The grandest Lunar New Year festivity outside of Binondo was staged for the 18th time at the cosmopolitan Mandarin Oriental Manila in Makati City.
This year’s celebration was held to usher in the Year of the Wood Horse, with Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay and his family in attendance.
The characteristic merry-making began with cocktails at the Clipper Lounge, where the guests mingled prior to the colorful and energizing rituals by the hotel’s resident feng shui expert, renowned international geomancer Joseph Chau at the MO Lounge.
The excitement outdoors brought on by the traditional dragon and lion eye-dotting ceremony, and a breathtaking fireworks display was matched by the sumptuous midnight eight-course banquet prepared by Tin Hau’s master chefs that was served at the Mandarin Ballroom.
Present to witness the spectacular event were Mandarin Oriental Manila general manager Torsten van Dullemen, hotel manager Oliver Kreuzer and communications director Charisse Chuidian. A grand prize of a three-day/two-night stay at Mandarin Oriental Macau, inclusive of roundtrip tickets, was also raffled off.
Wishing everyone all the blessings life could bring! After all, there is no such thing as too much luck!
GREETINGS
Advance birthday greetings to Rhoda Campos-Aldanese, Beaver Ledesma and Ambassador Isabel Wilson, Feb. 24; Asia’s fashion czar Pitoy Moreno and Tess Colayco, Feb. 25; Louie Locsin, German Club past president Dr. Gunter Matschuck, Louie Galvez, Lucille Villanueva and equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Feb. 26; Bea Zobel and Biboy Enriquez, Feb. 28; Romy Aquino and Salud Guinto, March 1.
So, how was your week?
(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)