The Peninsula Manila reached another milestone in its history as it celebrated 40 years in the hospitality industry. Friends and patrons of the iconic hotel — which also happens to be the oldest in Makati — joined in the festivities, with no less than Sir Michael Kadoorie flying in just for the occasion. A philanthropist who is one of the wealthiest in Hong Kong, Kadoorie also happens to be the chairman of Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd., owner and operator of the Peninsula Hotel Group.
Over the years, the Manila Pen has developed a reputation for providing impeccable, sophisticated service marked by warmth that has made it a favorite of many guests, both local and foreign. From the time it opened its doors to the public in September 1976 — timed for Manila’s hosting of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund conference — the iconic hotel has played a prominent role in the lives of Filipinos who choose it as a venue for celebrating weddings, birthdays, reunions and other significant events.
One could say that the hotel has made an indelible mark in this country’s history when it was stormed by rebel soldiers in 2007 in what has become known as the “Manila Peninsula Siege” that saw the lobby and the walls shaken by gunfire. The hotel has since remarkably recovered to reclaim its standing as Makati’s Grand Dame of Hotels.
Aside from launching limited-edition heritage chocolates (featuring eight new flavors from local produce) and offering special “Ruby Room” packages to commemorate its 40th year, the Manila Pen demonstrates its core philosophy of philanthropy by turning over 75 fully-finished homes to families in Tanauan, Leyte, which was one of the most devastated during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Now known as The Peninsula-GK Village, the community made up of rainbow-colored houses is the culmination of the “Hope for the Philippines” campaign launched by the hotel more than two years ago through a $5-donation from every night of stay in all Peninsula hotels across Asia, and from the sales of halo-halo from the Manila Pen’s food and beverage outlets.