“KUNG ganahan mo magdugay mo, parehas mo sa Port, kinasing-kasing ang pagpangga.”
This is a hugot line thrown by Edward Hayco, president and founder of Port Restaurant, which amused guests during its 20th anniversary celebration last July 14. The theme for the celebration was Port Docks at Carnival where many activities were offered for the guests of the day, the staff and their children. There were games, magic shows and comedy shows. An inflatable playground was also set up for the children. There was also a free massage and free sorbetes offered.
Port, a buffet restaurant located at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, is the only concessionaire left from the pioneering concessionaires of Waterfront since it opened 20 years ago.
“If you want to sell something, do it from the heart. You have to be sincere and you have to mean it. And if you mean it, you have to do it. We have operated Port for the last 20 years from the heart. And I think people can feel that,” said Hayco when asked about the reason why Port was able to reach its 20th year.
Hayco said that spontaneity from the heart is a necessity in running the business as it is not very structured and is flexible to the demands of time.
Gigi Visitacion, restaurant manager, also added that the secret to its 20 years is its connection with its customers. “We love giving back the love to our valued guests,” said Visitacion. An example of this thanksgiving is the Port’s promo this coming Aug. 1 to 10. For every three persons dining in, only two are required to pay full rate while the third one will only have to pay P20.
According to Evangeline Hayco-Ugarte, chief operations officer of Port, this 20th anniversary celebration is dedicated to the Port staff. Running a business for two decades is very challenging. And according to Ugarte, Port recognizes that it is also responsible for the staff’s welfare.
Port Restaurant gives one a vibe like he is inside an actual ship. For the past 20 years, it has undergone different transition processes. There were times when it made one feel like he was inside a cruise ship, like traveling from one port to another.
“Port is like a port of call. Every now and then we have a port of call we dock in Cebu, so Sinulog, port of call we dock in Italy, so Valentine’s,” said Ugarte. A port of call exists so that customers will have something new to anticipate every now and then.
The Port buffet has two types: the lunch buffet with drinks which costs P389 per person and dinner buffet with drinks which costs P459 per person.
A 20 percent discount is given to senior citizens while children below 3.5 feet eat free of charge.
There is also the Salu-Salo sa Port which is good for four to five persons for only P899. There are three kinds to choose from: Pirate’s Catch, Karne Overload and Barrio Fiesta. Port also offers catering and packed meals. The packed meals start at P60 while catering costs P299 per person. There are even available VIP rooms good for 25 to 50 persons for birthdays, weddings, debuts or kiddie parties.
“We have so many things in our mind where Port is like another mother ship. We have lots of subsidiaries,” said Hayco.
One is the Beverly View, an events pavilion, which already has additional two event halls. There is also Tambayan, the sister company of Port, which is located in Bulacao and Consolacion. Grid, a food park and creative campus, is also a part of the family. Port is also planning to expand to Mactan. It has a 300-square-meter property there with a beachfront.
“We hope you will discover each and every adventure that we have put up for the Cebuano community,” said Hayco.