Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Postcript to the Chinese New Year Celebration
By Nelia G. Neri
THE year of the Fire Pig augurs for a year of plenty. Yes, the pig is supposed to generate a feeling of abundance as well as to radiate a sense of well-being. Not surprising, therefore, that it was welcomed with such a big bang all over town.
The sound of drums and the spirited movements of the lion dance signalled the start of Cebu City Marriott Hotel’s Chinese New Year ritual on the sunny Sunday morn of Feb. 18. Right on the dot, at 9:58 a.m. (the auspicious time in the Chinese calendar), GM Karl Hudson dotted the eye of the lion along with Cebu Holding’s Ver dela Cerna in a traditional ceremony that is part and parcel of the Chinese New Year celebration.
The ambiance at the hotel was definitely Chinese with red as the dominant color of the centerpiece decor, and the hotel staff in typical Chinese attire. The merrymaking started at the driveway, continued at the lobby, all the way to Garden Cafe where a buffet lunch featured Chinese favorites.
*****
Festive lion and dragon dances, a fantastic Fire in the Sky and a fabulous feast of Chinese food...it was indeed a tremendous treat of sights and sounds, and a truly rousing welcome for the Year of the Fire Pig at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel!
Frontliners were hotel assets Renee Villacin and Kaye Luym. GM Marco Protacio was out of town.
*****
Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort once again hosted a Chinese New Year lunch for media friends with GM Tim Wright and his PR angels Sharon Samarista and Lesley Tan holding court. And yes, the acclaimed Yee Sang salad was on the menu, after all it is the one food that is a “must” to start the Chinese New Year right.
There are many versions of the Yee Sang salad (made of seven to nine ingredients) but believe me, the Tea of Spring version is one of the best we’ve tasted! Part of the fun of eating Yee Sang is the ritual of tossing the ingredients together by everyone present at the table. It is said that the higher one tosses the salad, the more luck he or she receives.
Check out the special Yee Sang menu at Tea of Spring.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 21, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
