Tanzania Honorary Consulate now open

To my dear readers, as we celebrate the Chinese New Year, may we spread happiness, renewed hope and bright cheer to everyone dear to us. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

The honorary consulate of the United Republic of Tanzania headed by the indefatigable and energetic consul Betty Chua recently inaugurated its new offices located on EDSA Greenhills, Mandaluyong City. Coinciding with the opening was the oath-taking of the officers and members of the Philippine-Tanzania Business Council led by its president Edmund Lim which was held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. Congratulations and more power, Betty!

Come home to a world of your own at The Allegro

The grand preview of The Allegro at Sonata Place offered a glimpse of a world that pampers the discerning individual leading a global lifestyle with luxury and comfort. The Allegro at Sonata Place is the latest project of Robinsons Land Corp., under its Robinsons Luxuria brand. The Allegro provides an exclusive residence that promises private city living while keeping one in touch with everything. The 42-storey Allegro shall rise in the second phase of Sonata Place, at the corner of San Miguel Avenue and Lourdes Street in Ortigas Center. Brilliant Robinsons Land Corp. president and chief operating officer Frederick Go, together with vice president for business development Mybelle Gobio, vice president for sales and marketing May Precilla, vice president for design and planning Henry Yap, and W.V. Coscolluela and Associates Partner Architect Gary Coscolluela led the unveiling of this exciting development. An elegant evening of cocktails, enthralling music by harpist Holly Paraiso, and superb entertainment from Reuben Uy, Topper Fabregas, Sheila Valderrama-Martinez and Chinie Nepomuceno delighted guests during the night. Jack Salud, a pioneer in pointillism art in the Philippines, concluded the program by completing his meticulous painting aptly entitled “Allegro”. Congratulations Robinsons Land Corporation for successfully creating another remarkable project that enriches refined living! The Allegro at Sonata Place is a project of Robinsons Luxuria, the premium property brand of Robinsons Land Corp. Residential Division. Robinsons Luxuria provides a seamless pampered experience via its first-class private suites and residences found at iconic locations for a refined luxurious global living. For inquiries, contact 636-0888, 397-0101, and 0922-8380888, or visit www.robinsonsluxuria.com.

Sharing with the orphans

Made of empty perfume bottles in assorted shapes and sizes, the sparkling and truly modern Christmas tree entry of Aficionado Germany Perfume president and chief executive officer Joel Cruz and his family won the grand prize in Dusit Thani Manila’s Christmas Tree charity project last year. This proved to be a blessing for Hospicio de San Jose administrator Sister Socorro Evidente and other sisters of the congregation who went to Cagayan de Oro to assist the people affected by typhoon “Sendong”. Photo shows (from left) Dusit Thani Manila general manager Prateek Kumar awarding the check to Joel Cruz for turnover to Joel’s chosen charity, the Hospicio de San Jose, represented here by Sister Cristina Valdez and Sister Alice Aycocho. Indeed, the funds will go a long way in the orphanage’s mission of caring for abandoned children and the elderly. Congratulations and thank you, Joel!

Partners for home improvement

The country’s premier building and interior design supply provider Wilcon has teamed up with MasterCard and RCBC Bankard in launching the new Wilcon-RCBC Bankard MasterCard. Cardholders will enjoy enhanced financial flexibility to build or improve their own home through exclusive benefits and special year-round promo offers and events. The Wilcon-RCBC Bankard MasterCard is perfect for big-ticket installment purchases because it features a 0 percent installment plan on select items at Wilcon stores for a minimum purchase of P3,000 for a term of three to six months. A rewards or loyalty program also triples a Wilcon-RCBC Bankard MasterCard cardholder’s rewards points for all purchases made at Wilcon stores, which can then be redeemed as rewards vouchers to make more purchases. Other card privileges include special buys at all Wilcon stores, D-I-Y or home improvement workshops as well as a 25 percent discount on home protect and business protect insurance from Malayan Insurance. For inquiries, call 634-8387 or log on to www.wilcon.com.ph.