CEBU, Philippines - What better way to greet the New Year than with good friends, feasting on the most delicious fares this side of the island, marveling at the enchanting fireworks display at a safe distance, and just being lost in the celebration and the party mood.
This year we greeted 2010 at the archetypical Filipino resort, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.
We were welcomed by their public relations officer Ruben Licera Jr. together with Juliet Amazona, who, we were told, was spending her last day at the resort, literally. Early this month, Juliet opened iTravel iExplore Tours & Services with office at Pacific Square Building, F. Cabahug St.; the reason why she reluctantly left her promising career at the resort.
The feast was so varied, exploring different tastes of different culinary regions of the world, and at the same time highlighting the excellent flavors of local ingredients.
A giant tuna in the middle of the Fisherman’s Station attracted most diners to the station, not just to marvel at the sea produce but also to get a taste of it, obviously a fresh catch. Other sea produce highlighted at the station included fresh salmon, prawns, oysters, mussels, rock lobsters, and an assortment of shells. To enhance its flavor a variety of sauces was also available.
There were cheeses and cold meat, fresh fruits, nuts and a variety of greens. There were plenty of grilled choices, as well, and carvings of roasted calf leg, and yes, of lechon, because after all a Filipino celebration would not be complete without a whole roasted suckling pig donning a piece of apple in its mouth.
The sweets were overflowing including a sorbetero stand serving homemade ice cream, to the delight of the children in the crowd.
To make the feast even more enjoyable, different bands played onstage with a repertoire that covered different genres; from tribal beats to popular dance songs. Professional ballroom dance instructors were also available to make the guests’ experience much more memorable. Games were also played with resort novelty items as prices.
The highlight of the evening, however, was the countdown to the New Year, with everyone expecting an excellent fireworks display. And they were not disappointed. As the clock struck 12, Alegrado Island was ablaze with an enchanting fireworks display, and not just that, as from Maribago Bluewater’s beachfront, one could view the firework displays of other properties in the area.
The evening was truly magical, just perfect for welcoming the blessings of 2010.