Friday, October 17, 2008

Mandarin Oriental, Manila: Makati's Capital for Chinese New Year

Mandarin Oriental, Manila has become Makati's capital for the Chinese New Year festivities and was again at the forefront with a celebration "to welcome the moon" on the eve of the Autumn Moon Festival.

The event was held at the Mandarin Oriental Ballroom, where revelers dressed in elegant Chinoiserie were treated to a celebration hosted by Max Tiu, who also serenaded the diners with Chinese love songs. A traditional paai shan and lantern ceremony was led by geomancer Joseph Chau as he blessed the audience and their lucky objects with good "chi" to drive away bad luck or misfortune.

The luck of the raffle prize winners had begun that night, as they took home various hotel gift certificates presented by Mandarin Oriental executive assistant manager Florian Kittler and Chau. Grand prize winner Jose Marcelo Lim walked home with a trip for two to Macau courtesy of Philippine Airlines plus a two-night stay at a Club Resort View room at the Mandarin Oriental, Macau.

Guests were treated to a buffet prepared by the restaurant's resident Chinese chef Hann Furn Chen. Others who welcomed the Autumn moon were Philippine Airlines' passenger sales executives Cesar Enciso and Orty Liscano, Star columnist Wilson Lee Flores, Yvette Tan, Anson Yu, Sharlene Tan, Linda and Vincent Chau, Pauline Lim, Lolita Ching, Elizabeth Yap, Virgina Cheng and Louie Cruz.

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