Manila Pavilion Hotel joined the entire world in heralding South Africa as this year’s host country of the much-awaited World Cup Games 2010 with a successful kick-off cocktail party hosted by its general manager Christopher Park at its premier Boulvar Sports and Music Bar. The well-attended event marked the beginning of the most popular and most viewed sporting event in the world exceeding even the Olympic games.

Gracing the historic evening are guests of honour representing two of World Cup Games 2010 official global partners: ABS CBN Balls Channel’s channel head, Jojo Neri-Estacio; and, Sony Philippines Incorporated’s president and managing director Takao Kuroda; who joined Park in the symbolic pouring of champagne over the soccer ball ice carving sculpture — a magnificent masterpiece expertly carved by the uber talented and multi-awarded both in international and local competitions including Chefs On Parade, Manila Pavilion’s sous chef Mel Avino which delighted the evening’s guests. Balls Channel’s Road to Johannesburg mainstay hosts Marco Benitez and Mia Cabalfin led the evening’s programme as master of ceremonies.

An impressive pass-around menu was served complemented with free flowing Nederburg South African red and white wines provided by Future Trade International.

The menu as prepared by Manila Pavilion’s creative culinary experts consisted of: tomato tartlets with Cajun chicken; cream cheese with poppy seed toast; mushroom bruschetta; sweet corn on basil pesto toast; mini quiche lorraine; beef balls in pomodoro sauce; fish fingers with Remoulade dip; mini spring rolls with Thai chili sauce; mini pizza; mini fruit tarts; and, assorted mousse.

Seen at the kick-off party were society and media personalities such as: Philippine Star’s executive vice president Grace Glory Go; Metro magazine’s society columnist Donnie Ramirez; RPA & Communicate, Incorporated’s Philip Abadicio and Erick Ranas; Caballero and Associate’s Bobby Caballero and Roberto Labog; Vanity magazine’s Joy Fong and Geena Zablan; Manila Bulletin’s editor Miguel Ongpin; Daily Tribune’s society columnist Resty Vergara; Business Mirror’s managing editor Vladimir Bunoan and Joseph Cortes; Philippine Star’s Chat Fernandez; Asian Traveler’s Trixie Angeles; SPOT.PH’s Jason Inocencio; ABS CBN Creative Programming, Incorporated’s March Ventosa and Jade Gonzalez; ABS CBN Balls Channel’s Mariel Benitez, Jan Almonte, Ysabel Bartolome, and Maricia Liao; Crossover 105.1 FM’s group sales head Larry Fajardo; to name a few.

Also spotted were key executives from the corporate and travel and trade industries which included among others: World Health Organization’s director for administration and finance Jeff Kobza; Instituto Cervantes’ director Jose Rodriguez; Sony Philippines, Incorporated’s Erica dela Cruz and Allet Velves; VISA’s Gaby
Agapito; Future Trade International’s marketing executive Mary Anne Fran; Philippine Straits Travel Agency president Johnson Cheng; Crewcare, Incorporated’s general manager Jo Roldan; Lorenzo Shipping Corporation’s HR manager May Gomez; Pru Life UK’s Randz Prince Panotes and Joyce Mendiola; Mizuno’s Isabella Fernando and Roxy Dorlas.

The hotel’s management team and staff also came in full force led by director of rooms Benny Rosales, director of food and beverage Kok Fai Ho, executive chef Koay Chee Ming, director of sales Malou Peralta together with assistant sales manager Lizette Harder and the rest of the sales team, IT manager Gerome Cayago, among others.

Raffle prizes and giveaways which were given out by Balls Channel and Future Trade International added more excitement. The evening’s guests were treated to more surprises when Manila Pavilion raffled off ten (10) Gourmet Elite Plus cards, according the lucky winners instant membership in the prestigious club with exclusive indulgences and exemplary benefits in the hotel’s various themed restaurants. Dining gift certificates for two (2) in the hotel’s interactive lifestyle restaurant Seasons, Malaysian-Cantonese restaurant Peony Garden, and in its signature fine dining restaurant The Rotisserie, were also raffled off.

Overnight weekend stays for two inclusive of breakfast and dinner at Manila Pavilion Hotel, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino in Mactan, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, and G Hotel Manila, are at stake in
the ‘2010 Quest For The Cup’ grand draw in the World Cup Finals Party on July 11 at Boulvar Sports and Music Bar. Football enthusiasts will simply guess which country will reign supreme by filling out raffle coupons presented upon bill out.

The month-long World Cup Games 2010 game matches are seen live and uncut in SATB’s giant LCD projection screen and Sony Bravia’s state-of-the-art LCD widescreen TVs until July 11 at Boulvar Sports and Music Bar. A minimum food and beverage consumable of Php300 nett applies.

Room packages starting at Php4,000 nett for a standard room inclusive of buffet breakfast at Seasons and complimentary cocktail food and drink vouchers at Boulvar Sports and Music Bar for two (2), are offered until July 31.

For reservations and schedule of game matches, call 526 1212 or toll free # 1-800-10-WFRONT8 (9376688).

It was sweet victory for the culinary team of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino as the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu officially declared them Overall Champions in this year’s Cebu Goes Culinary; their fourth since the hotel started joining the event in 2000. Top hotels, resorts and food establishments gathered for the competition, participating in various challenges that put culinary skill and artistry to the test. Garnering numerous awards in different categories, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino earned 3 Gold with Distinction awards – the most given to any establishment in the history of the competition – for the Table Setting, Chocolate Showpiece and Creative Cakes categories. Acquiring 3 of the event’s highest recognition, Waterfront Hotels & Casinos’ Area General Manager, Marco Protacio was extremely proud of the Food and Beverage Division’s record breaking feat.

After all, he himself was immensely involved in the preparations, with the hotel executing his concept for the Table Setting piece. With the theme for the category being “Children’s Party”, Waterfront delighted guests with what would have been Suri Cruise’s birthday, a visual masterpiece taking inspiration from Tim Burton’s famous “Alice in Wonderland.”

In addition to these, Waterfront also received 7 Gold medals for the Dream Team Challenge, Butter Carving, Ice Carving, Dress the Cake, Plated Appetizers, Cold Buffet Platter and Adobo Challenge categories. The hotel’s Bread Showpiece and Cooking with Legumes entries earned 2 Silver awards. Winning Bronze medals were: Buko Challenge, 3-Tier Wedding Cake, Chef Wars, Hot Dish and Fruit and Vegetable Carving. The hotel also brought home 3 Diplomas for Casual Dining, Pralines and Cocktail Mixing.

Executive Chef Alessio Loddo and Food and Beverage Director Sarah Mascariñas consider this a statement of the hotel’s world class talent and a demonstration of what its outlets and banquet functions can offer.

Waterfront serves only the best in international and local cuisine at Uno, La Gondola, Madeleine, Tin Gow, Mizu, Treff, Café Fortuna, Lobby Lounge, Power House and Pool Aquarius.

Be treated to world class cuisine and service now. Call (32) 232-6888 for reservations and log on to www.waterfronthotels.com.ph for more information on restaurant and banquet packages.

Waterfront Hotels & Casinos, a Philippine hotel company, offers today’s comfort-seeking guests 1,500 rooms in 3 cities. The company is publicly listed and owns and operates hotels under the Waterfront and G brands. The properties under its portfolio are Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino Mactan, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, Manila Pavilion Hotel and G Hotel by Waterfront. Reservations for any Waterfront hotel may be obtained by calling its Central Reservations Office at 1-800-10-WFRONT8 (9376688) or logging onto www.waterfronthotels.com.ph.