MANILA, Philippines - HSBC hosted a prosperity party at the ballroom of the Shangri-La?s Mactan Island Resort and Spa in appreciation of its numerous prosperous friends and clients in Cebu and neighboring areas.

Here for the celebration was CEO Mark Watkinson with his lovely wife Sarah, as well as top executives from Manila like Mimi Concha, Junie Veloso and Johanna Garcia.

A huge prosperity tree, contrived to have as many branches as possible, dominated the party scene. Upon arrival, guests were given a small orange attached to a cord with a card for a wish list. The idea was to toss the orange to the tree. If it got caught on a twig, heaven knows what desires would be granted.

One couldn?t help but chuckle upon overhearing a typical exchange. ?What did you wish for?? asked one guest to a pretty girl. ?Secret,? she said. ?Oh I know,? he countered. ?No, you don?t, and never will,? she said, with a twinkle in her eye.

Leading us to the tree was Debbie Marie Dy Realiza, who heads HSBC?s operations in this part of the Philippine map, with office at the Cebu Business Park. She was in a stunning champagne-colored creation by Ronald Villavelez, one of Cebu?s top designers and a favorite of many Manila socialites.

Surrounding Debbie were top Cebu executives like Tata Callara; Ruan Alino, who heads the Banilad branch; the Premiere banking belles?Angeli Uy, Christine Wong, Tisha Mellado; and Tess Maribao who heads the Personal Banking section.

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Francisco Benedicto attended and sat with UK Honorary Consul Moya Jackson, Cebu taipan Benson Dakay with daughter Re-Re Dakay, and Don Tertuliano Tolentino Sr.

To liven things up, there was a dragon dance with cymbals clashing, drums beating, and much hand clapping. It was the prelude to the next part of the evening: dinner. The doors of the ballroom were thrown open, and there were various stations to choose food from.

The best was the table with Chinese specialties. The jellyfish was deliciously fresh. Raves went to the steamed white chicken and its accompanying sauce of aromatic oil and shredded ginger. I took nothing else!

Ramon Jacinto and his group played a full program of hits from yesterday and today. First on the dance floor was Johanna Garcia. Later, one couldn?t drop a pin on that parquet flooring.

There were prizes galore?for the early birds as well as for the best dressed, among them Martina Go Ching Hai in flaming red, and Johanna Lhuillier in silvery brocade.

Johanna was hardly back at her seat when her husband, Michael Lhuillier, was called on stage to get the evening?s plum prize: a television set with a gigantic screen.