Ideally located, the "wi-fi ready" Suites is also walking distance to the St. Peter’s Church on Timog Avenue and Sacred Heart Parish Church off Kamuning Road, to the ABS-CBN Studio and GMA 7, to the fun spots (Ratsky’s on Tomas Morato, Padi’s Point right on the Rotunda, Laffline on Timog Avenue, etc.), and to the massage parlors (highly-recommended are Family Spa near Teriyake Boy and MTO Foot/Back Massage on Timog Avenue near the St. Peter’s Church).
Araneta Center and SM North EDSA are only one jeepney ride away.
"It’s very convenient here," said Herbert Williams, general-manager of the IPS as he handed me the key to the Opal Room (6120 for a complimentary overnight stay. "You don’t even have to leave the hotel. There’s a kidney-shaped swimming pool at the rooftop, beside the Penthouse if you want to take a dip or to bask in the sun. Nearby is the Fitness Center. There’s a massage room at the third floor. You can have meals at the Pool Bar."
Or order "delivery" from any of the eateries mentioned earlier.
I opted to bring my own baon of dried pork with steamed white rice, caimito and sugar-free iced-tea (burp!), saying "thank you" to the offer of Mr. Williams and Regal Matriarch Mother Lily (who co-owns the place) to order "anything," compliments of the house.
Opal Room is one of the five at the sixth floor which have been remodelled (to the tune of $26,5000 each) into deluxe suites that make you feel, yes, "five-star." Amenities include soft beds (queen king-size or queen-size), a luxurious bath/shower room that reminded me of Four Seasons in Beverly Hills (where most of the Hollywood press junkets are held) and...what else?...well, the pictures on this page and Page 8 can better help you visualize the deluxe suites. Very nice for a weekend break with your loved ones. Each suite has a door to an adjoining room equipped with two beds and its own amenities.
"Staying in these new suites gives you the feeling of being in a deluxe hotel," said Mr. Williams. "With the five deluxe suites completed, the rest of IPS’ 204 suites are also undergoing total renovation, however at a slightly lower budget. Most of the suites will be ready by next month."
IPS is associated with the renowned international brand ACCOR whose Sofitel now manages the Philippine Plaza Hotel.
"Also going full blast construction of a new Conference/Meeting Room at the ground level," added Mr. Williams. "The lobby Cafe (Imperial) will soon get a facelift, too."
So there I was at the Opal Room, again watching from my sixth-floor window the neon lights starting to light up the surrounding places as dusk started to fall.
I watched an old Elizabeth Taylor movie on TCM channel and capped my "complimentary" night by finishing the last chapters of The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion’s new masterpiece on the art of grieving, on the soft queen-size bed, feeling five-star as I drifted off to sweet slumber.
(Note: Imperial Palace Suites offers an introductory rate of P4,919.00 net per night on each of the five deluxe rooms. For inquries and reservations, call 927-8001 to 05 or 411-0116.)
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)