An Ox celebration in Cebu
Cebu ’s leading hotels and resorts ushered in the Year of the Ox with typical Chinese rituals. A few were unbelievably awesome.
Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa presented a dragon and lion dance at the sprawling main lobby. This was followed by a firecracker show and a demonstration performance by the award-winning wushu athletes.
A sumptuous meal that offered traditional courses for kith and kin were offered at the Tea of Spring, the award-winning Chinese restaurant of the hotel.
Meanwhile, as tradition dictated, the lion eye-dotting ceremony was performed at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel with acting Vice Mayor Hilario Davide III, Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Filomeno Lim, and general manager Marco Protacio doing the honors.
The hotel also hosted a fabulous buffet at Café Uno, with an infinite variety of dishes cooked to perfection by executive chef Andre Karlen. The celebration culminated with a magnificent 20-minute synchronized fireworks display that welcomed the Year of the Ox.
The landmark building that is now home to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel at Nivel Hills opened the festivities with a series of activities best of which was the Chinese Food Festival at Café Marco.
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 Governor Gwen Garcia, DASH engineering president Yukihiro Mimura, honorary consul Robert Lee and his wife Ana, Eddie Gaisano, Yuan Qin, wife of consul general He Shijing, and educator Mila Espina.
Just like majority of people who are curious, and even perhaps eager to know what is in store for the year, I gathered some insights on what to expect this year.
The OX year is a conservative year, one of traditions and values. This is not a year to be outrageous.
This year will no doubt bear fruit, but the motto is: “No work, no pay!” Time waits for no man; if we are too lazy to sow, then we can blame no one if we have nothing to reap. We will find a great many things requiring our attention, and the list of what needs to be done will seem endless. The Spartan influence of the Ox will be a constantly cracking whip over our heads. Better to apply oneself diligently than waste time arguing with the authorities. They will prevail, as the year of the Ox favors discipline.
