A sweet opening for the CJH Suites

"The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings."– Dave Weinbaum

To my Chinese colleagues and readers, may we all prosper in luck and fortune this Year of the Fire Dog. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

It was a cool and cozy day in the mountain resort city of Baguio at the soft opening of the CJH Suites Hotel in Camp John Hay. CJH Suites is a 288-room facility built at the site of the former 19th Tee Restaurant, right beside the CJH Manor Hotel. Dapper CJH chairman Robert John Sobrepeña and indefatigable CJH SVP for marketing, sales and public relations Shean Bedi were on hand to welcome the special guests, which included CJH’s newest resident Oscar Lopez, chair of the Lopez Group of Companies and Babe Romualdez, PEOPLE Asia CEO and president.

The blessing was witnessed by Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) chairman Filadelfo Roxas Jr. and former BCDA chair Rogelio Singson. The hotel is managed by hardworking CJH Leisure Team of Alberto Avanceña and Heiner Maulbecker.

The next evening, the annual Chairman’s Cup Golf Invitational Awards Night was held at the CJH Suites Hotel’s 19th Tee Restaurant, which will soon be open for business. The Chairman’s Cup, sponsored by Smart Communications, was played out on the Nicklaus-designed par-69 championship CJH golf course. Over 200 golfers, composed of top VIPs from government and business, attended the ceremonies. Leading the pack was Overall winner Gene Estandian; and Class A champion Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan. CJH Hotel Corporation COO Freddie Alquiros made sure the event was a success and culinary artiste Billy King served the best of his cuisine to the guests. Initial hotel operations are expected within the first quarter of 2006.

See you in Camp John Hay!

(For more information, you may call the Marketing & Sales Office of Camp John Hay at 637-6966 or e-mail us at cjhmarketing@campjohnhay.com.)

The Bellevue Hotel’s Valentine Concert with Jose Mari Chan

The concert venue south of Metro Manila, The Bellevue Grand Ballroom, plays host to lovers in love on Valentine’s Day with Thank You Love, a special show featuring top balladeer Jose Mari Chan and singer Aliya Parcs, with musical direction by Archie Castillo. For only P1,500 inclusive of two standard drinks, sing along to romantic tunes and favorite love songs such as Chan’s all-time hits Beautiful Girl, Let’s Stop and Talk Awhile and Constant Change at the elegant interiors of The Bellevue Grand Ballroom.

(For inquiries, call 771-8181.)

Johnny says, ‘Check this out!’

Kung Hei Fat Choi at the Tower Club. Celebrate the prosperity of the coming Year of the Fire Dog with gustatory treats prepared by the Tower Club’s very own chef Cheong. Until Feb. 15, the Taipan offers a special A La Carte menu plus two Chinese New Year Set Menus priced at P988 and P1,288. For dine-in members, special limited-supply Chinese Horoscopes will be given as good luck tokens to greet the New Year.

(For member and guest reservations, call 885-7085.)

Greetings

Happy Chinese New Year and advance birthday greetings to STAR’s Lito Tacujan, Jan 31; Aida Posadas, Marita Marcos, Mundy Feliciano, Henry Cojuangco and Antonio Montinola, Feb. 1; Pia Lopez, Purita Kalaw Ledesma and Bulletin’s Cornelio de Guzman, Feb. 2; Inquirer’s Alex Vergara and Joselito Manahan, Feb. 3; and Bea Lopez Puno and Nenita Floirendo, Feb. 4.

Belated birthday greetings to FCCP’s Nena Casimiro, Kathy Santiago-Litton and Tony Leviste, Jan. 15; Minnie Osmeña, Hilda Koronel, Sen. Sonny Osmeña, Ronnie Salonga and Minnesota based Dinah Del Rosario-Filart, Jan. 17; Karen Santos, Renee Salud, Marco Ballesteros, Jo Ramos, Joy Virata and Doris Nuyda, Jan. 19; Tony Pet Araneta, Bernardo Bernardo and lawyer Ricardo "Dong" Puno, Jan. 20; lovely ladies Ising Vasquez, Aurora Lebron, Celia Cuasay and Gretchen Cojuangco, Jan. 21.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)