HSBC hosts Chinese New Year dinner for Cebu prime movers

Warner Manning, the CEO of Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corp. (HSBC), and his ever gracious wife Julie recently visited Cebu, and once again played hosts to a post Chinese New Year celebration at the grand ballroom of the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort. They were joined by the HSBC indefatigable team, led by wealth management and Premier SVP Patrick Cheng, cards SVP Claire Ann Yap, business VP Debbie Dy, public affairs AVP Laine Santana, and marketing AVP Ruth Sy.

Invitees came in every imaginable Chinese-inspired attire, from not-so-drab Mao tunic suits to silk cheongsams in various eye-catching styles. Guests of honor, the unstoppable Cebu City first lady Margot Osmeña, the islands’ golden couple Michel and Amparito Lhuillier, and full-of-ideas Shangri-La GM Timothy Wright, together with the Mannings, tossed the delectable vegetable salad for good luck, which understandably almost everyone partook of.

Among the attendees were the honorary consuls of several countries, such as United Kingdom’s Moya Jackson, Spain’s Jaime Picornell, and the Slovak Republic’s Anthony Chui.

Ladies of the arts Marissa Fernan, Elvira Luym and Vivina Chiu, and maker of fabulous one-of-a-kind bags Joanna Lhuillier, were seen mingling with industry movers and doers, such as Jon Aboitiz of the Aboitiz Group of Companies, furniture exporter Robert Booth, Cathay Pacific GM Anna Cheung, top-drawer realtors Ato and Gigi Alvarez, and globetrotters Deen and Lolly Diez. A dinner buffet, the likes of which only well-trained and gifted chefs from the property can deliver, and the powerful performance of singer-comedienne Marissa Sanchez ensured a fun-filled evening.

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In its efforts to help foreign tourists at airports who have difficulty communicating due to language barrier, the Department of Tourism, headed by the young, yet driven and dedicated Secretary Ace Durano, formally launched the Meet and Assist Program at the Mactan International Airport recently.

The program marked yet another milestone in the dynamic partnership between the DOT and Globe Telecom. Secretary Durano thanked Globe for its invaluable contribution to Philippine tourism through its support of DOT’s efforts to enhance tourism frontline services. In turn, Globe International Services head Nikko Acosta responded by reaffirming Globe’s commitment to DOT initiatives.

Pre-screened and trained, multi-lingual interpreters, dressed in the national costume of the country whose language they are proficient in, will assist non-English speaking tourists from countries, such as Japan, Korea, and China. To ensure that someone would always be present to give tourists a warm welcome, the interpreters work round-the-clock in three rotating shifts. The laudable project, which had its pilot run at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA-1) in December last year, will likewise complement the DOT marketing effort of bringing warm bodies by providing better tourism services and highlighting Filipino hospitality and friendliness, characteristics for which Filipinos are known the world over.

Since its initial run, the Meet and Assist program has helped some 2,000 foreign tourists. Members of the staff say they have received lots of positive feedback from foreigners. Even seasoned travelers declare that in all the places they have visited, this is the first time they have received such excellent service. Plans are also underway to implement the program in other airports and ports of entry in the country.