Many also trace adobo's origins to the Spanish occupation, though no one seems too certain about its beginnings. Because it was marinated, adobo enabled cooks to prepare and preserve pork or chicken in case of an unexpected visit from a local governor or priest, a mighty feat in the days before cold storage. Some also say that adobo is related, albeit distantly, to adobado, a tasty Spanish concoction that consists of pork loin cured for weeks in olive oil, vinegar and spices and simmered for several hours.