Welcoming the year of the wooden horse

Three of the Queen City of the South's top hotel destinations never let the Chinese New Year pass without having a big bang to welcome the Year of the Wooden Horse!

On the eve of the Chinese New Year, at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, the evening began with the traditional dragon and lion dance which in Chinese tradition is believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune. Given the honors to do the ceremonial dotting of the lion's eyes to symbolize the awakening of the lion's spirit were: Mrs. Amparito Llamas-Lhuiller, Mrs. Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon and Mr. Carlo Marcelo Sainz, Waterfron Cebu City Hotel and Casino's dynamic Resident Manager.

This year, Waterfront Lahug incorporated the cleansing of the wooden horse which was elegantly standing at the center of the lobby surrounded by mythical money trees that symbolizes affluence, nobility and auspiciousness. A wushu performance by the Wushu Federation of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter followed.

The invited guests were then led to Cafe Uno for dinner before culminating with the breathtaking music-synchronized fireworks display at the lobby entrance.

Over at the Marco Polo Plaza, the Year of the Wooden Horse was welcomed with another bang! The celebration began with the annual Yee Sang Tossing Ceremony which was participated in by guests from the media and the Filipino-Chinese community. Yee Sang is a popular festive dish which is usually served during the Chinese New Year. This is a colorful raw fish salad which symbolizes ushering in of prosperity and abundance for the New Year.  Yee Sang is supposed to be tossed in order to mix the different ingredients. The higher you toss it, the more luck you will supposedly have. Of course, the traditional dragon and lion dance, tossing of the coins and the firecrackers display took place afterwards.

Meanwhile at the Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, both hotel and invited guests converged at the resort's entrance and witnessed the dragon and lion dance and the ceremonial dotting of the lion's eye with Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza as guest of honor. The tropical paradise greeted the Year of the Horse with thriving wishes of health, luck and wealth.  The ceremonies started at 11 a.m. and were followed with a gastronomic feast of Chinese cuisine at Tea of Spring.

The premiere deluxe destination introduced A Tang for Yee Sang at Tea of Spring. In Chinese tradition, as mentioned, the tossing of Yee Sang during Chinese New Year dinners is regarded as a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

Each ingredient of the Yee Sang symbolizes an auspicious element: radish for purity, carrots for medicine, colorful shredded vegetables for the different personalities in one's family, five spice powders for the five elements of nature, plum sauce for family unity, vegetable oil for ease in life, chopped peanuts for long life and sesame seeds for large and happy family.

Indeed, the Yee Sang added color to the celebration. How I wish this festive mixture is available anytime and not only on Chinese New Year dinners! I just love it!