SEDA Hotel Ayala Center Cebu recently gathered guests, friends and business partners to “Panlantaw: Seamlessly Weaving Then and Now,” celebrating the hotel’s first anniversary of providing smooth, seamless experiences for its guests, much like the silk that the brand is named after.
Cocktail hour transitioned seamlessly into dinner, as guests dressed in modern Filipiniana attire helped themselves to a long, varied buffet of favorite Filipino flavors: from the pusô with gising-gising or bistek Tagalog (my favorite that evening; I hope this is available at Misto, the hotel’s signature restaurant), humba, and sinuglaw to the palitaw and sticky rice with mango. Of course, there was lechon. Free flowing drinks included wine and champagne, to specially concocted modern Filipino mixes like the Diwata (lambanog, lime, syrup, grenadine) and the Gabriela (lambanog, pineapple, lime).
An AVP shared some of the many memories the hotel has formed with guests and with the back of the house in just one year. Hotel general manager Gwen de la Cruz was recognized for being the first lady general manager in the AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts portfolio. With her at the helm, Seda ACC managed to achieve a high occupancy rate that most industry newbies could not attain. Gwen passed on the credit to the hotel officers and staff, and said that Seda ACC does not only strive to please its guests, but take good care of its employees as well. After all, how can one extend warm hospitality if one doesn’t experience it firsthand?
Entertainment for the evening included homegrown talents from the University of Cebu dance troupe, Sinulog Idol’s first grand winner Jacky Chang with her powerful voice, and the fun, easy-going music of the Wonggoys.
As a highlight for the program, internationally acclaimed Cebuano designer Philip Rodriguez created an exquisite collection of modern Filipiniana formals inspired by the manton de Manila or traditional scarf. Philip never fails to awe with his timeless, elegant, and superbly tailored pieces.
In the same way that panlantaw can mean to look back at the past, to see the present, or to envision the future, Seda ACC cherished the memories of the past year, reflected how much it has achieved to date from first opening, and looks forward to creating seamless experiences and more memories for its guests in the coming years.
Congratulations, Seda ACC on the first of many anniversaries to come!