Motel chain shuts down for God

There will be fewer lovers’ trysts in Metro Manila as the owner of one of the most popular motel chains in the country said he had succumbed to “God’s will” and decided to padlock the last of his establishments.

Wyden King, chairman of Anito Hotels Inc. (AHI), said the closure of the 137-room Anito Arellano Kalookan in Bagong Barrio was the proverbial last nail on the coffin of his family’s decades-old motel business. The Kalookan branch, built in 1992, was the last in the chain of 14 Anito motels.

“The ways of the Lord are very strange and we can’t fully comprehend them. Many people, too, do not understand our letting go of this business,” King, 54, said.

“We did not want the devil’s mammon going into the family coffers,” said King, a born-again Christian.

He said the closure was also in celebration of the birth of his and his wife Antonia’s twin granddaughters.

He said the Kalookan branch was closed on July 17 or ahead of the Aug. 8 original schedule.

“We actually closed on July 17th. We were hoping our daughter would give birth on Aug. 8 but Antonia gave the final closure order when (the twins) were born on the 17th,” he said.

King dramatized his disdain for his old business by slashing with a knife the familiar red apple logo on the canvas signage that was brought down from its perch during ceremonies marking the Kalookan motel’s closure.

A white tarpaulin over the main gate read: “Anito Hotel closed for the glory of God.”

The closure was also a religious event attended by family and friends, and even former self-confessed patrons of the motel.

Pastors of the Caloocan Ministers Association (Camia) and the Metro Manila for Jesus Movement officiated at the religious ceremonies.

‘Devil’s altar’

The ceremonies included King’s sprinkling of water on a bed to exorcise “the devil’s presence.”

“The beds are altars to the demons. We have to destroy these altars of wickedness. We are redeeming (this place) from the gates of hell,” he said. “This is the reason why we need to close this business.”

King said the beds were mute witnesses to sins like abortion, suicide, incest and drug abuse, among others.

“I declare all the beds redeemed, (the hotel) totally closed and destroyed in the name of Jesus. I also destroy my covenant with the devil,” he said.

“Our love for mammon had blinded us all these years. I declare this covenant totally cancelled,” he declared.

King also asked forgiveness from city officials for encouraging corruption by offering bribes, among others, to promote his business.

‘God’s order’

King, who became a born-again Christian in 1992, said God told him to stop expanding in 1994. He said he tried to obey and put up everything for sale but “these were not enough” to make him give up the business. He started closing the first motel in Pasay in 1998.

“It took a long time to obey God. This (closure) was a fulfillment. It was not easy. But his grace sustained me. I knew I had to obey him,” he told his audience as he tried to hold back tears.

“I was blinded by money but it took the grace of the Lord to open my eyes. He found me. Yet it was a struggle to let go,” he said.

Multi-million earnings

King, who takes pride in being both a La Sallian and an Atenean, started the business some 30 years ago.

King told The STAR that the business was making more than P2-million a day before the oil crunch. He admitted that the current crisis had affected revenues but this was not why he gave up the business.

He said some 11,000 individuals “used” his motels daily and their “lives were ruined by falling into immorality using these rooms.”

Inspiring leadership

Delfin Sigua, AGC vice president who has stuck it out with King since the beginning, said he shares the man’s inspiring leadership, vision and values.

The mid-90s, he said, were a turning point in their pursuit for growth and excellence. King’s conversion brought a profound change to his outlook, especially in business.

“The passion to grow became ‘get out of the business’. We struggled. Anxiety, fear came but little by little we understood. We had no conscience to speak of. The end justified the means. We knew there was a big price to pay in this business,” Sigua said.

“If you are not with me, then we have to part ways,” King told him. He stayed on.

AGC soon became preoccupied with closing down the business. The next problem was how to deal with some 2,000 workers who faced job loss.

“King knew how to take care of his employees. He prepared them and made them share the same vision he had. He trained them as kingdom builders in the marketplace,” said Sigua.

“The people who come here (to the motels) do not pray because they do other things. The employees do,” said pastor Joshua Bontogon, Camia chairman.

King said he was sad because many employees decided to leave. He said some were absorbed by other businesses run by the family.

King told The STAR that he has not entirely left the hotel industry. Some of the motels have been retained and repackaged while a few others have been sold to interested buyers.

King said he still doesn’t know what to do with the Kalookan lodge.

Wyden and his brother Archie, whom he described as “not yet a believer,” are the sons of philanthropist Angelo King.