E Epic changes, epic rewards

It seems 2024 is the season of change -- epic change in the form of new blood and a clear succession path for two epic families -- the Angs and the Tans, in particular Ramon Ang and his son Paul, and Andrew Tan and son Kevin.

While RSA and Paul have chosen to quietly buckle down to business and ready more financing for the ambitious projects of SMC’s infrastructure arm, the formal takeover by Kevin of the Tan family’s sprawling gambling, entertainment and integrated resort holdings kicked off with what is expected to be a series of epic rewards.

Following the recent announcements of the appointment of Kevin as the new executive chairman of Travellers International Hotel Group (TIHGI), along with Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez as the new president and CEO and Lance Gautreaux as COO effective June 1 this year, an epic rewards celebration was held Wednesday night with no less than well known musician David Foster and friends holding a special concert for members of NWR’s Epic Rewards program and VIPs from partner brands that include AirAsia, The SSI Group, BPI, Landers and Karat World.

Seen enjoying the David Foster concert at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel complex along with president Nilo Rodriguez was BPI president Teodoro “TG” Limcaoco who admitted that he “likes” the music, although he was not quite aware of who 1990s era singer Bryan McKnight was, but admitted that the songs were “familiar.”

Also seen enjoying the concert was Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia, along with other officials of Philippine Airlines, Grab country head Grace Vera Cruz, Landers Group CFO Francis Reyes and Karat World owner Felix Gorriceta.

A highlight of the David Foster concert was the first public introduction of David and Katharine McPhee’s three-year old music prodigy son who showed off his growing drum skills in a brief number, understandably still a bit uncomfortable seeing the huge Filipino crowd.

First established as the pioneer integrated resort in the Philippines in 2009, Newport World Resorts is a one-stop, non-stop casino, hotels and entertainment complex comprising two main wings, Newport Grand Wing and Newport Garden Wing that feature a wide array of gaming thrills.

The complex is located right across the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and boasts of the highest hotel room key count in a single property with five international hotel brands, Marriott Hotel Manila, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hotel Okura Manila, Hilton Hotel Manila and Holiday Inn Express Manila-Newport City.

The Newport Performing Arts Theater seats over 1,700 audiences for live entertainment from plays and musicals to concerts. The Newport Grand Wing’s The Grand Bar and Lounge and the Newport Garden Wing’s Bar 360 and El Calle Food and Music Hall provide nightly live entertainment for guests and patrons.

The Newport Mall features international luxury brands and the state-of-the-art Newport Cinemas. Also within Newport City are over 70 restaurants and dining outlets.

It is quite evident that business is booming in the NWR complex with more parking structures being added to accommodate the overflowing number of guests who flock to the complex nightly and add to the daily traffic in the area.

In the Moment

Meanwhile, The Moment Group, a leading player in the Philippine food and beverage industry, has likewise begun to usher in a new decade of serving delicious dimsum, xiaolongbao and new dishes, along with more boozy cocktails following the recent renewal of its country franchise for Din Tai Fung, and the anticipated expansion of the brand outside Metro Manila.

The renewal was formalized during Din Tai Fung’s annual gathering of overseas partners held in Taipei, Taiwan, where Moment founders and managing partners Eliza Antonino and Abba Napa were in attendance.

According to Antonino , “Team Moment is very happy and grateful for this continued partnership with Din Tai Fung. The timing is especially significant as we are gearing up to celebrate Din Tai Fung’s 10th year in the Philippines, which coincides with what will be the brand’s 67th global anniversary.”

Din Tai Fung has become synonymous with excellence in Taiwanese cuisine globally, particularly renowned for its meticulously crafted xiaolongbao. With a commitment to quality and authenticity, Din Tai Fung has garnered a loyal following both locally and internationally. The forthcoming openings will provide diners across the country with greater accessibility to Din Tai Fung’s signature dishes and unparalleled hospitality.

In its newest branch located at the Tan-owned Uptown Parade, Din Tai Fung has rolled out its new special dishes and cocktail menu that it eventually plans to roll out in its other locations in Mega Manila.

Its cocktail menu offers three signature cocktails named Din for a lemongrass tea and London dry gin mixture with a dash of syrup and basil; Tai, which is a gin infused oolong mixture of cherry liqueur and soda, topped with rosemary, and lastly Fung, which is a take on the classic whisky sour but made with Suntory infused pepper, mandarin orange, lemon juice and topped with an egg foam froth.

The cocktail drinks are expected to go well with the large expat and business community in the area and pairs well with the restaurant’s dimsum offerings, just don’t get drunk after a quick lunch though because to an unexperienced drinker like me they carried quite a punch even with a couple of sips.

Aside from its already well-known and well-loved menu of dimsum, noodles and hot and cold dishes and tea-based drinks, Din Tai Fung BGC now offers new special dishes that include an oyster misua soup, fried pumpkin in salted egg, Szechuan pepper soft shell crab, spareribs in chili garlic and abalone special fried rice.

Two new desserts are also being introduced -- almond pudding with red bean and a delicious Taiwanese ice cream peanut creme with shoyu caramel, taro and black sesame, but the chocolate lava xiaolongbao is still a favorite.