Popular cager LA Tenorio and former seaman Jesus Montiel will enjoy a vacation with their respective families after they won MasterCard’s Cross-Border raffle promo, dahlings. Both had qualified for the raffle entry after spending at least $50 in a single overseas transaction on their MasterCard, natch!
Lunch was tendered for the winners at Felix Restaurant in Greenbelt.
“We are grateful that our purchases gave us this fantastic chance for our family bonding and an exclusive VIP experience,” the two said in a statement.
Tenorio said he will travel with his family to Toronto next year après his wife Chesca gives birth to their second son.
The Toronto package includes: breakfast on an exclusive sailboat overlooking the city skyline; a six-course dinner from a Michelin-star chef at Café Boulud; and a breathtaking private helicopter tour over Niagara Falls followed by dinner and wine tasting.
Montiel used his EastWest Bank MasterCard to pay $68 as room reservation fee for a layover in Cambodia. The reward for that, palangga, was a MasterCard holiday for four to Singapore, via business class aboard Philippines Airlines.
The winners will be given the red-carpet treatment including the use of private cars and top-class dining. Leave it to MasterCard to offer the best to its clients, dahlings. N’est-ce pas?
Tourism promoters
GMA Network Inc. chair and CEO Felipe Gozon and TV and movie personality Kris Aquino led the 17 awardees of the 23rd Tourism Personality Awards.
The awards were given during a cocktail dinner at the grand ballroom of New World Hotel to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Makati unit of Skål International, a worldwide association of travel and tourism professionals promoting friendship, peace and harmony among its members.
Gozon was named TV/Radio Personality of the Year for his significant contributions to the tourism industry and for “instituting a culture of excellence in the company.”
Aquino was awarded the Travel Show Host Personality of the Year for her highly rated ABS-CBN show “Kris TV,” which brings the best in travel and tourism to a wide audience.
Tycoon Lucio Tan was inducted to the Hall of Fame while Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. was named Government Personality of the Year.
Other honorees: Pagcor chair and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr., Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporation Personality of the Year; Bellevue Hotels & Resorts chair Johnny Chan, Hotel Personality of the Year; Plantation Bay owner and CEO Emmanuel Gonzales, Resort Personality of the Year; Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio Meloto, Social Tourism Personality of the Year; Clark Development Corp. president Arthur Tugade, Tourism Development Personality of the Year; and Bulong Pulungan media forum co-founder and moderator Lourdes Siytangco, Media Forum Personality of the Year.
Awards are given to personalities “who have lived up to Skål’s goals and objectives of promoting the growth of the tourism and travel industry,” said Skål vice president Jaime Bautista.
Cognac and cuisine at Vask
The très prestigious smooth royal drink Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac, the exclusive cognac brand of the House of Remy Martin, treated enthusiasts to an elegant sit-down dinner at the stylish Vask Gallery Room, which is fast gaining a reputation as a culinary hotspot of traditional Spanish cuisine.
“How beautifully engaging it is that fine Spanish cuisine and cognac would achieve such a perfect, flavorful balance,” said Joey Pineda, Philippine manager of Remy Cointreau International.
The event was emceed by favorite traffic-stopper Tessa Prieto-Valdes.
The excellent menu was prepared by chef J. Luis Gonzales, a brilliant pairing of food and Remy Martin cognac with Magellan’s Dimsum. Also served were Tuna Pod, Boquerones, Beer Urchin and Cochinillo. Dessert consisted of Roger Rabbit, Truffle Crumbs and other calorific delights, palangga.
But the piece de resistance was a special sampling of Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac, masterfully officiated by très charmant Christophe Bourrie, regional director of Louis XIII, Remy Cointreau International, who explained through interesting anecdotes and special pointers, “how to best appreciate this rare luxury cognac.”
Spotted enjoying the party amid endless toasts were Emerson and Lingling Yao of Lucerne Jewelers; Su Chen, Louis XIII brand manager, who jetted into town from Singapore; and James DuVivier, Noel Sebastian and Boy Tabelon of Future Trade International.
Shangri-La Makati’s Christmas lobby
Check out Shangri-La Makati before the New Year. The hotel has transformed its iconic lobby into a magical forest before the first frost with giant crystalline snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, over 20 Christmas trees of various heights gilded in white and champagne colors, and lifelike reindeer that move their heads.
The décor was personally handcrafted by Makati Shangri-La’s talented engineers, led by Toto Ang, dahlings.
The hotel launched its environmental advocacy during its tree-lighting event, “Crystals of Hope,” in partnership with Manila Water, represented by its group director for east zone business operations Ferdinand de la Cruz. Makati Shangri-La GM Andrew den Oudsten also lit up the tree.
Snow maidens at the hotel lobby will sell clear acrylic snowflakes, signifying crystallized water, in two sizes: small for P250 and large for P350. Proceeds will go to hundreds of relocated families in Southville, Rodriguez, Rizal, who lack access to clean, potable water.