Chase Cokaliong toasts with guests during his 34th Birthday celebration at Mott 32 in Nustar Resort and Casino, Cebu City on May 20, 2023.
The scion of the family behind the Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. threw a birthday bash like no other when he gave away a whopping P1.5 million cash, a brand new car and some appliances.
“It was a very busy day,” Chase said.
Hundreds trooped to the SM Seaside on Saturday, May 20, where Chase gave away exciting prizes.
Chase with wife Tritzie and daughter Cali and son Cade.
“During the “spin a wheel”, we gave away cash prizes totaling P1.5 million, a Toyota Wigo which is worth around P650,000, a MacBook, and a television set,” said Chase.
Chase said he wanted a unique birthday celebration, something that would make people happy.
From left: Gareth Edwards, Jewelle Yeung, Chris McKowen, Phil Mugglestone, and Chase Cokaliong.
All in all, Chase’s giveaways reached at least P2.5 million. “I was very overwhelmed. I didn’t expect that many people to go and the crowd was into it,” he said.
It wasn’t the first time that Chase gave away prizes and he assured that last Saturday’s giving spree was not the last.
From left: Blake Go, Divine Lee, Tonette Carcel, Kaye Abad, Paul Jake Castillo.
“Every year, I will do something that will make the people happy. We always give actually. We want to make it a normal thing that even if it's not my birthday, we will give something to the people,” he said.
Last year, Chase said his giveaways reached about P100,000 but he upped the ante this year.
So what can the people expect from Chase next year? “Definitely, there will be something. That’s in the works already,” he said.
From left: Cheryl Ho, Congresswoman Cindi Chan, Katherine Ho with Tritzie and Chase Cokaliong.
For his birthday wish, Chase is asking for the family business to grow stronger. “I wish for myself more success because the more I get, the more I can give. That’s my principle in life,” Chase said.
From left, Congresswoman Cindi Chan, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, Marguerite Lhuillier and Chase Cokaliong.
After an eventful celebration at SM Seaside, Chase then treated his family, close friends, and business partners to a grand birthday party at Mott 32 in Nustar Resort and Casino.
The nine-course dinner was highlighted by another raffle. Five guests won P5,000 each and 10 others got P10,000 each.
Brian Llamanzares, Chase Cokaliong, and Slater Young.
One guest went home with the top purse amounting to P34,000.
Chase Cokaliong with Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Congressman Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco.
Adding spice to the party was the presence of Katherine Ho, who serenaded the crowd with several songs—both in English and in Mandarin.
Ho sang an original, “19,” capped her performance with a Mandarin cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow,” as heard in “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Katherine Ho, a singer known for her performance of Coldplay's Yellow in Mandarin Chinese for the 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians, serenades the crowd during Chase Cokaliong’s 34th Birthday celebration at Mott 32 in Nustar Resort and Casino, Cebu City on May 20, 2023.
Ho is known for her performance of Coldplay’s Yellow in Mandarin Chinese for the 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians.
Photos by Jacqueline Hernandez