Christmas in the Orient
While Christmas has been introduced by Western colonizers, many seem to forget that it originated from the Orient—the Middle east to be exact where the story of the Nativity of Jesus Christ sprung.
And when the tradition became part of the local culture, Filipinos have masterfully combined the best of both worlds to come up with the longest, warmest, happiest and most vibrant familyoriented celebration.
Such flair has been the guiding light of The Oriental Hotels and Resorts, one of the country’s fastest-growing home-grown hospitality chains, which recently held a simultaneous Christmas tree-lighting event in its properties across the archipelago to usher in the Advent Season.
Local musical talents regaled guests to spice up the evening— the Palo Ambassadors Orchestra at the Leyte resort, The Unknown Singers and Sinag Performing Arts from Sunny Hillside School at the Bataan hotel, and the Visually Impaired Voice in Albay (VIVA) of Malinao Central School at Proxy Hotel in Legazpi City.
Along with the musical nights and Paskong Pinoy-themed launch, the hotel group also launched Home for the Holidays, a value for money promo which runs until December 31 so families and barkadas can enjoy a fun and inexpensive Christmas break.
At just 11 years old, this all-filipino hospitality brand has already established its presence in key destinations with concept hotels which evoke the soul of the Orient and the Asian continent in its architecture, cuisine and ornaments.
Situated beside the iconic Mcarthur Landing Monument in Palo town, the four-star The Oriental Leyte is offering a P3,888 promo which includes overnight stay in a premier garden view room, breakfast for 2 persons, 10% discount at Samsara Restaurant, and The Spa.
While basking in its Indochinese-inspired resort atmosphere, you can take a night cruise at the colorfully-lit San Juanico Bridge, frolic in the waters of Leyte Gulf, be mesmerized by the hotel’s weekend evening fire dance, or cross the Strait into the natural hideaways of Samar.
Nestled at the foothills of Mt. Mariveles, The Oriental Bataan beckons with a P3,440 offering which covers an overnight accommodation, breakfast for 2 persons, and 10% discount at the dining outlets.
Travel back in time and revisit the World War II sites, hop around Bataan’s hidden beaches, watch the kaleidoscopic Manila Bay sunset, or take a lazy stroll at the hotel’s new vegetable farm and the greeneries of the free port Area.
Relish spice and everything nice in the Bicol region at Proxy Hotel in Legazpi City, with its irresistible P2,999 room package which includes breakfast for 2, free use of arcade, board games, and swimming pool, 10 % discount on tattoo and food and beverage.
The hip and chic hotel treats visitors to a stunning view of the perfect-coned Mayon Volcano, a circuit of exciting farm tourism sites with good food to boot, postcard-pretty Spanish-era baroque churches, ATV trail adventures, and whaleshark interaction in nearby Sorsogon.
And keeping with traditional holiday feasts, the hotel group has prepared special buffet menus topped with surprised offerings for Noche Buena, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve for family and friends.
Closer to the big city, the Thaithemed Oriental Luxury Suites at the Tagaytay Ridge is dangling a P1 room rate on the third night, which also covers use of swimming pool, private butler, and waived corkage for outside meals.
The ridgeside Thai-themed intimate vacation house has an unobstructed view of the scenic Taal Volcano and Lake, and a few minutes away from spas, gardens, championship golf courses, and restaurants sought-after for steaming bulalo, signature Tagaytay delights, and a wide array of highland specialties.
Last but not least, the newlyopened The Inns in Bacolod is enticing travel bugs to foray into the City of Smiles for only P999 net per room for 2 persons.
Standing right in the heart of the city, the contemporarylooking boutique business hotel is the most competitively-priced homebase in exploring the vast sugar fields, ancestral homes and museums, chicken inasal outlets, and mountain retreats of Negros Occidental.
With its network in key destinations, The Oriental Hotels and Resorts can also facilitate transfers among its properties for a seamless and memorable vacation for the holidays and beyond.