Starting today, The Manila Peninsula will host an exhibition of artwork curated by furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue at the lobby featuring acclaimed Filipino artists BenCab, Elmer Borlongan, Impy Pilapil, Plet Bolipata and Ramon Orlina, along with Kenneth’s own works. Select pieces from the collections of some of the finest contemporary Filipino galleries such as Artinformal, Avellana Art Gallery, Galleria Duemila, Silverlens, The Drawing Room and Tin–aw will also be on display.
All the pieces will be auctioned on Oct. 1, by official auction partner Christie’s and Jonathan Stone, the venerable auction house’s chairman and International Head of Asian Art. All proceeds will be donated to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc., which is rehabilitating the Breast Care Center of East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.
At the conclusion of last year’s campaign, The Peninsula Manila raised P5,900,000— seed money that will be used to rehabilitate the Breast Care Center of the government-run East Avenue Medical Center. The center currently services 30-50 patients in a space that can barely accommodate 20 individuals. The three-phased plan for the center will include enlarging the reception area, adding another wing as well as building a second floor, and purchasing 20 chemotherapy infusion chairs to supplement the two La-Z Boy recliners that they have.
“In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer,” says The Peninsula Manila general manager Sonja Vodusek. “One in every 13 Filipinos falls victim to it and as a woman, a sister, a daughter and the general manager of an institution that has worked for nearly 40 years with various local organizations to help make a difference in the lives of Filipino people, I believe very strongly in the fight against this terrible disease.”
This is the impetus behind The Peninsula Manila’s continuing partnership with the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc. as the charity of choice for its Art of Pink fundraising efforts. The hotel is also partnering with The Estée Lauder Companies, whose Breast Cancer Awareness campaign is devoted to defeating breast cancer through education and medical research, and Pink for Life Foundation Inc., a non-profit non-stock charitable foundation whose mission is to provide deeply discounted chemotherapy treatment for patients with Stage 1 to 2 breast cancer.
On October, the hotel’s fountain, main entrances and guardian door lions of the hotel will be artfully illuminated in pink each evening. An exclusive Peninsula in Pink ribbon pin will also be available for sale at the lobby for P250, with a portion from each pin sold donated to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc.
They will also be introducing The Art of Pink Peninsula Afternoon Tea at the lobby, featuring rose-tinted sweet and savory treats presented on a tiered platter for P1,250 or from a buffet for P1,680. In addition, the Pink Afternoon Tea offers may be paired with a glass of rosé Champagne at P1,980 for the set or at P2,350 for the buffet. For every The Art of Pink Peninsula Afternoon Tea sold, guests will receive a Peninsula in Pink ribbon pin and a donation will be made to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc.
A special themed pink dessert will also be on offer in all the hotel’s restaurants throughout October: “Pink Belle,” an airy confection of ivory chocolate, strawberry, mascarpone and Madagascar vanilla for P490, including a Peninsula in Pink ribbon pin. More pink pastries are available at The Peninsula Boutique at P190 each. For every pink dessert sold, a donation will be made to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc.