BIZ BUZZ: Dancing queen

Gary Valenciano’s performance during the partners’ night and 35th-anniversary party of township developer Megaworld Corp. was so infectious that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos just had to get up from her seat and dance to the music.

And since Mrs. Marcos was clearly enjoying herself, the other A-listers at the party followed suit and grooved to the music of Mr. Pure Energy, including Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) CEO Kevin L. Tan and AGI chair Andrew L. Tan, who was just too happy to bust a move to celebrate the anniversary of the property company he founded in 1989.

The glittering affair held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom last Wednesday night gathered some 400 of Megaworld’s partners as well as friends and associates of the Tan family who enjoyed the sumptuous dishes from the hotels and restaurants of AGI.

Among those present at the festive occasion were SM Investments Corp. vice chair Tessie Sy-Coson, Megawide Group CEO Edgar Saavedra, Philippine Stock Exchange and 7-11 chair Jose T. Pardo, Rizal Commercial and Banking Corp. CEO Eugene Acevedo, and Araneta Group CEO Jorge L. Araneta, who gamely danced with the First Lady, who’s a close relative, after all.

The other business leaders may not have given in to the temptation to rush to the makeshift dance floor near the first lady, but safe to say that they had a good time, too. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao

5-star hotel for CDO soon

Cagayan de Oro (CDO) will soon get its own five-star hotel—thanks to a homegrown developer based in the neighboring island group.

Cebu-based developer AppleOne Inc. is making CDO even more of an enticing destination after partnering with global hotel chain Radisson Hotel Group to build the city’s first five-star hotel and internationally branded residences.

“We intend to replicate in CDO what we have successfully started in Cebu and in all other areas where we operate—which is to contribute to the local economy and further boost the region’s tourism sector,” AppleOne president and CEO Ray Go Manigsaca said in a statement.

Radisson Blu Hotel and Residences will rise within CDO’s uptown area and will have around 717 keys.

Of course, this is just one of many other luxury hotels in AppleOne’s Cebu-focused portfolio.

The developer is behind Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and Mahi Center, as well as the newly opened JW Marriott Panglao Island Resort and Residences, the first five-star luxury hotel in Bohol province.

What’s also keeping us excited is Manigsaca’s statement that this is only their first partnership with Radisson, as they’re “currently in talks for another project with the brand that is worth looking forward to.” Well, we are definitely looking forward to it. —MEG J. ADONIS