Full of innovative ideas, the island’s popular hotels and resorts each showcased typical Chinese rituals for the Lunar New Year. A few were incredibly fabulous.
The landmark building that is now home to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel at Nivel Hills overlooking the city of Cebu opened the festivities with a series of activities, best of which was the Chinese Food Festival at Café Marco with chefs from Beijing Lu Zzhen Ning, Xie Bing Fu, and Huang Yan who prepared endless arrays of favorite dumplings and authentic dishes.
One of the many practices is the tossing of the typical fish salad called yee sang, believed by many to bring good luck and prosperity. Participating in the ritual were guests of honor Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia, First Lady Margot Osmeña, president of the property Rey Villar, socialite Rosebud Sala, and civic leader Joe Ng.
The Cebu Waterfront Hotel also hosted a sumptuous buffet at Café Uno with an infinite variety of dishes cooked to perfection by chef Anders.
As tradition dictated the lion eye-dotting ceremony was performed with Cebu Vice Mayor Michael Rama, the lady with a golden heart Margot Osmeña, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Filomeno Lim, and director of rooms Karen Mendoza doing the honors.
A brief program followed shortly, with outstanding performance by the Plum Blossom Choy Li Fut Foundation Dance Group and an impressive tai-chi and wushu demonstration by the Wushu Federation of the Philippines. A magnificent 20-minute synchronized fireworks display welcomed the Year of the Fire Pig.
Meanwhile, the multi-awardee businessman’s choice, the Cebu Marriott Hotel, opted to celebrate on New Year’s day itself with Japanese Consul Shingo Inao, acupuncturist Felipe Lim, Ayala’s Ver de la Cerna, and general manager Karl Hudson performing the lion eye-dotting ceremony followed by the lion dance. The legend has grown to mean that the performance of the lion chases away evil spirits and welcomes good luck and good fortune.
A truly delightful brunch masterfully planned and prepared by the latest addition to the hotel, Polish executive chef Witek Szczechura culminated the lively festivities.
Like millions of people curious and even perhaps eager to know what is in store for the year, I, too, gathered some insights on what to expect in this year of the Yin Fire Pig.
This year will provide auspicious energy and great fortune particularly for people who are born under the animal signs Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse and Monkey. The rest shall begin the year with a lower base, with the animal signs of Goat and Dog picking things up quicker than the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Rooster, and the Pig. People born under the last five signs will need to exercise more diligence to emerge unscathed.