PARTY IBIZA-STYLE Spanish "dinner-theater" at its best at Cebu’s Moevenpick Hotel
Words by Reggie Rullan // Photos by GabRIELLE Borromeo
The Cebu entertainment and culinary scene has "changed," to say the least, since the Ibiza party scene was introduced by the Moevenpick Hotel and Resort, complete with enthralling shows that showcase local singing and fire-dancing talents who exclusively perform at the Ibiza Beach Club. The Moevenpick’s Ibiza concept focuses on highlighting performance—and this is where the conceptualizers of this kind of entertainment, Manny Osmeña and Paco Beltran, prove that Cebu entertainers are world-class. Beltran himself was brought in from Ibiza, Spain. Ibiza is a three-island paradise which treats the whole day as just one big great party. The challenge for Beltran was to enhance the amazement within the already amazing scenery that Moevenpick created in Mactan, Cebu, Philippines.
Setting the stage To create his perfect party atmosphere, Beltran created a wish list. First, he asked for the most alluring lighting system, one that is colorful but is not glaring to the eyes.
Then he put up a powerful sound system, one that is easy to the ears, allowing the customers to talk while the music is playing loud enough to be heard and enjoyed by everyone else. Then he had designers come up with head-turning costumes, as colorful and beautiful like a fashion show right before one's eyes. In other words, together, Osmeña and Beltran created an all-out entertainment package. I’ve watched the show three times over a year, and I can say that the same performers each earned a 100-percent increase in skill complemented by the lighting, video, sound, music, and choreography. Their performance is a wonder to behold. It then is not surprising that Moevenpick’s Ibiza has received invitations to perform from other international hotels. It has become a farm of talents, a place where talent and skill are honed and nurtured. Beltran says they are now looking for more performers with great potential and whom they can train, in order to bring their shows to other hotels and resorts outside of the country.
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Feasting and fun Performers dance to popular music ranging from Latin, Brazilian, Broadway, pop, and retro, while appreciative guests dine on Brazilian barbecues or churrascoes and other culinary delights.
As of this writing, the shows have become a mixture of dinner and theater at the Ibiza Beach Club. Performers dance to popular music ranging from Latin, Brazilian, Broadway, pop, and retro, while appreciative guests dine on Brazilian
6 1 Lounge around or enjoy the morning sun and relaxing breeze outside of the Ibiza Beach Club at Moevenpick Hotel, Mactan Island, Cebu 2 Bask in modern architectural wonder that Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu offers, especially during the night time 3 Wine and dine at the swanky Ibiza Beach Club and be allured by its soothing interiors 4 Paco Beltran, one of the geniuses behind the Ibiza beach party concept of the hotel 5 Seafood Tabouleh, one of the many favorites at Moevenpick's Sails Restaurant 6 Performers like these ones dance to the beat of a diverse set of music, courtesy of Ibiza Beach Club's international DJ
EXPER IENCE TR AV EL A ND LI V ING // Vol. 2 No. 3 // 2015
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