A German Oktoberfest calls for a crowd and this year, the country’s big-name revelers filled the grand festival ballroom at Newport World Resorts’ Hilton Manila, October 19 to 21. From social media personalities to industry icons and everyone in between, all arrived eager to eat, drink, and party until midnight in the integrated resort’s three-night celebration of the global beer fest.
In true Oktoberfest tradition, everybody cheered “O’zapft is!” once Newport World Resorts Chairman Kevin L. Tan with CEO and President Kingson Sian tapped the first beer barrel of the festival – the official signal to get the party started.
Showbiz heartthrob Daniel Matsunaga was in attendance as were popular radio DJ Slick Rick and TV host Rovilson Fernandez; each with their own enthusiastic entourage. Marlon Stockinger felt right at home with his Swiss German roots. The Formula 1 racing driver got up front to cheer friends on during the beer chugging contest, hosted by German-Filipina Eiffeline Howard. Digital creator Roxy Delevin and host James Deakin danced the night away to German pop folk music – and an impressive rendition of classic Filipino songs – by the AnTon Showband with Anton himself sporting wacky inflatable costumes and limitless energy. Bouts of laughter and massive beer steins were in abundance all over the Ballroom at Hilton Manila. Hundreds of liters of German beer, produced by the Weihenstephan Brewery, were served across the three nights.
Also spotted during the festival were Newport World Resorts Chief Marketing Officer David Jorden and VP for F&B Operations Knut Becker with Hilton Manila General Manager John Lucas, decked out in traditional lederhosen; key players in making the occasion as momentous as it was.
The German Ambassador, Hon. Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke; Leanne Calixto-Rubiano, daughter of Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano; and notable members of German Club Manila showed their support and further graced the celebrations with their presence.
All throughout, a full spread of German cuisine kept on coming, under the award-winning culinary duo of Newport World Resorts Director for Culinary Chef Mateo Ragonjan and Hilton Manila Executive Chef Ryan Hong.
This debut Oktoberfest celebration, alongside bustling nightlife affairs and an ever-transforming gastronomic landscape, marks Newport World Resorts as a prime must-experience destination all year round.