Bringing Value from the Sea to Filipino Homes: Ligo

Watching documentaries and seeing the plight of fishermen in the provinces made me realize how some of our fisherfolk's practices are not sustainable. We consume quite a lot of sardines, as it is one of the most affordable food items we have that is properly kept, canned and lasts a long while. In a 2017 survey, they listed 9 out of 10 pinoys actually consume it.

As commercial fishing boats become a norm, overfishing is becoming a huge problem. The amount of sardines they take out from the sea just wouldn't be able to sustain production. Add to that climate issues, and it's a tragedy waiting to happen.

Century Pacific Food Inc. who produces various sardine brands like 555, Lucky 7, Fresca, and well loved brand Ligo launched a campaign called "Sustendido Bulan" at Bulan in Sorsogon. This aims to make sure that sourcing raw ingredients including fish is sourced sustainably. They also want to make sure fisherfolk are educated about processes and make sure the long term supply of it.   

They also went over and beyond by doing community work with their products, teaching nutrition to empower the community and have an even better resource management practices in this location. CPFI and Ligo wants to enable they understand that there could be a supply chain that could benefit them all. Through various partnerships, education and innovation, they would be able to balance the needs of people to bring value from the sea to Filipino homes too.

Putting their call "Lamang ka sa Ligo" is a practice that gets both consumers and suppliers at a beneficial standpoint. Something that would not harm the planet and not have overfishing at these locations.

As of now, they have trained 250 fishermen and women about sustainability. They also accredited 500 families as suppliers. They also now created over 850 posts to employ them in plants across the region and had 1075 kids benefit from their school feeding programs. They also noted how rejection rates of fish went from 13 to only 3% and hopefully have eliminated resource strain because of the "Sustenido Bulan" efforts. They are following UN Sustainable Development goals and hope to maintain these gains in the coming years. We fervently hope this becomes beneficial for future generations and be practiced at different locations. It doesn't have to be in one place of course!

Ligo certainly brings value not only from the sea, but to Filipino homes nationwide!

Make Everyday Sweeter with Mr. Hat Gulaman

I bake, I cook, I eat a lot and sometimes, you just have to have that sweet end to a meal right?

I distinctly remember preparing all our salads and desserts. Back then, we had to tear up huge bars of gulaman, have it boiled then cooled. It was an arduous process, but now, it's way easier! Imagine doing these tasks in every fiesta, birthday, holiday and more, our families enjoy them the most, especially the kids.  

They also join me prepare things, sort of a bonding activity. I feed them while they help me. The difference is, Mr. Hat Gulaman made it easier to do. All they need to do is choose a flavor, mix it according to package directions or customize when needed. They also have unflavored ones so if the baking meant you need to invent one, it would be easy!

Best of all, it only takes a few minutes to form. Your bakes and desserts would taste special, you can use the different flavors to enhance your dishes further... that's how convenient they made it.

Best of all, it's made from actual premium seaweed so there's no fear of it having harmful ingredients, those birthday parties and celebrations would certainly be a great venue to showcase your food, be the star of the show!

Here's some recipes you can try:

Coconut Gulaman Coolers, prep squares, mix it with cream, coconut, then drink and chow it all down.

Summer Mango Gulaman needs the Mango flavored sliced to squares. You can opt for the unflavored ones to make it less sweeter. Use real mangoes so you get that sweet-tangy end for dessert. It'll be amazing!

Almond Lychee Jelly, where as the name suggests, you can mix the unflavored one with almond flavoring. Add chopped canned lychees and lightly mix, it'll be a refreshing one.

Vanilla Milkshake with Gulaman, just blitz Milk, vanilla, Vanilla Ice Cream and drop any flavored gulaman of your choosing, you can have one hit summer drink and prepare it right at home. All good, and easy!

Check out this commercial so you get an idea how to make it.

No matter what occasion, make it even more special with Mr. Hat Gulaman. Because if you're craving for it, they say #NasaHatKoYan. You may visit their website seanlucinc.com for recipes, or follow their social channels too.

Where to Dine on MOTHERS DAY at SM Mall of Asia

In case you are looking for places to eat during Mothers Day, here's a little guide for those who prefer the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

There's Italian American comfort food, coffee and pizza at Prologue, some Korean BBQ you can cook ala minute at Maple Tree House, proteins at Yappari Steak, Spanish tapas and wine at Barcino, food from around the world at One World Deli, and the lovely, fresh Italian cuisine at Cibo. SM Mall of Asia will all have this at the installation they have for Grand MOA Hotel at the Grand MOA Fair tomorrow so if you are up for a stroll around the mall, go get your food and drink fix at different places inside the sprawling property and make those memories again with the best woman in the world, your MOM!

There are tons more to look forward to in restaurants and events in the mall on this day, so make Mother's Day even more special at one of the biggest malls in the world, SM Mall of Asia! Follow their social channels for more recommendations.

Say I LOVE YOU to your mom of course!