Chinese New Year

A festive welcome for the Year of the Earth Pig was held last February 4 at Marco Polo Plaza as is the hotel’s annual Chinese New Year tradition.

A wushu performance by the Talisay Malayan Academy Wushu Club kicked off the event followed by the eye-dotting ceremony led by the hotel’s general manager, Mr. Brian Connelly. Auspicious drum beats of the traditional lion and dragon dance echoed throughout the hotel to ward off bad luck and bring in the good fortune performed by the Cebu Wushu Traditional Lion and Dragon Dancers.

The affair then continued with the hotel’s traditional Yee Sang Tossing Ceremony led by guests of honor from the Filipino-Chinese community – including People’s Republic of China’s Consul General Jia Li. Just like every year, a giant Yee Sang bowl was prepared at the lobby where guests tossed the salad with the signature giant chopsticks. (The Yee Sang Tossing tradition symbolises the action of wishing one another a year filled with prosperity and happiness. It is said that the higher the salad is tossed into the air, the more luck to have.)

Guests were then ushered to dinner where a sumptuous array of Chinese dishes was waiting at Café Marco’s Culinary Impressions of China.

Another ceremony was also held in the morning of February 5.