Christmas at Mandarin Oriental Manila

The Mandarin Oriental, Manila held a far-from-the-ordinary cocktail reception at the hotel's elevated mound to launch its "Peace and Happiness" Christmas theme.

Heart-warming traditional Christmas hymns and carols as performed by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's brass quintet, provided guests with the joyful yuletide mood. General Manager Helmut Gaisberger welcomed guests to the festivities which was highlighted by a tree-lighting ceremony headed by the Representative of Makati's First District Congressman Teddy Locsin, Jr. and wife Louie, Makati Mayor Jejomar and Dra. Elenita Binay, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Edu Jarque and UNICEF country representative Dr. Nicolas Alipui. Amid candlelights, twelve white doves were released simultaneously.

The ceremony was followed by a gala dinner show at the Captain's Bar. Tuxedo-garbed waiters paraded a five-course menu that consisted of parma ham roulade with arugula, mozzarella pesto marinated grilled vegetables and herb gratinated mussels, cream of asparagus with garlic roasted scallops, strawberry sherbet, Roast US strip loin of beef with candied shallots, mascarpone potato are gratin with port wine sauce, and marbled cheesecake with Bailey's cream and mango-orange salad.

Bernie Pasamba String Ensemble provided the perfect background music for sparkling conversation and balladeer Bimbo Cerrudo made the affair more splendid with wonderful and nostalgic melodies of Christmas.

Seen enjoying the celebration were US Embassy Commercial Attaché Tom Brennan, Nokia Philippines chief financial officer Sigfried Karlsson, Peter Noszek-Nestle Philippines' chief financial officer, Goh Meng Kheng-Malaysia Airlines' country manager, socialite philanthropist Rosemarie Baby Arenas, Heritage Conservation Society's Gemma Cruz Araneta, and bon vivant astrologer George Sison.

Also present were Philippine Star's Grace Glory Go, Business World's Teddy Montelibano, Business Mirror's Francine Medina Marquez, Manila Times' Glenn Gale, Malaya's Bambi Harper and Metro Magazine's Donnie Ramirez.

On hand to welcome and entertain the guests were Mandarin Oriental's dynamic sales and marketing team headed by director of sales and marketing Alu Suarez, Charisse G. Chuidian-Director of Communications, and the hotel's executive committee members which included executive assistant manager for food and beverage Jesper Vilsoe, executive assistant manger for operations and human resources Josie Arriola, director of finance Erwin Hofer and director of engineering Marc Ennis.