Get ready for the extraordinary

Expect an “extraordinary” experience at the much-anticipated grand opening of Okada Manila, the newest Japanese resort in Manila owned by the Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc.

Set to open at the first quarter of the year, the luxury resort is about to bring world-class entertainment and attractions that can rival that of the most luxurious properties in Las Vegas and Dubai while putting Philippine music at the forefront. This will be made possible through the resort’s exciting partnerships with WET Design and Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM).

The partnerships were formalized by Okada Manila COO Takahiro Usui, board director Steve Wolstenholme, WET director of design technology Jim Doyle and OPM executives including Christian Bautista, Gary Valenciano, Dingdong Avanzado and Noel Cabangon. The press met most of them during a luncheon held at Blackbird restaurant in Makati City. 

WET, the world-famous designer and maker of the grandest fountains in the most prestigious resorts and hotels across 20 countries in five continents, developed and constructed Okada Manila’s $30-million fountain. Measuring 37,464 sq. m., the grand fountain will be the iconic feature of the 44-hectare property and will serve as a one-of-a-kind setting for special events and concerts. 

Okada Manila is the first integrated resort to formalize its support for local arts and entertainment with its official partnership with the OPM organization itself. It will provide local acts a great opportunity to showcase their talent to a bigger global audience in its exceptional venues.

The destination resort also has a 9,000-sq.-m. entertainment venue enclosed in a glass dome, as well as the largest UV-protected indoor beach club in Southeast Asia featuring two expansive stages, with a maximum capacity of up to 4,500 guests.

Celebration of loyalty & success

It was a fun, rodeo-themed evening of camaraderie and loyalty as employees of Isla LPG Corp. (ILC) gathered to celebrate the company’s success as a business enterprise and to recognize employees with years of service to the company.  

“We have had a busy and successful year. We have been offered opportunities for growth, and we have responded to these opportunities with success. Thanks to the initiatives, dedication, competence and hard work of each and every one of you working individually and most of all, as a team,” said Ruben Domingo, CEO of ILC, the company behind the brand Solane.

Part of the company’s prosperous year can be credited to the recently launched “Dapat Lang” advocacy campaign, where it emphasized the importance of doing the right thing for the family, for others, and the society.

Employees came dressed in cowboy costumes and enjoyed a group dance competition, raffle prizes and rodeo rides.

(Visit www.solane.com.ph and www.facebook.com/solane.ph.)

The value of hard work & discipline

It has been six years since Fortune Life launched its noble advocacy that focuses on the value of hard work and discipline.

The recent anniversary celebration of “The Value and Hard Work & Discipline” advocacy held at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan of the Department of Education in Pasig City highlighted the values of the late founder and chairman emeritus of Fortune Life and the ALC group of companies, Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua. The tribute was superbly prepared and executed by select theater performers via a musical under the direction of multi-awarded theater director Luna Inocian.

The tribute took the audience through the late ambassador’s journey. His saga to success  began with a dream, a beginning that was not all rosy; in fact, it was froth with disappointments, challenges and pitfalls, but full of hope.

His oft-repeated line was given prominence at the program: “Sometimes the dreams you dream seem wildly out of reach, but the key is...in your life, you never give up...no matter how impossible your dream may seem.”   

His love and dedication to the two most important women in his life, his mother Dominga Lim Cabangon and his wife Bienvenida Angeles, made his dreams bigger. It was because of them that he worked hard to achieve his dreams.

The touching program moved no less than Education Secretary Leonor Briones, who gave the tribute a standing ovation.

The night also gave recognition to the eight Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua Gintong Parangal Para Sa Edukasyon awardees who best exemplified the value of hard work and discipline. They were Audepaz Benitez, Master Teacher II at Muntinlupa National High School; Cynthia Balaguer, Master Teacher II at Albay Central School; Mellany Arandia, Master Teacher I at Comembo Elementary School; Miguel Dumas Jr., District Supervisor at Division Office of Tacloban City; Aileen Apostol, Master Teacher III at Sto. Niño SPED Center; Vladimir Paraiso, Master Teacher I at Timoteo Paez High School; Windel Alvarez, ALS Mobile Teacher at District ALS Center; and Dr. Amelita de Mesa, Principal IV at Manuel G. Araullo High School.

The awardees walked up the stage to receive their trophies, certificates, bouquets and cash prizes from the amiable president of Fortune Life Arnold Cabangon and general manager Evelyn Carada and Secretary Briones. The festivities were witnessed by Marylindbert International CEO Linda Legaspi, DepEd officers and Fortune Life executives.

“Fortune Life’s advocacy called ‘The Value of Hard Work & Discipline,’ done in partnership with the Department of Education and Marylindbert International, is my father’s legacy to the children and the country. These are the same values practiced by my father, our family, our company, which we have shared to over 1,000 schools nationwide, giving away 700,000 workbooks to 3.3 million school children,” said Arnold in his remarks.

In her keynote address, Briones said, “To give importance to discipline and hard work is to bring up the very values that had made us as a nation and as a people.” She also reiterated that education in the country is a task not only of the Department of Education but everyone’s joint responsibility.

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)