24 MABUHAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2016 By JOANNE VILLANUEVA Tales from the Silk Road “ I DID NOT TELL HALF OF WHAT I SAW, FOR I KNEW I WOULD NOT BE BELIEVED.” Tese were among the last few words Marco Polo had to exhale on his deathbed, in response to the few who found his travelogue fallacious. Tere’ s a lot to tell about a 24-year- chronicle in the East, which the West was probably not ready to hear then; or it might just be the prose of romantic author Rustichello, to whom Marco Polo dictated his stories. Fiction or otherwise, Te ravels of Marco Polo has been regarded as an important account in history, the encounter of the West and the East, and has since influenced a whole new generation of explorers, including Christopher Columbus. Marco Polo has since been a phrase, becoming a namesake for a pool game of tag, a 2014 television series, and one of Asia’s leading companies in the hospitality business: Marco Polo Hotels. Before becoming a hotel, it was originally a restaurant frequented by travelers. Alluding to its market, Marco Polo Hotels seeks to embody the ethos of discovery that its namesake represents, and create unique experiences for each of its visiting guests. As they celebrate their second anniversary, Marco Polo Hotels relieved the famous traveler’s cultural journey down the Silk Road, retold through a night of fashion, food, and music in “Silken Voices, Silken Roads: An Open Gala Dinner, ” held la st April 18 at the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. General Manager Frank Reichenbach announced in a media preview last March 30 that they plan to make the celebration an annual affair. FASHION. “Fusion” has always been a key element for fashion designer Renee Salud, whose pop meets classic style, which he calls “culturally hip, ” perfectly presented the meeting of East and the West. His fondness for indigenous Filipino décor also shows in his choice of fabrics and rich accessorizing. Te runway served stage to diverse looks that somehow managed to feel like a sophisticated collection. Tese include a whimsical set of mid-thigh dresses, layered with a Western stylization of East Asia’s traditional loose, long sleeves; a line of mermaid dresses; and black dresses accentuated by patterns in gold. MUSIC. If silk had a voice, it would sound like the song acts for the night—grand, frictionless, and lustrous. Te cast included Asia’s Got alent Runner-up Gerphil Flores, Philippine Opera Company (directed by Floy Quintos), and renowned tenor Francisco Aseniero. A few pieces that heard revival were the Bell Song from the opera Lakmé and ‘O Sole Mio. FOOD. No celebration is without feast. Featuring culinary creations by Executive Chef Luis Pesarrodona and Chinese Chef Ken Leung, the dinner started with dishes from Italy, Middle East, to China, recalling the path Marco Polo wandered in. Each of the dishes had a song—a feast for all senses. n PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS The media preview opened strong with the opera gala’s front acts. Renee Salud’s works then glamm ed up the runway. Gerphil Flores made an appearance and offered a song. Samples of the dishes were served buffet-style before the show. The artists pose with Marco Polo General Manager Frank Reichenbach. Photos by Mariah Nerona.
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24
MABUHAY MAGAZINE | MAY 2016
By JOANNE VILLANUEVA
Tales from the Silk Road
“IDID NOT TELL HALF OF
WHAT I SAW, FOR I KNEW
I WOULD NOT BE BELIEVED.”
Tese were among the last few words
Marco Polo had to exhale on his
deathbed, in response to the few who
found his travelogue fallacious.
Tere’s a lot to tell about a 24-year-
chronicle in the East, which the West
was probably not ready to hear then; or
it might just be the prose of romantic
author Rustichello, to whom Marco
Polo dictated his stories. Fiction or
otherwise, Te ravels of Marco Polo
has been regarded as an important
account in history, the encounter of
the West and the East, and has since
influenced a whole new generation
of explorers, including Christopher
Columbus.
Marco Polo has since been a phrase,
becoming a namesake for a pool game
of tag, a 2014 television series, and
one of Asia’s leading companies in
the hospitality business: Marco Polo
Hotels.
Before becoming a hotel, it was
originally a restaurant frequented
by travelers. Alluding to its market,
Marco Polo Hotels seeks to embody
the ethos of discovery that its
namesake represents, and create
unique experiences for each of its
visiting guests.
As they celebrate their second
anniversary, Marco Polo Hotels
relieved the famous traveler’s cultural
journey down the Silk Road, retold
through a night of fashion, food, and
music in “Silken Voices, Silken Roads:
An Open Gala Dinner,” held last April
18 at the hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
General Manager Frank Reichenbach
announced in a media preview last
March 30 that they plan to make the
celebration an annual affair.
FASHION. “Fusion” has always been a
key element for fashion designer Renee
Salud, whose pop meets classic
style, which he calls “culturally
hip,” perfectly presented the
meeting of East
and the West.
His fondness for
indigenous Filipino
décor also shows
in his choice of
fabrics and rich
accessorizing. Te
runway served
stage to diverse
looks that somehow
managed to feel
like a sophisticated
collection. Tese
include a whimsical
set of mid-thigh
dresses, layered
with a Western
stylization of East
Asia’s traditional
loose, long sleeves;
a line of mermaid
dresses; and black dresses accentuated
by patterns in gold.
MUSIC. If silk had a voice, it would
sound like the song acts for the
night—grand, frictionless, and lustrous.
Te cast included Asia’s Got alent
Runner-up Gerphil Flores,
Philippine Opera Company
(directed by Floy Quintos),
and renowned tenor
Francisco Aseniero. A few
pieces that heard revival
were the Bell Song from the
opera Lakmé and ‘O Sole
Mio.
FOOD. No celebration is
without feast. Featuring
culinary creations by
Executive Chef Luis
Pesarrodona and Chinese
Chef Ken Leung, the
dinner started with dishes from Italy,
Middle East, to China, recalling the
path Marco Polo wandered in. Each of
the dishes had a song—a feast for all
senses. n
PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS
The media preview opened strong with
the opera gala’s front acts. Renee Salud’s
works then glamm ed up the runway.
Gerphil Flores made an appearance and
offered a song. Samples of the dishes
were served buffet-style before the
show. The artists pose with Marco Polo
General Manager Frank Reichenbach.
Photos by Mariah Nerona.
25
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