CARLA N. CAÑET PHOTO
A Seda Capitol Central’s anniversary and Christmas Tree Lighting celebration
LIGHTING. The Seda Capitol Central in Bacolod City holds the “Cinco de Capitolio,” a fifth anniversary celebration and Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the hotel’s lobby Thursday evening, November 17. Leading the activity were Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Javier Hernandez (left) and Seda Capitol Central Hotel Manager Kim Joseph Guimba.
he Seda Hotel Capitol Central in Bacolod City has marked its fifth anniversary in a celebration dubbed “Cinco De Capitolio” at the hotel’s lobby yesterday, November 17. The event was highlighted by Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.
Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation (AHRC) President and Chief Executive Officer Javier Hernandez, Seda Capitol Central Hotel Manager Kim Joseph Guimba, AHRC Chief Financial Officer Phearl Villaruel - Raz, Seda Hotels Senior Group of Sales and Marketing Melissa Carlos, Seda Western Visayas General Manager Joseph del Rosario led the old Philippines-inspired celebration.
Guests and other attendees came in their Filipiana and Barong Tagalog, the national clothes of the Philippines.
Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang and City Tourism officer Ma. Teresa Manalili also graced the celebration, which was like a combination of fiesta and Christmas feels.
De La Salle Chorale - Bacolod performed some Christmas songs that entertained the guests, among other performers like the La Carlota City Drum Beaters and Dancers and Tinabuay Festival dancers of Murcia.
Guimba, in his message in Tagalog, said “Ang pasko ay nagdudulot ng ibang kasiyahan lalo na kapag ating ginugunita ang mga magaganda alaala ng nakaraan. Marahil ang mga masasayang sandaling ito ang nagbibigay diwa sa ating pasko. Bilang mga Pilipino, idagdag pa natin ang makukulay nating tradisyon na higit namang nagpapatingkad sa ating pagdiriwang.”
“Kaya naman, masaya akong ibahagi sa inyo ang Cinco de Capitolio, isang pagpupugay sa kulturang Pilipino, noon hanggang ngayon. Sa pamamagitan ng okasyong ito, umaasa akong makagagawa tayo ng magagandang ala ala habang nag aabang sa mga darating pang panahon,” he said.
“Ngayong gabi, ating ginugunita ang isa na namang matagumpay na taon para sa Seda Capitol Central,” he also said.
Guimba also thanked those who continue to support and inspire them in making their services to the community better.
There were raffle draws of hotel accommodations where some lucky attendees won an overnight stay in various hotels under the Ayala Land Hotels operating in the country.
For his part, Jun Grimares, program director of Smile Train Philippines, expressed his gratitude to Seda for partnering with them in helping children with birth defects like cleft lips.
He said that the year was very challenging but they were able to continue doing surgeries.
At the height of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, there were about 1,800 surgeries performed. In 2021, they were able to perform more than four thousand surgeries in only four months.
There are around 5,000 Filipinos born every year with a cleft.
“We have to keep going in helping these patients and their families as they are relying on us to give them a brighter future. I would like to thank our friends at Seda for its generosity in keeping us continue throughout the pandemic,” Grimares said.
He added that “Hindi sila bumitaw kahit pandemic. They stayed with us as our partner for over the years now. Truly, we are looking for a brighter year and hopefully, we can again gather safely next year.”*