (check out this speakeasy through Facebook or call 2772-1147); and, OTO (Enriquez, Makati), whose Peachy Keen is a twisted classic margarita cocktail with a spicy finish, available for P420 (learn more through their Facebook and Instagram, or call 0966-708-0051. Meanwhile, Cointreau has again come up with a limited-edition reinterpretation of its iconic four-sided bottle. This year, the company collaborates with Parisian artist Florian Viel through The Tropicool Company on a hyper-colorful design with subtle references to both the orange liqueur and the cocktail to which this limited-edition bottle pays homage. For more information, visit https://www.cointreau.com/int/en .

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