Asian Dragon celebrated its 10th anniversary at Makati Shangri-La with a book launch.

“A Decade of Dragons” celebrated the cover stories of movers and shakers, many of them leading lights of the Filipino-Chinese community.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was guest of honor, accompanied by senior government officials, including Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. The diplomatic community also attended in full force.

All 52 covers of Asian Dragon were displayed on the foyer of Rizal Ballroom. An amazing group portrait was staged, including many of the famous cover subjects.

Wilson Lee Flores, Alfredo Yao, Susan Vergara, Salvador Panelo, Pinky Tobiano-Robles, Ruby Chua, Josie and Richard Go, Juanch Robles

Among the guests were Abba Napa and Eli Antonino, the sexy and beautiful restaurateurs of the successful Moment Group; Cesar Virata, former prime minister; businesswoman Evelyn Lim Forbes; Sen. Grace Poe; Nedy Tantoco and Anton Huang of Rustan’s and SSI; Washington Sycip, godfather of Philippine business.

Asian Dragon’s first coffee-table book, “A Decade of Dragons,” is a commemorative compilation of cover stories of the first 10 years. A life-size coffee-table book was opened onstage, and Destileria Limtuaco’s Lady in Red, Meg Imperial, emerged from within and handed the first copy of the book to the guest of honor, Secretary Medialdea.

“It is on such special occasions, when we celebrate important milestones, that we are reminded of the very reason we’re here and motivated, no matter how difficult the process may be, to keep going and improving,” says Asian Dragon’s publisher Olivia Limpe-Aw.

“We have featured many of the country’s most prominent people in our cover stories, whether Chinoy or not, and we have strived to portray them as they are,” Asian Dragon’s editor in chief Apa Ongpin writes in his foreword for the book. “These are stories of greatness, not just in the context of Filipino society, but in the wider sphere of human achievement.”

“A Decade of Dragons” is available at National Book Store and Foresight Books Publishing & Distributing Co., Inc. Call 3617491-98 local 811.