Lunhaw at Shangri-La

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Nelia G. Neri, J.R. Newman and C. V. Utzurrum
Megamix

LUNHAW, Cebuano for the green of nature, was the theme used by Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa for its Media Appreciation Party to highlight the hotel’s commitment to the environment, which includes a five-hectare marine sanctuary fronting its beach.

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The affair was held at Shang’s Marquee, with cocktails served at the entrance foyer.

Big Guns of the five Shangri-La Philippine properties came to town for the affair. We rubbed elbows with the powers-that be in the Shang group: Reto Klauser, area manager as well as general manager of Makati Shang, sales director Cecile Weber, communications director Joy Wassmer and assistant communications manager Princes Anderle.

More prime movers at the party: Gordon Aeria, GM of Traders Hotel Manila, sales and marketing director Jopy Lopez, communications manager Patti Javier, and PR consultant Lourdes Tan Arrieta; Edsa Shang’s Roel Constantino, sales and marketing director, with Cebuana Lesley Tan (good to see her again!), director of communications.

The rest of the big guns we met were Shang Boracay’s GM Mark Kirk, Melissa Ledesma, director of sales and marketing and Erica Sotto, director of communications.

Welcoming all to his turf was Mactan Shang’s GM Joachim Schutte with sales and marketing manager Michael Albaña and assistant communication manager Rica Renee Rellon. Oh, but we missed Shang Mactan’s Mildred Amon, communications director, as she was stranded in Manila.

The doors to the dining salon were shut tight until the proper “signal” and finally, Open sesame! We made our way in through a winding "rain forest," surrounded by shrubbery overhead and underfoot, until we arrived at the forest green dining area; the stage dressed with fern leaves as backdrop while the walls were of diaphanous cloth that shimmered with each change of light from forest green to misty blue to baby pink, and back.

Dinner was fine dining at its best, with the chefs conjuring a menu that consisted of tian of prawns and smoked marlin flakes served with vegetable julienne, red pepper coriander couli; ravioli filled with water spinach and seared lapu-lapu fillet with herb kalamansi broth; soursop sherbet; tenderloin of beef and garden herbs with nuts, local vegetables, adobo reduction sauce and lemongrass native rice, and Cebuano mango trilogy of mango panna cotta with mint, mango French macaroons and mango sherbet on native chocolate shortbread. Truly a gastronomic delight made more delightful with the company of Shang executives who joined in pairs each media table for some tete- a-tete, and every so often to be replaced by another set of executives. Thanks and congrats, executive chef Joris Rycken and F&B manager Abdul Hafid.

Entertainment for the evening was from the Voices of Cebu, singing a capella, and emcee was ”import” RJ Ledesma who kept the audience at a high energy level, especially during the exciting raffle draw! As fabulous as the food and décor were the prizes: dinners, overnight stays, high-end massage at the Chi Spa, of course all within Shang properties. The piece de resistance were the overnight stays at Shangri-Chiang Mai, Jakarta and Guam. Was air fare included? No matter, the event was unforgettable!