THM's Holiday Hues

A Christmas crusade

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Traders Hotel Manila (THM) beckoned the first light of a multi-hued Yuletide season through a tree-lighting ceremony at the hotel’s spruced-up lobby. Simply dubbed “Holiday Hues,” the event embraced a few bolder choices in addition to the traditional holiday colors of Christmases in the past.

General Manager Gordon Aeria started the vibrant evening of joy and excitement with inspiring words on how one can rekindle the holiday spirit by giving back to society, especially the victims of typhoon Yolanda.

“Yuletide is the most festive time of the year. It transcends into the heart of everyone. Despite the many challenges we face, we look back with gratitude for all blessings received. Let’s all take a moment to spread the season’s joy by giving to those severely affected by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) as well as to the less privileged in our midst,” enthused GM Aeria, in a delivered speech.

The event also became an opportunity to introduce the ‘Color My World’ auction where eight paintings specially made by the Maytubig Daycare Center kids, a community the hotel continuously supports, in collaboration with hotel volunteers, were up for sale.

Another of its noteworthy undertaking is the ‘Pink Perfect Fit’ campaign where statement designs printed on multi-colored shirts serve as a reminder on how one can spread joy and love through simple acts of kindness to the less privileged. All proceeds generated from these causes will be given to the survivors in Tacloban City.  

“We will donate all the monies from the paintings and merchandise to victims in Leyte. This is to help survivors cope with their losses and start a new life. Giving should be the steadfast theme of Christmas, as it warms the heart; reminding us what the Holidays are all about,” he added.

The kids of Barangay Maytubig filled the air with wondrous Christmas carols during the cocktail reception. The no-frills tree-lighting ceremony was graced by Mrs. Julie Benedicto of the New Riviera Hotel Development Corp. (NRHDC), the owning company; together with its chief operating officer Pia De Leon-Ongsiako, Singapore Airlines country manager Kelvin Kwan, executives from other Shangri-La managed properties, and Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino.

This Sunday, Nov. 24, Kitchie will be honored with the Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award from PMPC, the highest and most prestigious recognition for television that is given out annually. She’s

lauded for her remarkable contribution to the Philippine TV landscape in being the executive producer of ‘Superstar’, the longest-running musical variety show in history.

Susan Roces, Gloria Romero, Rosa Rosal, and Charo Santos-Concio are some of its previous recipients; all recognized for their passion for the arts and outstanding contributions to Philippine television through the years, and ultimately becoming pillars of the industry. The PMPC Star Awards for Television gala will unfold at the AFP Theater at 8 in the evening.

For more information on Traders’ CSR efforts, simply log-on to their Web site, www.tradershotels.com.