CHINESE NEW YEAR IN CEBU
- Jaime Picornell
- Feb 8, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 9, 2019
update: Arts Council trustees dinner last February 8 at Tsay Cheng restaurant for a post celebration of the Chinese New Year (see last 5 paragraphs)
Consul General Jia Li of the People's Republic of China hosted a formal reception on January 28 at the grand ballroom of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.
It was to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival 2019, as he said, to start off the observance of the Chinese New Year a week later.
There was the usual clangor of cymbals, drums, and firecrackers to mark the lion and dragon dances, of which we'd have more in future days.
Ethel Taneo of the Chinese Consulate's staff and in charge of communications led us to our table. She introduced the beautiful Consular Attache Jiang Wen.
Among those present were Ambassador Francisco Benedicto, Presidential Assistant Michael Dino, Enrique and Helena Benedicto, Marco Polo General Mana ger Brian Connelly, and Honorary Consul of Belgium Enrison Benedicto.
More: Gloria Gaisano, Melanie Ng, Benny Que, Lilu Aliño, Cathay Pacific's Hazel Taguimacruz, US Consular Agent Glenn Loop, Honorary Consul of Portugal Sammy Chioson, and Emily Benedicto Chioson, Honorary Consul of Israel.
A week later, on February 4, we were back at the Marco Polo for the celebration of the Chinese New Year. The lobby was filled with people come to see, hear the cacophony, and fill the Cafe Marco which offered Chinese specialties on the buffet.
The hotel's GM Brian Connelly was at the center of it all, along with resident manager Michaela Priesner, Lara Scarrow, Manna Alcaraz, Febe Compañon, Joward Tongco, Jude Pangan and more.
The Yee Sang salad was tossed with those large chopsticks by Consul General Jia Li, Consular Attache Jiang Wen, Dr. Vivina Chiu, Mayen Tan, Ann Marie Tan, Consul Sammy Chioson, PAL's Reyani Romano, and Joy Santillan.
photos courtesy of the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu
Next day, February 5, the action moved to the Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa, for the celebration of the Chinese New Year. At exactly 10:15 AM General Manager Rene Egle led the dotting of the lion's eye, along with Consul General Jia Li and Consular Attache Jiang Wen, and their entourage.
Attending to the guests were director of sales and marketing Mai Mai Regner, communications officer Jacqueline Bulawan, and reservations manager Mary Rose Darnayla who led us to a two-hour epicurean luncheon at the resort's Tea of Spring restaurant.
It was an elaborate menu that drew superlatives from food writers Dr. Nestor Alonso and Aissa de la Cruz. Add to them the rest at our table - Doyzkie Buenaviaje, Akioh Maruyama, Karlo Lim, Kat Toledo, Monica Lopez, and Neil Savellon.
In Rene Egle's table were Consul Jia Li and entourage, and Elizabeth Go with her daughter Candice Gotianuy, Chancellor of the University of Cebu.
Nelly Egle had her set of friends like Marguerite Lhuillier, Iris Arcenas, Frances Siao, Mikel Ugarte with daughter Mireya, Eva Gullas and Oj Hofer who is arranging for a Flamenco group from Granada (Spain) to perform in Cebu.
photos courtesy of Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa
Still on the theme of the Chinese New Year was a post celebration for the Arts Council trustees who held a dinner meeting on February 8 at the Tsay Cheng restaurant.
Madame President Dr. Vivina Chiu went through every item on the agenda, studded with past and future events. First and foremost is the 4th Cebu performance of the London-based boys choir Libera on Saturday February 23 at 8 PM, at the ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
The Arts Council spearheaded, with the NCCA, the launch of Arts Month on February 7 at the SM Seaside mall, with Marylou Neri as chairperson. There was an impressive performance by the Ukelele Ensemble of Lapu-Lapu City.
Treasurer Elvira Luym chose the menu with Teresin Mendezona and Elena Young. Also present were vice president Maia Franco, secretary Mariter Klepp, Marissa Fernan, Angelina Escaño, and Honey Loop.
Next meeting for the Arts Council trustees will be on March 8 at 12 noon, at a venue still to be decided on.
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