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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider People and Events devider A toast to the departing and arriving Cathay Pacific Philippine chief

A toast to the departing and arriving Cathay Pacific Philippine chief

"Hail and Farewell" is a tradition of this five-star airline

Published Aug 29, 2023 08:14 am
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Donald Morris, Cathay Pacific Philippines country manager 

Held at the Ayala Museum, Makati, the Hail and Farewell event has been a tradition of the five-star airline, and it offers a toast to their outgoing and incoming country manager. This was not carried out when the present Country Manager of the Philippines Donald Morris when he started his duty in 2021—as it was the height of pandemic. But the Cathay Pacific Philippine team made sure that during the reception, he would feel how much he was appreciated, valued, and loved, and that he will be sorely missed when he move to South Korea for his next tour of duty.

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Jojo Veneracion , CX Philippines People team head hands over to Donald a Filipino belen as a token to remind him of the Philippines

Donald, whose post at the Flight Operations Dept in Hong Kong before Philippines, has been to over 50 countries visiting almost all countries in the Cathay Pacific network. He has a young family, with the eldest being a boy. He welcomed their second child, a daughter, when he was assigned here in the country.

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Donald extends a hand to Vishnu and presented him a golf set and a painting as a welcome gifts

Donald warmly welcomed incoming Country Manager of Philippines Vishnu Rajendran who will start his official tenure early part of September. Vishnu seems to be comfortable in the Filipino setting as he had worked with Pinoy colleagues while working in Dubai. Even his favorite dishes are very Filipino such as Bicol Express and Sisig.

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Vishnu shares some thoughts on his forthcoming residency in the Philippines 

Vishnu who is currently the Area Manager in The Middle East, based in Dubai, has been with Cathay Pacific since 2008. As a friendly warning by his future Philippine team, an audio visual presentation was prepared for him on what to expect in the Philippines.  The AVP material which elicited laughter from the guests cautioned Vishnu on the challenging internet connection, traffic after a rain, Christmas starts in September, Filipinos eat five times in a day and the Cathay Pacific Philippine team committed that it’s going to be really fun in the Philippines for Vishnu. 

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Guests were treated to an exclusive preview of the exhibit 
Splendor: Juan Luna

The private but intimate reception treated guests to a mouth watering spread prepared by Bizu. But one of the most appreciated segment of the party was a pre event treat, as Cathay Pacific Philippines booked an exclusive preview of the exhibit Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero. 

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Donald and Vishnu and some of the CX Philippine team
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CX Phils Assistant Marketing Manager Anna Maria Lee  with Manila Times Blanca Calilung Mercado, Roda Alonzo-Zabat together, and Manila Bulletin's Badette Cunanan
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Mouth watering array of Chinese dumplings and other  specialties were served

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