“DO NOT make the mistake of thinking you know everything, or you might just lose everything.”

So went the piece of advice that I unfurled from breaking open my fortune cookie on the eve of the Lunar New Year in Puso Bistro and Bar, Quest Hotel and Conference Center’s signature restaurant.

In the spirit of not knowing everything--did you know that the traditional lion dance has been practiced from many dynasties ago? Though it’s most popular during the Lunar New Year, this dance to bring good fortune may also be performed in business ceremonies or weddings. At Quest Hotel, guests were delighted by the lion dance performed by the Bayanihan Champions, and included an eye dotting ceremony led by hotel general manager Mia Singson-Leon. I didn’t know until this year that the eye dotting ceremony is said to give life to the auspicious lion.

To continue honoring Chinese culture and tradition, the program included Chinese songs performed by Kenichi Uang, the Cebuano artist who won the Seventh International Red White Singing Festival in Tokyo, Japan, and member of boy band 13C. Guests were then invited to Puso to witness the yee sang toss, which involves tossing ingredients with different meanings up into the air; the higher the toss, the greater the luck. Joining GM Leon for this ceremony were director of sales and marketing Herley Herrera-Broutin; executive chef Danilo Gonzales; area director of PR Mia Mae Sy; Feng Shui consultant and master practitioner engineer Butch Patriarca; Monster Radio DJ and finalist of Mr. Chinatown 2017 Jonathan Kevin Lim; University of the Philippines-Cebu professor Dr. Leahliz Sia; Kenichi, his sister Kairi, and his father, Stanley Uang of IPI Philippines.

The food and beverage team outdid themselves in the dinner presentation, painstakingly sculpting cute little mice to decorate the buffet tables, and shaping white mice out of the boiled eggs in the salad station. To welcome the Year of the Metal Rat, the hotel served a sumptuous feast for Chinese New Year weekend including Peking duck prepared in different ways, Chinese cold cuts, dim sum, tikoy, and of course, fortune cookies.

Even if some people think fortune cookies are corny, it can be admitted that those are wise words to keep in mind. Here’s wishing us all a year of fortune, wisdom and good luck. Gong Xi Fa Cai!