Prosperity at Lanson Place Mall of Asia
As soon as the lions ‘awoke,’ they sprang to life, joined by the dragons, as they made their way through the property, visiting the front desk, dining outlets, and offices, blessing each space with their presence to the accompaniment of drums, cymbals and a gong.
Nils Rothbarth, General Manager of Lanson Place Mall of Asia, paints a red dot on the eye of a Chinese Lion.
Photographs courtesy of George Buid
As soon as I stepped in the lobby porte-cochère of the Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Manila, the Lunar New Year celebration instantly began. And before long, it was in full swing!
The event kicked off with an eye-dotting ceremony, a tradition believed to awaken the lions and bring good luck for the year ahead. The breathtaking lion dance featured three beautifully crafted costumes, with their vibrant colors and movements — sometimes graceful, other times powerful — mesmerizing the crowd.
Peggy Angeles, executive vice president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC); Nils Rothbarth, general manager of Lanson Place Mall of Asia; and Cathy Nepomuceno, senior vice president of Operations of SMHCC, led the opening rites.
Three lions dance in front of the Lanson Place executives and guests.
The dragons roam around the property.
The festivities continue at the lobby.
The Prosperity ‘Yu Sheng’ dish.
As soon as the lions “awoke,” they sprang to life, joined by the dragon as they made their way through the property, visiting the front desk, dining outlets, and offices, blessing each space with their presence to the accompaniment of a drum, cymbals and a gong. We soon made our way to Madeleine High Tea for some light refreshments and a most welcome astrology reading. The atmosphere was warm and endearing, with some patrons sipping tea and listening intently as the astrologer shared insights based on the different Chinese zodiac signs.
I could not help but smile as I saw some guests light up when their signs were discussed — some nodding in agreement, others visibly excited and thrilled about what the new year had in store for them. It was a fun and engaging way to add a personal touch to the festivities.
The most exciting part was the Prosperity Toss at Cyan Modern Kitchen.
Led by Rothbarth, SMHCC consultant Nes Jardin, Leah Magallanes, SMHCC vice president for Sustainability and Quality Assurance, and Lanson Place Mall of Asia food and beverage manager Deczle Enriquez, this tradition — also known as Yee Shang — is a symbol of good fortune, success, and happiness.
