The party gathered the influential members of the Tower Club and Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club high fliers. Ten tickets were given away by Cathay Pacific GM Adrian Harley assisted by Cathay’s hardworking assistant marketing manager Bettina Palpal-latoc.
Tower Club’s hard-to-miss GM, Rupert Haarhoff, graciously welcomed the Tower members and wished luck to those who joined the Exclusive Rewards Program.
As explained by Tower Club membership director Cyndy Tan-Jarabata, under the ERP, a member who makes a successful referral of a prospective member gets one raffle entry and a chance to fly on Cathay’s New Business Class.
What is the New Business Class? Believing that "comfort is an art," Cathay Pacific is redefining flying by introducing extraordinary features that offer both comfort and caprice. The centerpiece is the seat, by far the longest and widest stretch-flat seat in the sky. The redesigned cabin features a reception area, a cocktail bar area where one can socialize with other passengers, and a private dressing room with a full-length mirror so you can look far from disheveled even after a long-haul trans-Pacific flight.
"The New Business Class is very smart, sophisticated, and technologically advanced," explained Adrian. "It is truly spectacular."
The guests seemed to echo Adrian as they tried out the New Business Class seat specially set up inside The Taipan restaurant. The rest of the crowd, meanwhile, feasted on the sumptious array of dumplings, Peking duck, roast beef, assorted cheese, seafood, and appetizers prepared by the Tower Club’s culinary experts as Da Kapo Band played excellent jazzy music. As the audience savored luscious desserts, Jon Santos, one of the country’s most gifted comedians, delivered a witty spiel.
Seen enjoying themselves were Austrian Ambassador Christian Krepela; Singaporean Ambassador Jacky Foo; STAR EVP Grace Glory Go; Pilipinas Shell consultant Oscar Reyes; French Baker’s Johnlu Koa and his wife Marilou; consultant Eddy Hartmann; and construction queen Celia Cuasay. Cathay’s ever responsible Bettina, on the other hand, made sure that the Marco Polo members all had a great time.
Finally, raffle entries were pulled out of a bowl. Marco Polo Club member Daryl Levington won the grand prize, a round-trip ticket to any Cathay Pacific destination. And in a surprise as huge as Megamall, the winner of the ERP grand prize–two round-trip tickets to Australia, North America or Europe–was taipan Henry Sy. Other lucky Tower Club members were Meshelle Villanueva of Shelmed Cottage Treasures; ENT physician Dr. Ramon Batungbacal; Laureano Siy; and Rey Anthony David. Well, folks, life is full of ironies and pleasant twists!
Congratulations to the Tower Club for another extraordinary accomplishment!
Advanced birthday greetings to designers Letlet Veloso, Randy Ortiz and Ramon Bagatsing, Aug. 19; former Foreign Affairs Secretary Manuel Collantes and actor/comedian Noel Trinidad, Aug. 20; top fashion designer Jeannie Goulbourn, Aug. 21; Asia’s Queen of Song Pilita Corrales, Silk Cocoon’s Frances Lim, Aug. 22; Mameng Carag, Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Raul Teehankee, Aug. 24.
So, how was your week?
(For comments and inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com)