THE EARLY DAYS
The Peninsula Manila opened on September 14th, 1976 just in time for the International Monetary Fund Conference of that same year, and is the oldest hotel in Makati City, now the Philippines' financial capital. It was the first member of the Peninsula family to be established outside of Hong Kong and has become the mainstay of the city's social scene, being the venue of choice for balls, weddings, and other important events. In the year of its 45th Anniversary, we delve into some of the stories behind this famed establishment.
The Peninsula Manila opened on September 14th, 1976 just in time for the International Monetary Fund Conference of that same year, and is the oldest hotel in Makati, the Philippines' financial capital. It was the first member of the Peninsula family to be established outside of Hong Kong and has become the mainstay of the city's social scene, being the venue of choice for balls, weddings, and other important events. In the year of its 45th Anniversary, we delve into some of the stories behind this famed establishment.
When President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines set out in early 1973 in his bid to host the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank Conference, he quickly came to the realisation that the country's capital would need to undergo a dramatic transformation in order to impressively host the thousands of international delegates that would subsequently flock to Manila for the high profile event.
The Philippines was then experiencing an unprecedented seven percent growth in GNP at a time when the rest of the world was facing an economic slowdown. This growth led, in part, to Marcos' plan to put the country and its capital firmly on both the tourist and investment maps.
Having successfully secured several high-profile events, a frenetic phase of building began that would transform the skyline of the metropolis. In order to host international events such as the Miss Universe pageant in 1974, Marcos gave the green light for the 77-day construction of the massive Folk Arts Theater. Another world media event in 1975, the ‘Thrilla in Manila' that pitted Muhammed Ali against Joe Frazier in one of the greatest boxing matches of all time, was a definitive publicity coup, intended to showcase the country's hospitality and its readiness to host major gatherings that would garner worldwide media attention.
Tourism seemed to be a political safe haven and a sector that appealed to all persuasions and businesses.
Brutalism, one of the 20th century's most controversial architectural movements, was of the modernist style that appealed to the Marcos' at the time and many buildings were built in ever more grandiose interpretations with spiralling costs. The Philippine International Convention Center and the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions rose from the reclamation of part of Manila Bay and nearly all construction and infrastructure in the city was being developed with considerable attention to potential impact on tourism.
In late 1974, Marcos was informed that the IMF had indeed chosen Manila for its convention. All pretense of an orderly and phased development went by the wayside, and there ensued a mad scramble to build hotels for the estimated 5,000 delegates who were expected to descend on the city. Makati was still a fledgling business district, which was predominantly comprised of greenbelt high-end residential enclaves, but its proximity to the convention facilities on the Manila Bay reclamation made it an ideal location to build new luxury hotels that would accommodate the delegates and facilitate the expected growth of the new central business district going forward.
The seductive allure of hosting these VIPs, even if just for a week, led to a frenetic effort to build 12 luxury hotels in just 18 months, in spite of the fact that this growth was supposed to be staggered as tourism grew. In 1974 there were only a couple of luxury hotels in the city, including the famed colonial-style Manila Hotel and the relatively new InterContinental hotel in Makati. Marcos turned to the business elite in the city, encouraging them to help fill the gap and build hospitality properties that would reflect the stability, prosperity, and beauty of the Philippines.
Two such businessmen had been toying with the idea of building a luxury hotel in Manila for some time. The hardworking, self-made textile mogul, Patricio Luis ‘P.L.' Lim and his best friend and industrialist Carlos ‘Charlie' Palanca, Jr., were already discussing bringing the famed Peninsula brand to the country. Both men were of a generation who had seen the country endure times of isolation, war, devastation, and eventually, prosperity.
It was Lim who persuaded the Kadoories (owners of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited) to open a Peninsula hotel in Manila. The family was reticent at first, as there was the matter of funding to consider, as well as the issue of whether they had the appropriate resources and manpower needed to open a second Peninsula to the standards that would be expected of such an iconic institution.
Following a great deal of negotiation, construction began in earnest. Lim and Palanca wanted to embody the best of The Peninsula Hong Kong, whilst imbuing it with a distinctive Filipino aesthetic. As such, they turned to the leading architects, interior designers and landscapers of the day to help fulfil their vision. Having secured the land from the Ayala family, they immediately called upon the international hospitality architectural firm, Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong & Goo, now known as WATG. The job had to be completed within a mere 18 months, with a definite opening date set in stone to coincide with the IMF convention.
The first overseas Peninsula was duly completed and opened on September 14th, 1976.
An important factor of the original design of the hotel was to celebrate the sense of entry, with a large lobby as the centrepiece of the project. The Lobby's soaring four-storey space contained a number of restaurants and lounge spaces that provided ample opportunities for guest dining and entertainment experiences and which would become the hub for Manila's business elite and high society.
“The Peninsula is the only hotel I go to in Manila. As a matter of fact, I'm here every single day. I have a group of friends and colleagues who've been habitues of The Bar since the 1980s,” says businessman Vic Campa, who has been a patron of the hotel since it first opened. I have clinched numerous business deals at The Lobby which is practically “my office”, while I consider The Peninsula Manila as my second home.”
Dr. Mila How, another patron since the early 1980s, concurs. “The Lobby is my favourite spot in the hotel where I hold my business meetings even at 4:00 am. There are three reasons why I love the Manila Pen: everyone is friendly; the music of The Pen Strings at The Lobby relaxes me; and the helipad is made available for me when the traffic really gets bad. This hotel is like a second home where I always feel welcome. Even the dog at the entrance gives me a big smile each time I arrive.”
In the earlier days of the hotel, other than The Lobby and Old Manila, The Peninsula's restaurants went through a number of incarnations. La Bodega, reminiscent of a rustic Spanish cellar was the casual dining outlet, which later became Nielsen's, and is today Escolta, famed for its bountiful buffets served throughout the day. Tipanan was a lounge with a poolside view, often referred to as “the swingiest place in town”, and is now Spices. What is currently Salon de Ning (opened in 2010) began as Quimbaya, an elegant supper club, before becoming The Chesa, which served predominantly Swiss dishes; and then an Italian restaurant, Mi Piace. In the midst of all these transformations, there was one constant: Old Manila, the hotel's flagship fine dining outlet, serving the finest continental cuisine for the past 45 years.
The Peninsula Manila has become a gracious city retreat. As it celebrates its 45th Anniversary, it has borne witness to much of the nation's history, from hosting the IMF in 1976, through the turbulent years leading up to the peaceful People Power Revolution of 1986, to the country's rise as one of the most dynamic emerging markets in Asia.
The Peninsula stands out in a city where a classically elegant hotel with international standards is highly appreciated. A reliable haven of luxury accommodation and popular restaurants, the hotel is as much a favourite with the local cognoscenti as it is with visiting guests. The Peninsula Manila is exceptional amongst its peers, its imposing architecture reflecting the impressive service within. And likewise, the impressions and foresight of two best friends are still an inseparable part of the hotel and indeed the city's DNA.