'Manamit!' Festival
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila will be having a Iloilo Heritage Month for the Month of May . It is in conjunction with the National Heritage Month that staged annually in May by the Filipino Heritage Festival,Inc. Various hotels and cultural groups participate in the annual festival, which is headed by Mita Rufino, Bambi Harper and Chi Salas. This project has brought Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila to stage successful Davao and a Bulacan festivals over the past two years.
"Manamit!" is this year's title of the festival and will focus on Iloilo's delicious cuisine . Thru Eugene Jamerlan of the Iloilo Heritage Cultural Group, Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing of Villa Regatta Seafood Restaurant, Al dente Ristorante Italiano and Citrus Global Bistro will lend her talent for this Iloilo Heritage Month Festival. Kinilaw na Tanigue, Lato Salad, Fried Panara with Togue, Fresh Lumpia Ubod, Grilled Managat, Grilled Blue Marlin, Manok na may Ubad kag Kadios, Adobado na Pantat na may Gata, Steamed Talaba , Grilled Scallops, Pulot with Ibos, Bucarillos, Bucayo and are some of the old Ilonggo dishes that will be featured in "Manamit!".
The festival will be featured at lunch, Monday to Friday in the Captain's Bar. An opening ceremony will be on May 8 and to lead the opening ceremonies are Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. and Governor Neil Tupas. A hablon fashion collection by Rajo Laurel and former senator Loren Legarda will be displayed, to complement the Ilonggo cuisine that Pauline will prepare daily. Robert Blancaflor of Flowers by 1816 will lend his artistic contribution in decorating and styling the venue will no doubt make this no ordinary Ilonggo festival!
Paintings of Iloilo Churches will also be displayed at the Captain's Bar and these are provided by the Museo Iloilo thru Mr. Zafiro Ledesma. The paintings were executed by local Ilonggo artists namely Norman Posecion, Tiny Firmeza, Liby Limoso ,Carlo Juntado, Arthur Jusa , Nil Capinanes and Scott Sorria.
This festival is also made possible with the support of Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City, Cebu Pacific and Museo Iloilo.