Fun, fortune & lunch with geomancer Joseph Chau at Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental, Manila celebrates the Chinese Year of the Earth Ox with international geomancer Joseph Chau at the helm of the festivities. Room packages are available for those who wish to spend the night on New Year’s Eve at the hotel, or avail of the three-night “Harmony and Fortune” package, which includes an invitation to an exclusive lunch with Chau who will talk on what’s in store in the Year of the Yin Earth Ox and a chance to win precious feng shui ornaments.
On January 25, Sunday, at 10 p.m. the celebration is marked by rituals and ceremonies designed to augur good fortune and bring good chi. Considered the seat of good fortune where a huge crowd gathers annually on the eve of the new lunar year, Mandarin Oriental lays out an elaborate celebration marked by good feng shui, exciting fanfare and sumptuous fare prepared by its master chefs. This year’s celebration is held in collaboration with Infinity powered by Smart, Citibank, BMW, Hennessy XO, Enchanted Kingdom, Lifestyle Network. With the support of the city government of Makati, it is touted as the country’s biggest lunar year welcome outside of Binondo, with characteristic merry-making for an evening of fun and entertainment. The event is attended by prominent personalities from diplomatic, social, business and media circles.
Starting off the hotel’s 14th year celebration is a prosperity motorcade led by a fleet of BMW cars and an imposing Ox float, tracing a route that bodes good fortune: from Mandarin Oriental on Paseo de Roxas, turning right on Ayala Ave then right again on Senator Gil Puyat, then right again to Paseo de Roxas and back to the hotel. Master Chau performs a Paai-Shan ceremony and an energizing ritual prior to the eye-dotting of a neon lion and five dragons. A burst of colorful fireworks and firecrackers to dispel bad luck, completes the hotel’s lunar extravaganza. Those in constant search of unique and interesting finds may choose to head over to the Chinese New Year bazaar at the car park, which will be open from 3 p.m.
Capping off the evening celebration is a midnight buffet, the first lucky meal of the year, offered at P1, 788++ for adults and P1,088++ for children, held at the Ballroom, and inclusive of a complimentary copy of the “2009 Year of the Earth Ox Forecast” written by Joseph Chau which makes its debut that night.
The comprehensive 2009 primer will also be sold at the hotel’s Lobby Shop and the Deli for P398. Two soon-to-be released mobile phones will also be raffled off by Infinity during the dinner along with other prizes such as overnight stay for two at Mandarin Oriental, Manila with breakfast and a buffet lunch for two at Paseo Uno.
Festive New Year specialities are offered in set and a la carte menus at Tin Hau in the weeks following the grand lunar new year welcome, for which Citigold clients and Citibank Platinum and Gold cardholders enjoy 10% discount when dining between January 27 and February 22.
For inquiries, call Mandarin Oriental at 750 8888.
