JPARK Island Resort & Waterpark welcomed the Lunar Year of the Earth Pig last Jan. 31 at the stunning outdoor expanse of the Abalone Garden. The celebration kicked off with the ceremonial dotting of the eye of the sleepy lions led by Chinese Consul General Jia Li, Mexican Consul Eduardo Graham Gonzalez, Korean Consul Oh Sung Yong, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and chairman/president Justin Uy at the hotel lobby. This was then followed by the traditional Yee Sang toss, headed by the resort’s Malaysian-Chinese executive chef Kenny Yong.
General manager Jonathan Nowell welcomed the guests by sharing some stories on traditions involving the significance of the “Pig” to the local community and thanking all the guests for their continuous support to the company for almost 10 years now.
The food for the New Year emphasize lucky symbolic meanings. One of these, such as fish, sounds like the Chinese word for “surplus.” These food items are eaten during the 16-day festive season, and particularly for the New Year’s Eve family reunion dinner. On the same night, guests indulged on the international buffet spread prepared by the culinary department: Tuna Sashimi and Ceviche, Braised Assorted Seafood with Seamoss Soup, Roasted Crispy Duck, Salmon Gravalax, Assorted Dimsum, Oven Roasted Beef Rib Eye, Lechon Cebu, Deep Fried Sesame Ball in Sweet Banana Paste etc.
Guests were entertained by the resort’s talents, the Amigos, with a sword dance and an umbrella and lantern dance numbers. A wushu demonstration from the Cebu Wushu Group was also presente. Songs from Erwin Lim and Premix Acoustic Band were also rendered to serenade everyone.
Also announced by Uy, Jpark is currently renovating its Triton Grand Ballroom which can soon accommodate up to 1,400 people and will soon be the biggest in the Mactan area. (PR)