Take a sip, dazzle, and dazzle some more. Maria Clara Sparkling Sangria, a sparkling spin on the original Filipino sangria, is a new addition to the brand’s legacy.
Last June 10, 2025, Azadore Restaurant, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, launched this exciting new variation, delighting both loyal fans and new drinkers. Maria Clara Sparkling Sangria is lively, refreshing, and celebration-ready with its signature sweet red wine and citrus hint heightened by a brilliant fizz.
The new Sparkling Sangria, in a compact 330-ml aluminium can, is light, vibrant, and easy to drink from the fridge, on ice, or from the can. Its 7% ABV (14 proof) is perfect for sunny days, spontaneous hangouts, rooftop sunsets, and cosy nights in.
For busy people, its ready-to-drink format is ideal. No corkscrew needed; Maria Clara Sparkling Sangria is a delightful, simple solution for meetings, events, and weekends.
Maria Clara Sangria’s creative assortment includes the classic red wine favorite since 1985, the non-alcoholic Virgin Sangria, and the halal-certified Maria Clara Punch, created to open more communities to the celebration.
7-Eleven locations countrywide sell Maria Clara Sparkling Sangria exclusively.
Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc., the country’s oldest distillery and maker of White Castle Whisky, El Hombre Tequila Flavoured Spirit, and Napoleon VSOP Brandy, proudly produces this sparkling sangria as another milestone in its legacy of innovation and Filipino pride.
In Partnership with Mountain Man to Promote Indigenous Flavors and Culture in Baguio
Nestled in the cool climes of Baguio City, John Hay Hotels redefines hospitality by embracing Cordillera culture and community empowerment through its vibrant partnership with Mountain Man, the culinary brand of the famed Romawac family that is deeply rooted in indigenous food heritage.
Landco Lifestyle Ventures (LLV), the hospitality arm of Landco Pacific Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, helmed by Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, manages John Hay Hotels and leads this exciting collaboration. LLV commits not only to elevating guest experiences but also to fostering sustainable growth and welfare within the local community.
“Our vision is to create lifestyle destinations that not only showcase the natural beauty and culture of their locations but also actively contribute to the sustainability and prosperity of the local communities. Through partnerships like this with Mountain Man, we ensure that the heritage and traditions of the Cordilleras are honored and that our support helps uplift local SMEs, preserving their livelihoods for generations to come,” Patrick C. Gregorio, Head of Landco Lifestyle Ventures, emphasizes this holistic approach.
“We are also deeply committed to responsible tourism that empowers people. At John Hay Hotels, we don’t just want to offer visitors a beautiful place to stay—we want to build a thriving ecosystem where culture, community, and commerce grow hand in hand. This means supporting our local suppliers, providing fair wages and benefits to our colleagues, and creating memorable experiences that celebrate Baguio and the Cordilleras authentically,” Gregorio adds.
The Mountain Man’s signature open-fire Cordilleran dining experience on Saturdays at the Garden Wing of John Hay Hotels perfectly exemplifies this vision—offering guests an authentic, immersive taste of Cordillera heritage while supporting local farmers, fishermen, and artisans. Through this synergy, LLV and Mountain Man jointly nurture a sustainable hospitality ecosystem that honours culture, uplifts local communities, and delivers unforgettable experiences.
John Hay Hotels pays homage to Cordillera cuisine with local culinary master Mountain Man; and supports SMEs through sourcing of local ingredients.
A Culinary Journey Deeply Rooted in Cordillera Identity
Mountain Man, led by lakay ken baket, husband and wife Chavi and Millie Romawac, together with their family, is much more than a dining concept. It is the manifestation of a lifelong journey dedicated to preserving Cordillera’s indigenous culinary practices—many of which generations of elders and local communities have passed down. Their work began during the challenging pandemic years when they traveled extensively throughout the Cordillera provinces to document heirloom recipes, open-fire cooking techniques, and the cultural narratives that give these dishes meaning.
“We see food as a living story, a bridge connecting the past to the present,” shares Chavi. “Our goal is to keep these traditions alive not just as cultural artifacts but as everyday experiences that people can taste, share, and celebrate.”
“We are very happy to partner with Landco Lifestyle Ventures because we share a passion and commitment to uplifting Cordillera culture and communities. Their support enables us to bring indigenous cuisine to a wider audience while ensuring that the local farmers and artisans who make it possible are respected and valued,” Millie enthuses.
Their ‘Roofdeck Kitchen’ in Baguio has become a cultural hub where ancestral recipes meet contemporary sensibilities. This heritage now generously reaches guests at John Hay Hotels, where open-fire dinners recreate authentic Cordillera meals using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients—directly benefiting indigenous farmers and small-scale producers.
John Hay Hotels guests can savor iconic Cordillera dishes such as:
• Hinanglag — a slow-cooked pork belly inspired by Kiangan traditions, cooked in its own fat until tender and flavorful
• Pinikpikan-style Baguio Chicken Rice — featuring the indigenous chicken preparation ritual that tenderizes the meat and enhances its flavor
• Mountain Man Clambake — combining locally foraged watercress and fresh seafood from Pangasinan, bridging mountain and coastal culinary traditions
• Heirloom rice dishes made with grains from Ifugao farmers, paired with indigenous vegetables from Benguet and traditional condiments
These dishes are not merely food but living expressions of Cordillera culture, reflecting indigenous rituals, storytelling, and community values passed down through generations. The open-fire cooking technique stands as a sacred practice, symbolizing a deep connection to the land and ancestral traditions.
By sourcing directly from local small-scale producers and honoring traditional culinary methods, Mountain Man and Landco Lifestyle Ventures promote not only sustainable tourism but also the preservation and celebration of Cordillera identity, empowering indigenous communities to keep their culture alive and thriving.
An Invitation to Experience Cordillera’s Rich Heritage
John Hay Hotels invites locals and visitors alike to experience this unique culinary and cultural journey every Saturday evening at The Manor’s Garden Wing. The Mountain Man open-fire dinners provide a rare opportunity to savor the flavors of the Cordilleras while supporting a sustainable ecosystem that honors heritage, empowers communities, and fosters genuine connections.
“We hope each guest leaves with more than just a meal,” says Millie Romawac.
“They take home a story, a memory, and a piece of Cordillera’s soul.”
Rediscover Landco Lifestyle Ventures managed John Hay Hotels for leading sustainable tourism and gastronomy in Baguio.
Sustainable Tourism: Celebrating Culture, Cuisine, and Active Lifestyles
Sustainability is at the core of Landco Lifestyle Ventures’ strategy for John Hay Hotels, where every initiative benefits the environment, local communities, and the broader tourism ecosystem. The Mountain Man partnership exemplifies sustainable dining tourism, sourcing heirloom rice from Ifugao farmers, fresh vegetables from Benguet growers, and seafood from nearby coastal provinces. This approach enriches the guest experience with authentic flavors while ensuring economic benefits flow directly to indigenous farmers, fishermen, and artisans—helping preserve their livelihoods and traditional practices.
Complementing this culinary tourism is John Hay Hotels’ growing role in promoting sports tourism in the Cordilleras. Recently, the hotel proudly hosted the finish line of the Tour of Luzon, a major cycling race attracting athletes and visitors from all over the country. This event showcased Baguio’s challenging mountain terrain and vibrant community spirit, drawing attention to the region as a prime destination for active, outdoor tourism.
“Our goal is to enrich the facets of Baguio tourism with diverse attractions from gastronomy, festivals to sports events. We offer visitors a rich tapestry of experiences—whether savoring indigenous flavors or engaging with Baguio’s unique natural landscapes through cycling and other outdoor activities. Hosting the Tour of Luzon finish line was also a milestone that highlighted John Hay Hotels’ commitment to sustainable tourism, blending culture, community, and healthy living.” Patrick Gregorio explains the synergy on tourism.” Gregorio states.
“Sustainable tourism is about balance—celebrating our rich heritage while preserving our environment and supporting local livelihoods. This is the legacy we want to build for Baguio and the Cordilleras,” further highlighted.
Empowering John Hay Hotels Colleagues
Beyond cultural preservation and community support, LLV takes pride in its enhanced management practices that prioritize the welfare of John Hay Hotels’ colleagues. A recent implementation of a service charge ensures that employees receive fairer compensation, fostering a more motivated and empowered workforce. This initiative is part of LLV’s commitment to professionalize hotel operations while cultivating an environment where every team member feels valued and supported.
The success of John Hay Hotels also rests on how LLV cares for its own people. Implementing a service charge was a deliberate move to improve employee welfare—an often overlooked but crucial aspect of sustainable hospitality.
“Our colleagues are the backbone of what we do,” Gregorio affirms. “Ensuring they are fairly compensated and feel supported creates a culture of pride and excellence that our guests can genuinely feel. It’s a win-win for the team, the community, and the guest experience.”
SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM group, is harnessing the strength of its diverse business ecosystem to help bridge the country’s skills gap and prepare the workforce for the demands of a rapidly evolving, tech-driven economy.
With interests across retail, property, banking, and investments, SM is aligned with the implementation of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework—a newly enacted law aimed at strengthening public-private collaboration, especially in the industry and education sectors. The EBET Framework promotes industry-driven apprenticeships and training programs that equip Filipino workers with job-ready skills aligned with actual market needs.
“SM can function at its optimum because of the skills of our people. As our businesses continue to grow, so too does our need for more skilled and resilient professionals to join our workforce. We shall continue to do our share to upskill and professionalize the Filipino workforce to make them competitive in the ever-evolving job market,” said Mr Frederic C. DyBuncio, President and CEO of SM Investments.
He added that SM’s responsibility to contribute to a skilled, resilient workforce goes beyond employing them within the SM ecosystem.
“Whether they work for us or even in other companies, we are committed to equipping them with the right tools, as we have been doing so with our investments in education through institutions like the National University and Asia-Pacific College, both non-profits, and of course the SM Foundation, which has been graduating scholars for more than 40 years,” Mr DyBuncio said.
Right people, right jobs
As of 2024, SM has over 142,000 employees across its ecosystem of businesses operating in key areas nationwide, making it one of the country’s top job creators. A majority of job functions in SM are sales, engineering, IT, and other STEM-related positions.
SM Investments’ vice chairperson, Teresita Sy-Coson, is a member of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Education and Jobs group, a public-private partnership established in 2022 to address employment gaps.
A key initiative resulting from this partnership is job fairs mounted in SM malls across the country as part of the group’s J.O.B.S. (Job Opportunities Building Skills) programme.
From 2024 to May 2025, SM held 244 job fairs in its malls, during which 8,095 employers, 149,626 job seekers, and 20,616 were immediately hired.
Recently, BDO Unibank launched an accelerated hiring process for IT and cybersecurity professionals. The positions offered included project management, cloud technologies and operations, security analyst, security engineer, customer relationship management delivery, and other IT-related jobs.
Better education, better opportunities
In 2024, the SM Foundation welcomed more than 1,100 new college scholars, its largest batch to date. The program has nurtured over 4,600 graduates since its founding. In a recent alumni homecoming, 925 graduates across 27 batches shared their career journeys, with a majority now gainfully employed across various fields.
Additionally, 71% of the alumni have pursued further studies, including master’s degrees, PhDs, secondary degrees, and other professional programs.
The SM Foundation Scholarship Programme provides full tuition coverage, comprehensive enrichment activities, part-time jobs, internship placements and potential career opportunities within the SM Group.
National University, one of the oldest educational institutions in the country, founded in 1900, was acquired by SM in 2008 and has since embarked on a long-term campus expansion strategy to make education within reach. With the expansion, NU is aiming to reach 100,000 students in 2027.
While some programs in NU, particularly in Allied Health and Engineering, are long-established, of note are the courses offered in their College of Computing and Information Technologies that lean towards the future of digitalization, among them: BS Computer Science with specialization in Digital Forensics and Machine Learning; BS Information Technology with specialization in Mobile and Web Applications and Multimedia Arts and Animation.
Asia Pacific College, founded in 1991 as a partnership between SM Foundation and IBM Philippines, has been championing an industry-based curriculum that combines traditional classroom learning and hands-on experience calibrated to produce competitive IT professionals.
APC’s Multimedia Arts program is notable for combining technology and creativity, merging current disciplines in the creative field and the relevant knowledge of the digital creative tools currently used in the industry.
APC recently announced that 97.28% of its graduates as of 2024 have successfully secured employment after graduation.
L-R: Ethel Concepcion, 2GO Group Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications; Faye Alonzo, 2GO Forwarding Business Unit Head; Edmund Araga, EVAP President; Jeun Barlis, Research Consultant – EVAP.
2GO, the country’s largest end-to-end multimodal transportation and logistics solutions provider, has signed a partnership with the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), reinforcing its commitment to advancing electric mobility and sustainable transport across the country.
As a sea freight provider, 2GO already offers a more environmentally friendly alternative for long-haul logistics, helping reduce carbon emissions while transporting goods. Building on this advantage, 2GO has begun equipping its vessels with electric vehicle (EV) charging capabilities to further support the movement of EVs nationwide. Notably, MV 2GO Masikap and MV 2GO Masinag have been retrofitted to support EV transport, with plans to extend this capability to more ships in the fleet.
2GO is among the few transportation and logistics companies in the Philippines to integrate EV charging infrastructure into its sea freight services. These vessels currently operate on key routes, including Manila–Davao–General Santos–Iloilo and Manila–Cebu–Manila, providing vital logistical support for EV distribution across strategic regions.
“We are excited to be EVAP’s official logistics partner in pushing for greener roads,” said Faye Alonzo, 2GO Forwarding Business Unit Head. “With our reliable capabilities, we ensure the safe and efficient delivery of electric vehicles across the Philippines. The growing demand for EVs in key cities where we operate—particularly Cebu and Davao—highlights our strategic role in supporting this transition.”
EVAP, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the adoption of battery electric vehicles in the Philippines, views the partnership as a key step toward making EVs more accessible across the archipelago.
“It is crucial for us to embrace electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially in urban areas like Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao,” said Edmund Araga, EVAP President. “Having a reliable logistics partner like 2GO is essential to ensuring the nationwide availability and support of EVs.”
As of April 2025, Metro Manila hosts more than 74 EV charging points across 18 key areas, with plans to expand to nearly 100 by year-end.
2GO maintains regular sailings from Manila to Cebu four times weekly, and to Davao and General Santos twice weekly, ensuring dependable schedules and consistent service for the transportation and distribution of goods nationwide.
Being a mom means being the CEO of your home, which is also referred to as the Chief Expense Officer. From groceries to utilities to tuition fees to insurance premiums, you are responsible for a spending list that seems to go on and on.
However, as a mom, your goal is to manage all the bills and simultaneously save and grow the family’s finances. You’re doing it all your way, but here’s where BDO comes in. BDO is your financial partner for all your savings goals, offering products and services to help you and all the hard-working moms.
Spend smart, save smarter
With a BDO Smart Checking account, you can issue payments with cheques while enjoying the convenience of a debit card. Plus, unlike other checking accounts, your funds can earn interest. You can easily track your transactions online anytime, anywhere. For moms who hustle hard, run side gigs, and still make time for Sunday lunch, the BDO Smart Checking account is a smarter way to manage it all.
Dream big for your little ones
A BDO Junior Savers account can provide your children, nephews, nieces, or any other loved ones with a strong foundation for their future aspirations. Available for kids up to 12 years old, open an account with as little as P100. The maintaining balance is also only P100, and the account will start earning interest when the funds reach P2,000 or higher. The BDO Junior Savers account is a smart start for kids to learn the value of saving.
Financial security during the golden years
Look forward to your retirement with the BDO Prime Savers account. Or get this account for your parents and elderly relatives. Open and maintain a balance of P2,000, and start earning interest when your funds reach P5,000. Get special foreign exchange rates and priority handling when you visit any of BDO’s over 1,200 branches across the country. A BDO Prime Savers account is an affordable way to save for the golden years.
Begin growing your money today by opening a Smart Checking, Junior Savers or Prime Savers account. Visit the BDO branch nearest you and explore the account assist kiosks or approach any one of the friendly bank officers and staff. You can also conveniently open an account online here: www.bdo.com.ph/apply
For every saving goal for every kind of mom, choose the best financial partner with BDO.
Have you ever been in a foreign country and tried to order a meal, ask for directions, or negotiate the price of a taxi ride, only to get a blank stare in return? It’s a universal frustration: the language barrier.
It happens to everyone, and it’s why real-time language translation is becoming increasingly important. Earphones with built-in AI translation are quickly becoming the new travel and work must-have, and it’s what can help you overcome language barriers with ease.
Introducing the All-New Soundcore AeroFit 2
Whether you’re traveling alone for leisure, joining a global contingent for a conference, or simply trying to connect with colleagues who speak a different language, the all-new AeroFit 2 open-ear earbuds from Soundcore are breaking barriers not just in communication, but also in design and performance.
With these new earphones from Soundcore, you can enjoy your music while staying connected to the world around you through open-ear technology. Unlike traditional headphones that either cover your ears or sit in your ear canal, the AeroFit2 earbuds give you the freedom to hear everything that is happening around you while still enjoying crystal clear notes and sounds.
Its powerful new AI translation function makes these earbuds turn into an interpreter who translates directly into your ears in real time. Its two modes open up limitless possibilities, depending on your needs:
The Face-to-Face Translation feature is your go-to mode for everyday conversations. It’s like having a personal interpreter in your ear, making it perfect for when you’re traveling or find yourself in new social situations with people who don’t speak the same language.
Here’s how it works: your voice is captured by the AeroFit 2 earbuds, translated, and played through your connected phone. Your phone’s microphone picks up the other person’s voice, translates it, and delivers it straight to your earbuds when they reply.
Real-Time Translation comes in handy, especially when listening to lectures, webinars, or even watching foreign shows. It works simply: the speaker’s voice from wherever you may be streaming is received by your phone, translated, and delivered straight to your AeroFit 2 earbuds.
You can also follow along by reading the translated transcript on your screen. This is an invaluable tool for students or professionals who may encounter situations where understanding spoken content is crucial without active participation.
The AeroFit 2 earbuds support various languages, including but not limited to: English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai.
Now Even Better for Everyday Use
Featuring a rotatable ear hook design, these open-ear earbuds can adapt to different ear sizes and offer a secure yet ultra-lightweight fit, ideal for all-day wear. Its special design even adds comfort for those wearing their earbuds and glasses at the same time.
In comparison to its predecessor, the Aerofit 2 boasts an enhanced sound quality, featuring crisp notes and a robust bass. With touch-style controls, managing your playback, volume, or translation modes is effortless and intuitive. Plus, the addition of a wireless charging case makes powering up more convenient than ever.
It also supports wireless charging with a 10H playtime, while the charging case can extend that to a total of 42 hours.
How to Get Started
Getting started is easier than you think.
Step 1: Download the soundcore app on your smartphone.
Step 2: Pair your AeroFit 2 earbuds via Bluetooth and open the app.
Step 3: Pick Your Translation Mode, whether Face-to-Face Translation or Real-Time Translation
Whether you’re traveling the world or working across cultures, the future of communication is already here, and it fits right in your ear. The Soundcore AeroFit 2 is now available in the Philippines through soundcore.ph, and online at Shopee and Lazada.
