THE first downtown hotel with a shopping mall in Iloilo City will celebrate its 25th anniversary with an auction sale of artworks of local artists and launching of the Uygongco Foundation.

The celebration will gear towards providing educational assistance to deserving children of poor families in 10 areas in the country, including four areas in Western Visayas.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

The Amigo Terrace Hotel established in 1984 by the Uygongco family is expected to complete its full renovation and additional room capacity by the middle of 2010, according to Amigo General Manager Gerard Bilbao.

Preparations are underway for its silver anniversary ceremony on December 4, 2009 with auction master Edu Manzano and entertainer balladeer Richard Poon during a dinner for a cause concert.

The program will also launch a family-oriented foundation that centered on education in six areas in Iloilo City, Manila Harbor Center in Manila, President Roxas, Capiz, Sta Maria, San Ildefonso, Calumpit and Guiguinto, all in the province of Bulacan; Aglayan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon and in Jordan, Guimaras.

Presently, the foundation has 400 scholars divided in 10 schools in Guimaras, Capiz and Iloilo City.

It is also implementing a daily feeding program in five beneficiary schools around the city and several other programs lined up for the next six years.

Events director Hazel Grace Sy said the foundation is envisioned to be a catalyst for the development of an educated, empowered and self-sustaining community in areas with the presence of the foundation.

The Amigo hotel is four-star hotel but with a first class amenities.

Owned by the Uygongco family in Iloilo with other business concerns, such as flourmill, shipping, and sugar centrals, among others, it also boasts as the first downtown hotel with a shopping mall at its ground floor where shoppers and hotel guests find easy access to buy branded clothes, household needs, cosmetics and other needs.

It has currently 100 guest rooms, including the suites at the fourth and fifth floors overlooking the city and its environs.

The ground floor serves the open space lobby and counter and the famous dine-in restaurant. The second floor houses the most modern disco facility and other specialized shops, while the third floor serves as the banquet area and function rooms for seminars and other social events.

The guest rooms are located at the fourth and fifth floors and plans are ripe for additional rooms by 2010. (PR)