Prewar era ANC comes back to life as Rizal Park Hotel

WHO would have thought that the historic Army and Navy Club (ANC) in Manila, the first American social club to be established in the Philippines in 1911, will be restored into an elegant five-star boutique hotel?

History enthusiasts, heritage advocates, war veterans, their families and descendants, and ordinary people from all walks of life who have fond memories of the once elegant and world-class watering hole of colonial-era American officers and servicemen in Manila now have a new home in the name of Rizal Park Hotel (RPH).

The old Manila Army and Navy Club was originally designed as rest and recreation area for the exclusive use of the US military personnel and civilians, and later Filipinos. It was the site of many important events in Philippine-American relations.

Fast forward to the 1960s, the building served as the city architect’s office until it showed signs of crumbling. It was then used as a manufacturing site for the city’s Christmas lanterns, thereby contributing more to the building’s decay until it was resurrected as a warehouse for the City Hall and became part of the short-lived Museo de Manila.

July 26, 2017 marks the historic return of the old Army and Navy Club as the new Rizal Park Hotel, which can now be considered as a vital piece of the Philippines’ national pride and history. RPH maintained the building’s original character but added more modern facilities and amenities available to the public.

The hotel features 110 beautifully designed rooms with unique colonialera design that takes its guests to a trip down memory lane in pure comfort, luxury and bliss. It also has a fully equipped dining, wellness, fitness, coffee shop, and a sky bar present to cater both the local and foreign tourists.