Yee Sang at Marco Polo and Shangri-La

One of the highlights in a series of events that took place in Marco Polo Plaza Cebu was the Yee Sang ceremony to open Chinese New Year. To Marco Polo, this is the second year of celebrating successfully the Chinese New Year – Year of the Earth Rat. So successfully that GM Hans Hauri said they had to do the ceremony once again because he believes that the prosperity of the hotel is attributed to the luck brought about by the celebration of last year’s Chinese New Year.

Guesting at the hotel’s traditional ritual Yee Sang tossing ceremony were public officials led by Gov. Gwen Garcia, Usec DOT Phineas Alburo, DOT Region 7 Director Dawnie Roa, Cebu City First Lady Margot Osmeña, Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman, PROC Consul General & Mrs. He Shijing, businessman Winglip Chang, Melanie Ng and Jessica Avila.

After the ceremony, waiters served the tossed salad mixed with fish to all the guests present. Some media personalities were also present and they were treated to a very special media lunch by the well-liked GM Hans Hauri.

Over at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, we observed the hotel never fails to invite a feng shui expert. For the Year of the Rat, Shangri-La’s GM Tim Wright had Marites Allen share her rich experiences regarding feng shui to the press people. Impressive indeed as Marites profoundly explained the significance of Feng Shui especially in business, homes and even in a person’s face. She happens to be a Cebuana but told us she has studied extensively feng shui here and abroad.

But before Marites was presented to the press, a simple Yee Sang toss was also done to usher in the Chinese New Year of the Earth Rat. Red wine was poured in to our glasses endlessly and then a toast. After which, each guest was given a red envelope with three coins meaningfully signifying good luck and two pieces of coin chocos for prosperity.