Christmas sparkles at Filinvest City

Filinvest City recently kicked off its unique holiday festivities called the “Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City.”

The festivities were highlighted by the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Musical Lights Show and the futuristic 3D-mapped giant Christmas tree. All these transform the newly opened Spectrum Linear Park into a Christmas Wonderland.

The “Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City” includes the Festino Market that brings together artisans, select merchants and up-and-coming chefs in a quaint outdoor market. There are also arts and crafts workshops; the Festino Café pop-up coffee experience, where one can savor third-wave brews; weekend performances by Spongecola, Ebe Dancel and Sandwich, among other performers;  and  the first-ever Building Christmas décor contest where the most creative executions will receive prizes.

Singer Christian Bautista performed for guests during the launch.

“We are bringing in something new to this year’s Light Show to make the holidays even merrier and more delightful. It is not just a light show but a holistic in-city Christmas celebration, which means there are more activities for families and friends to enjoy,” said Catherine Ilagan, executive vice president of Filinvest Alabang Inc., the developer of Filinvest City.

(The Sparkle of Christmas at Filinvest City runs every weekend until Dec. 31. For more information,

visit www.facebook.com/FilinvestCityOFFICIAL/.)

Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.

Connecting guests to the world

As it aims to always provide the best for its guests, award-winning Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong partners with Tink Labs Limited, one of Hong Kong’s most successful startups dealing with travel and tourism, to offer a handy phone in all 688 of the hotel’s guestrooms.

This new complimentary service allows guests to enjoy unlimited internet connectivity no matter where they are in the city. Guests can also make free local and international calls to the US, Britain, Germany, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Korea and the Philippines.

The handy phone functions like a smartphone with data sharing. It has several features like speed dial to hotel services, essential travel information, and short-cut access to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It also comes with a tailored travel guide and is integrated with hotel services.

Kowloon Shangri-La general manager Philip Dewar, director of communications Patsy Chan and director of sales and marketing Sonny Ang flew to Manila to share the exciting news especially for Filipinos, who comprise a large chunk of the hotel’s clientele.

Dewar said, “We are delighted to make travel around Hong Kong hassle-free for our guests. Whether they travel on business or leisure, they will stay connected with their families, business associates, friends and travel companions anytime, anywhere in Hong Kong. The pulse of the world and the city is just right at their fingertips at no cost.”

Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong is situated along the waterfront and right in the hub of the commercial, shopping and entertainment district in the heart of the Kowloon Peninsula.  The hotel also has four restaurants including the Michelin-starred Shang Palace, a bar and a lounge with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong’s skyline. A nearby MTR is also accessible.

(Visit www.shangri-la.com.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)