Celebrating one year of living your freedom, lyf, the extraordinary experience-led co-living hospitality brand of Ascott Limited, capped off the month of August with back-to-back, year-defining events that saw both its properties in lyf Malate Manila and lyf Cebu City soar to new heights.
The unprecedented event was supported by The Ascott Limited headquarters and other VIPs such as Ms. Sophie Mogul, The Ascott Limited’s Vice President of Strategy, and Regional General Manager of Philippines & Malaysia, Ms. Adeline Phua, the Vice President and Managing Partner of lyf, as well as Ms. Chia Chu, the Associated Vice President of Operations for lyf.
They were also joined by The Ascott Limited Philippines property partners, Cebu Landmasters in lyf Cebu and Mr. Tomas Lorenzo of Torre Lorenzo in lyf Malate, alongside esteemed representatives of the Department of Tourism. Together with the amazing community behind lyf, the two-day festivities on August 29 and 30 culminated with spectacular performances, delectable delights, heartwarming messages, and record-breaking achievements awarded to both properties after their herculean efforts.
An upcycled Masterpiece preluded by the Ephemeral Thresher Shark Display
The celebration began at the Queen City of the South on August 29, where the Thresher Sharks, a majestic symbol of the property and the island, were given the spotlight beyond the already beautiful giant mural on the façade. 
On that day, 12,479 carefully folded origami sharks swam through the corners of lyf Cebu; Mr. Kazuyoshi Kirimura, the official Guinness World Record adjudicator, appreciated the incredible effort and recognized the titular property with the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the “Largest Display of Origami Sharks.”
lyf’s brilliant conservation partner, Save Philippine Seas, was also present to impart their invaluable knowledge to the wonderful community of lyf during the event, sharing how we can all play an active role in protecting the Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias Pelagiucs) endemic to Cebu’s local waters, in doing so preserving its vibrant ecosystem.
“Today marks a pivotal achievement for us, and we are very grateful for our fantastic community for coming together and finding a new place to belong here in lyf Cebu City,” said Rey Vergel Mulat, the lyf Champion and residence manager of lyf Cebu City “Beyond the celebration, we also take pride in our continued commitment to sustainability practices as stewards of responsible hospitality.”
Despite the monumental achievement of solidifying lyf as the number one specialty lodging in the city, the property still has big plans just around the corner. Guests are encouraged to take their time appreciating the masterfully made paperwork as the temporary display will be upcycled into an even grander art piece that will be revealed in an event that you will want to attend.
A Thrilling lyf Full of Stars
On the evening of Friday, August 30, lyf Malate Manila also picked up on the celebration and, in true lyf fashion, invited and called upon their community to a star-themed event that commemorated Filipinos worldwide. During the event, those in attendance also witnessed lyf history. Through the arduous effort of everyone, from the regulars of lyf to the several Ascott Limited properties nationwide that lent their support to the property, an astounding 100,000 origami stars transformed into a masterful and artistic paperwork display that made lyf Malate into a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title holder for the “Largest Display of Origami Stars.”
The momentous occasion also celebrated the country’s history by including the traditional wooden Balangay and galleons in the artistic vision. Used by the ancestral Filipinos, guided by the stars during ancient seafaring voyages across the Pacific islands and the Philippine galleon trade from 1565 to 1815, that celebrates the Philippines as the vital link connecting Europe through Spain, Asia through the Philippines, and the Americas through Mexico.
Throughout the night, there was an uncanny energy in the air, starting from “lyf Centrale,” the community market of the property that was chock-full of collaboration that showcased a superb lineup of products to the awarding of the highly acclaimed accolade.
The evening of celebrations was further elevated by the spectacular after-party, which saw multiple showstopping performances from Philippine Billboard top 100 artists Maki and Over October, together with the sensational beats of renowned DJ Rammy Bitong, the storied Malvar Street of lyf Malate was the place to be that Friday.
“Words cannot do justice to what was achieved by lyf and its community in these two days,” said Joyce Agsaway, lyf Champion and Director of Operational Excellence for lyf Malate Manila. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, a dream that became a miraculous reality through the phenomenal effort of the most outstanding community, colleagues, and partners anyone could hope for.”
Much like its sister property, lyf Malate has no plans on resting on its laurels. It has also partnered up with Junknot’s Willie Garcia, a creative out-of-the-box artist, to upcycle the origami sharks and stars into a stellar new display for all to enjoy, so be sure to watch for the next big thing they’ll have planned for you together with their vibrant and ever-growing community.
