Around town
The year of the Fire Rooster takes off on Saturday, Jan. 28, and celebrations are on sked all over town.
On the eve of the Chinese New Year, Marco Polo Plaza will have its traditional festivities which include the Lion Dance, Eye-Dotting, Coin Tossing and the Yee Sang Tossing ceremony. Oh yes, firecrackers are very much part of the celebration starting at 6 p.m. Check out the Chinese specialties included at the buffet of Cafe Marco, At Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, it is also on Friday that they officially welcome the Chinese New Year with the “must dos.” Tin Gow is all set for the Year of the Rooster with three sets of special menus devised by Chinese master chef Jimmy Low. Each seven-course set includes dishes that are said to usher good luck, prosperity and good fortune. We had a taste of the scrumptious Menu B (which included the Yee Sang salmon salad) during lunch with hotel general manager (GM) Anders Hallden. From appetizers to dessert, it was tops!
Over at Waterfront Airport Hotel, the celebration takes place on Saturday morning. Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa is all set to welcome the Chinese New Year on Saturday morning with the customary activities which include the Lion and Dragon dance, the eyedotting ceremony, and the Yee Sang toss. Venue is its airy lobby. The celebration extends to lunch at Tea of Spring with GM Rene Egle holding court. Radisson Blu’s Chinese Chef Steve Ang is expanding the Chinese selection at the Feria buffet on D-DAY with the traditional prosperity salmon salad called Yee Sang and the distinctive dishes he
is known for. We were treated to a sampling of the special buffet offering at Feria for Saturday with chef Steve himself attending to us over lunch. He shared his signature dish of beef cube tenderloin in pepper sauce with garlic flakes and braised mushroom in crispy pork knuckles. Yummy! Book launchings in town... Sister Isabel Villacarlos of the Religious of the Assumption told the story of her 25 years in Africa as a missionary in her book
Life on a Mission. At the end of every chapter she invites the readers for a short reflection on how their everyday experiences bring them closer to God. Launching affair was a merienda gathering at Cebu Grand Hotel which is owned by her only sister, Flora Villacarlos Borromeo. On the other hand, Cindy Z. Reynes shared her experience as the primary care giver of her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her book
Mom, Alzheimer’s and Me. It was launched during an afternoon affair at the SM City Meeting Room. Yearend happenings... Balletcenter presented Coppelia at Onstage Ayala Cinema One. The romantic comic ballet was directed and choreographed by Gregory Aaron and internationally recognized premier danseur Nicolas Pacaña. Luxury brand Louis Vuitton presented its Cruise 2017 Collection during a cocktail reception at the Social Hall of Park Point Residences. It included men and women’s garments as well as its innovative Horizon luggage and Blossom jewelry collections. Entrepreneurs Izeiah and Mitchy Lim introduced their Grandeur Fine Gifts during an afternoon of “tea-a-tete”at Casa Uno of Circa 1900. Among the items offered are dinner sets, tea and coffee sets made of fine bone china. Raymund Fernandez has come up with a coffee table book about his favorite mentor, Cebuano artist Martino Abellana. Entitled Kamingaw, the book is a portrait of the late Bisaya painter from Carcar fondly called Noy Tinong. It was launched a fortnight ago at the Cebu Country Club with the artist’s daughter, Sister Gemma Abellana in attendance.