Five-star accommodations

Call it bad luck or misfortune, the Boeing 777 plane that was shot down by deadly surface-to-air missiles as it flew in the airspace of strife-torn Ukraine last Thursday was the latest in the string of tragic incidents befalling Malaysia Airlines. Flight MH17 that flew from Amsterdam going to Kuala Lumpur blew up into smithereens, with all 298 passengers and crew on board strewn back to earth into pieces.

This happened barely a few months after Flight MH370, another Boeing 777 of the Malaysia Airlines, suddenly went off the radar screen for still unknown reasons. Up to now, the plane has not been located with all 239 passengers and crew still missing. After it took off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing last March 8, there was nothing to indicate the plane or the pilot had any kind of trouble at its last point of contact in the South China Sea.

A day before this latest air tragedy, a cargo plane of Malaysia Airlines was involved in a freak accident of nature. Fortunately, no one was hurt, except the Boeing 737 plane’s right fuselage was damaged. While parked at the International Cargo Terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Wednesday, the plane hit a mobile service stairs.

This was during the height of typhoon “Glenda” which packed 150 kilometers per hour maximum winds while cutting across the Philippines. In wide open spaces such as in NAIA grounds, the powerful winds packed by “Glenda” were able to push huge planes from where they were parked while waiting for the storm to pass.

Despite natural calamity or man-made cause of disaster, such as the Ukraine missile attack on MH17, traveling by airplane remains the fastest and most preferred mode of transport. In fact, air travel is the chief means of bringing tourists, especially to island countries like the Philippines.

Speaking of tourism, five-star hotels in Metro Manila and in other parts of the Philippines are simultaneously – in various stages – undertaking major renovations of their respective facilities. From the Manila Hotel to EDSA Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City, to Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City have all started doing so as early as this year.

While ostensibly preparing for the influx of more tourists and guests coming to the country, these major five-star hotels are currently undertaking renovation activities in time for the biggest event taking place in the country next year.

The Philippines hosts in November next year the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ summit. At least 21 heads of economies, including US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, China’s President Xi Jin-ping are among those expected to participate in this annual event.

The last time the Philippines played host as venue for the APEC Leaders’ Summit was in 1996. The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting was held inside Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City, Zambales where the government especially put up grand villa houses for each of the 21 APEC leaders in highly secured area inside the former American naval base.

Former President Fidel Ramos even came under fire for the pre-APEC construction frenzy undertaken by the government. For staying less than a day at the APEC house, it even became a butt of jokes that then US President Bill Clinton merely used it to relieve himself at its five-star quality toilet. Supposedly, these grand villas have been sold to the private sector.

Other than making references every now and then in his speeches about the country’s hosting next year of the APEC Leaders’ Summit, President Benigno “Noy” Aquino III has not revealed any major undertaking of the government for this particular international gathering taking place during his watch.

As far as we could sense any preparations for the APEC Leaders’ Summit, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Roxas Boulevard has been closed down for repair and renovations. The ongoing repair of Roxas Boulevard, in both directions but by section of the entire stretch, perhaps might be related to the government’s APEC preparations, I suppose. Other than that, there is not much government action taking place related to prepping up for the APEC summit.

Two weeks ago, Sofitel announced the start of its $5-million investments to create the new look of the hotel. Adam Clark, general manager of Sofitel, formally unveiled to media the new design and details of the renovation now being undertaken at the least inconvenience of its guests and visitors. “We are preparing for important events such as the APEC Summit taking place in 2015,” he told us.

Sofitel was built and opened in 1976 at the reclaimed grounds located near the PICC. The new looks of Sofitel, once completed, will be formally opened to hotel guests and visitors this September.

When President Obama made his official visit to the Philippines last April 28, he and his official entourage stayed at the P300,000 per night Imperial Suites of the Sofitel.

Much earlier, the Manila Hotel started its own reconstruction of facilities, including the famous MacArthur Suite, a major attraction of this century-old hotel. Its helipad and private swimming pool are among those being improved. State guests are usually billeted at this Manila Hotel’s presidential suite named after the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur, liberator of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation during World War II.

New hotels are being put up by Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts which now operates 2,151 rooms through Cebu Marriott, Hotel Intercontinental, Fairmont Hotels, Raffles Suites, and Residences, Holiday Inn and Suites and Seda Hotel.

But while the private sector is deep into preparations for this big event, there is nothing much heard or being seen on how the Philippine government plans to ensure the successful staging of the 2015 APEC summit – other than security preparations.

Presumably, the APEC leaders would be billeted and spread around for five-star accommodation in these various hotels. This is a good kind of Public-Private Partnership. So perhaps, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” if things are done this way!