Welcome The Year of The Water Dragon

CEBU, Philippines - There was no better place to be in Metro Manila than the Mandarin Oriental Hotel – with perhaps, the exception of Binondo, the heart and soul of Chinatown – to welcome the grandest lunar fete that is the New Year of the Water Dragon.

Globally acknowledged geomancer Joseph Chau, the property’s resident feng shui expert, presided over the auspicious celebration.

While the invitees wished each other Kung Hei Fat Choi, the evening festivities were marked by ceremonies where Master Chau performed the traditional Tibetan ritual, the Paai-Shan ceremony, designed to dispel bad luck and augur good fortune by bringing good chi throughout 2012.

Master Chau together with General Manager Mark Bradford and other special guests which included Vice-President Jejomar Binay, his wife Dra. Elenita Binay, Chairman of Jardine Matheson Group in the Philippines and of Manila Mandarin Hotel Incorporated Nonoy Colayco, his wife Tina, philanthropist Rose Marie Arenas, the acknowledged proponent of feng shui in the country and well-respected author and writer Jullie Yap Daza, Country Manager of China Unionpay Samuel Tan, President of Asian Carmakers BMW Maricar Pareo and Chief Representative of Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific Olga Azarcon, did the honors of dotting the eyes and foreheads of three dazzling dragons and several lions which were the cynosure of all attention throughout the night.

A first-ever neon lion and dragon dance, complete with fire and smoke effects, entertained the delighted spectators all the way till the always-exciting countdown, highlighted by an awesome display of ever-so-colorful fireworks orchestrated by Enchanted Kingdom enveloped the sky.

The affair was capped by midnight eight-course Lauriat dinner – the first lucky meal of the year – specially prepared by the hotel’s multi-awarded restaurant Tin Hau Master Chefs headed by Executive Chef Rene Ottlik and Executive Chinese Chef Hann Furn Chen that showcased prosperity dishes that symbolized luck, harmony, abundance in wealth and a beautiful harvest for the coming year.

The guests were enthralled by performances of the Black Theater with their psychedelic numbers using black light and vibrant neon colors.

As the diners were serenaded by talented singer Jenny Rowolle, they couldn’t wait to scan the pages of the complimentary just-off-the-press copies of the much-awaited 2012 Forecast Book on the Year of the Dragon, exclusively published and distributed by the Mandarin Oriental Manila.

The hotel’s Food and Beverage Manager, Chico Angeles, received numerous compliments for staging the spectacular programme which was wonderfully hosted by celebrities eventologist and entrepreneur Tim Yap and the forever eye-catching, everyone’s darling Tessa Prieto Valdes. (FREEMAN)