Artwork on paper

Abstract artist Nestor Vinluan’s work will accentuate the 450 rooms and suites of the newly-refurbished Heritage Hotel Manila. “Vinluan’s famed style and newly-created series of enigmatic artworks on paper expressing vibrant and layered colors and interplaying with ethereal markings serve as the last pieces of the puzzle to complete the contemporary look, modern ambiance, light earthen hues and bright feel of the newly-refurbished rooms,” said Eddie Yeo, GM of the Heritage Hotel who led the $4.5-M refurbishment program.

Yeo searched for the perfect paintings that will complement the new rooms’ modern ambiance and light earthen hues. He went as far as Antipolo, known as the haven of artists, to look for the right artist. Luckily, he met Mr. Vinluan and got acquainted with his modern abstract paintings that evoke tranquillity and transcendental meditations of nature in the form of water, earth, life, spring, sunrise and sunset.

“The artistic freedom I was given enabled me to fluidly explore and express my reflections on nature and produce some of my best works without impediments,” Vinluan enthused.

Vinluan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting from the University of the Philippines, Diliman and earned his Master’s Degree at Pratt Institute in New York on Fullbright Hays Scholarship. He is also a recipient of prestigious awards and distinctions including the Fernando Amorsolo Diamond Jubilee Professional Chair Award (1994) and the Gawad Chancellor para sa Pinakamahusay na Alagad ng Sining Award (2000 and 2001). He was an artist-in-residence at the Sculpture Square, Singapore in 2004.

Aside from its newly-refurbished rooms, the Heritage Hotel also takes pride of its sumptuous foods served in its Riviera Café. I had the chance to visit the place when I guested on Tin-Tin Bersola-Babao’s Look Who’s Cooking taping. Lunch/dinner buffet at the Riviera Café is made more tempting with Executive Chef Sunny Goh’s Malay, Singaporean, Filipino, Japanese, French, Italian and European culinary creations. Riviera Café highlights the Asian Corner that is abundant with the all-time favorite lechon de leche and roast duck that will surely tickle your taste buds for the contrasting texture of the crunchy skin and succulent meat.

Chef Sunny delights diners with his flair for Peranakan or Nonya cuisine. This richly-layered cuisine is a blend of Chinese ingredients and elaborate cooking techniques interplaying with Malay herbs and spices.

Riviera Café’s Japanese station offers fresh salmon and tuna sushi, California maki, salmon roe maki, kani salad and other culinary sensations. On the other hand, enjoy the café’s interactive grill station where the chefs indulge the diners with any of their choice ingredients such as fresh mussels, oysters, lobsters, beef steak, lamb and other meats, perfectly prepared a la minute as you desire.

For inquiries and dining reservations at the Riviera Café, call The Heritage Hotel Manila at 854-8888 or e-mail [email protected]. The Heritage Hotel Manila is managed by the Millennium Hotels and Resorts. 

PIEP holds annual convention

The Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP), the professional organization of licensed environmental planners accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission, will hold its 12th Annual Convention from Oct. 16 to 17 at the Legend Villas, Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City.

This was announced today by PIEP president architect-planner Nathaniel Von Einsiedel. The theme of the convention this year is “Opportunities and Challenges: Partnering with Stakeholders in Planning and Development.” Einsiedel said that the convention will tackle a broad range of concerns where various stakeholders can participate to ensure sustainable and participatory planning and development. Presentations will also cover topics such as private sector investments in local governments, heritage conservation, promotion of haven for retirees, planning of ancestral domains, national security, impacts of special economic and export processing zones and urban management.

PIEP director, EnP Liza Marie Pulumbarit-Elum, 2008 convention co-convenor added that prominent leaders and planning practitioners have been invited to the event. Among them are Senate president Manny Villar, Olongapo City Mayor Bong Gordon, Taguig City Mayor Sigfrido Tinga, Naic Mayor Efren Nazareno, Dr. Gloria Mercado and Gemma Cruz-Araneta. 

Registration fee is P3,200 for PIEP members and students; and P3,500 for non-members. Interested parties may call the PIEP Secretariat c/o Arlene Ty at telefax. no. (632) 920-9705, or e-mail address at [email protected].  The Secretariat office is at the Ground Floor, School of Urban & Regional Planning, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.