AS an annual tradition, Cebu City Marriott Hotel’s (CCMH) Think Tanks conceptualized another spectacular theme for their “lifestyle media birthday bash.”
Upon entering the Sampaguita ballroom, a scene straight from Broadway greeted us. A theater stage with dramatic red drapes, as backdrop for the baby grand piano.
Cocktails preceded everything, as CCMH director of sales and marketing Cleofe Albiso welcomed and thanked their media friends for their support throughout the years. Take a bow, birthday celebrants: Jaime R. Picornell (JRP); Flor S. Ynclino (FSY); Jenara R. Newman (JRN); Mila C. Espina (MCE), Nelia G. Neri (NGN) and Chinggay V. Utzurrum (CVU).
That was the signal for the start of the specially curated four-course dinner by the hotel’s executive chef Chachpol Suaisom. The award-winning menu read as follows: Prawn pomelo salad, creamy sweet potato coconut soup; lemon apple sorbet. Main course was seared salmon with baked cauliflower, pepper coulis, green pea puree lemon asparagus. Dessert was a work of culinary art: Light chocolate moringa mousse. Red and white wine flowed endlessly.
Nostalgic music from top Broadway hits filled the ballroom as lovely soprano Jessica McYorker accompanied by pianist Aldo Lazaga, took the stage with a familiar tune, I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady and went on with more Broadway pieces from A Chorus Line, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Carousel, The King and I, Porgy and Bess etc., prompting us to sing along with memories!
Everything that evening was worth an Oscar award: from the CCMH bigwigs Cleofe Albiso; marketing communications manager Frances Alfafara; public relations officer Nico Velasquez, their staff, soprano Jessica McYorker, chef Chachpol Suaisom, to the breathtaking décor from Blooms and Bubbles (Sandra Yap). We loved the crystal candelabra crowned with lush globes of red roses!
As a fitting finale to this extravaganza, there were delicate top hat birthday cakes, and giveaways from Rustan’s and Volkswagen!
Thank you, CCMH. The event had infinite star quality!