Marilou Mabilangan Haley: Five star Filipina

MANILA, Philippines - Marilou Mabilanagan-Haley was five-star, in hotel parlance.

Being a diplomat’s daughter, she grew up in France, Spain, India and Pakistan and was one of the models at Looky’s in Paris. When she came back to Manila she opened Karilagan, the first modeling and finishing school, together with good friend Conchitina Sevilla (now Bernardo). But not for long!

When the Delgado brothers signed the management contract with Hilton International to open The Manila Hilton, the first five-star hotel in the country, Marilou Mabilangan was the first one on board, training at the Hong Kong Hilton and coming back to Manila to open the first Hilton International reservations office while construction of the 27-story landmark hotel on the corner of UN Ave. and TM Kalaw was being constructed. Together with the first general manager of the Manila Hilton Colgate Holmes, Marilou was very much behind the scenes forming the opening team of the five-star hotel.

Letty Jacinto (now Lopez) – a fresh graduate then – remembers her first meeting with Marilou: “She was in the office talking in French in one phone and in English on another phone while giving instructions to her secretary.” 

All smiles at a reception at the Manila Hilton are Noemi Dolendo, Gonzalo Villarin, Carmita Francisco, Joachim Burger, Marla Yotoko, Colgate Holmes, Bernd Chorengel, Marilou Mabilangan, and Horst Angelkotter.

But she found time to talk to the girls who were there after they saw the big sign outside that said, “Site of Manila’s most prestigious hotel The Manila Hilton.” To their dismay she told them that they would only start recruiting operations personnel a few months before the hotel opened. The determined girls told her they were willing to be trainees without pay – which she found interesting. Before long, they were called back and that’s what started their hotel careers.

“Despite her busy schedule she always found time to train us in deportment and poise, admonishing us to always walk tall and with confidence and to answer the phone with a smile,” Letty recalls. That distinctive walk and pleasant positive attitude were the trademarks of the Manila Hilton team. She also made sure that all of them boned up on their Philippine history “so that you can answer the guests’ questions about our country.” Trips to the different museums were organized for the team to round up their education.

She also worked with the designers – Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales, Aureo Alonzo – who did the Filipino-inspired uniforms for the lobby receptionists and in the various restaurants, complementing the Filipino inspired theme of the hotel’s interiors. All of them were young and pretty (or handsome) and, most importantly, articulate and personable. They had to secretly pass La Mabilangan’s standard after passing Personnel Department’s requirements. They became an attraction in themselves!

I joined Manila Hilton when I was on vacation from school in the US and met her and Mr. Holmes at an airline cocktail party.

“Why do you want to go back to New York and work there… you’ll just be another number. Look at that rising building… you will be a pioneer in the exciting world of Manila Hilton,” I remember Mr. Holmes telling me, with Marilou adding, “And you’ll fit in with the group.” I was recruited as events and activities manager to work with PR manager Marla Yotoko (now Chorengel) for the big opening of the Manila Hilton.

At another event are Carmita, Andre Charrierre, Marilou, Ken Moss, and Darrell Connine.

Things stepped up when the legendary Maurice Reymond arrived. He was the creative food and beverage genius from the head office who opened the various Hiltons around the world. He had recently gained fame after opening the Hiltons in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He met his match in Tita Conching Sunico (Hilton’s owners’ representative). Together they planned the three-day opening in March l969.

Marilou Mabilangan, Marla Yotoko, Noemi Dolendo and I took up residence in the soon-to-open hotel because the meetings for the opening were marathon morning to evening ones. I don’t think we saw the sun for at least two weeks prior to opening day. It was a lot of detailed work and Marilou led us through those exhausting days with patience, demanding perfection but injecting humor.

The three-day opening of the Manila Hotel made headlines locally and around the world because the legendary hotel icon Conrad Hilton arrived with some 40 journalists from North America.

“How are you awl,” he boomed as Marilou and I and a small delegation met him at the airport.

All the Hilton VIPS – Mr. Curt Strand Hilton International CEO; Ken Moss from Hongkong Hilton; Liz Brewer PR director from New York; Bill Prigge, marketing director – were in town. The opening festivities closed off UN Avenue and TM Kalaw St. as President Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, together with the Delgado brothers Francisco and Antonio and their wives and Conrad Hilton led the mammoth crowd into the hotel. Prior to the opening, the foreign guests were treated to a Pagsanjan outing staged like a movie epic, Corregidor was spruced up for the visitors, while Tita Conching and Maurice Raymond outdid themselves in organizing the first glamorous barrio fiesta on the fifth floor and the unforgettable Opening Sarao Ball attended by Manila’s glamorous set.

The Hilton girls Lita Potassy, Marilou, Rita Dy, Carmita, and Marla reunite.

After the opening, we all got busy doing our respective jobs. Marilou handled banquet sales due to her many contacts. Marla was at the helm of public relations for the hotel and I did the special events to keep the hotel in the news.

Like the proverbial fairy tale, Marilou met her prince in the hotel – John Haley, a prominent lawyer from Arkansas – and married him soon after, moving to Little Rock, Arkansas. We would all ask: “Where is Little Rock?”

Pretty soon, we heard that she was not just a housewife but was now heading the economic sales team of Little Rock under its new governor Bill Clinton.

When Clinton announced his intention to run for president, Marilou was in his think tank and worked with the various civic minorities group that eventually gave him the vote to make him US president.

Clinton nominated her as a director of the Import-Export Bank for which she had to pass the US nominations committee. Prior to that appointment she was with the advisory group of President-elect Clinton to fill up key positions in the incoming administration.

When President and Mrs. Clinton made their state visit to the Philippines, Marilou contacted a group of us to meet them on arrival at the Manila Hotel where the official party was billeted.

The late Eli Pinto, Noemi Dolendo, Rita Dy and myself waited for the presidential party’s arrival at the hotel lobby. The presidential car, especially flown in for Clinton, arrived in a blare of sirens and fanfare. President and Mrs. Clinton alighted and the President came over to say hello to the crowd in the hotel lobby and shake our hands. We said, “We are Maria’s friends, Mr. President. Is she here?” I remember clasping his hands as I looked into his blue eyes. “Yes she’s there (pointing to her),” he answered.

Later we met in the coffee shop and eagerly asked about the good looking president, Air Force One, her glamorous life, the prominent people she met, life in Washington. She was just herself, laughing heartily at our inquiries, more interested in updating our lives. It was reported in the newspapers next day that the person who alighted from Air Force One after the Clintons was Marilou Mabilangan Haley.

When Clinton finished his term, she joined the office of Henry Kissinger and she would come to Manila on official confidential visits and during the holidays, and we would happily fete her to merienda if her schedule permitted it. Two years ago, Ricky Delgado hosted a party at his house and happily Marilou was in town so we had a wonderful reunion. We decided then to publish our memories of our good ol’ Manila Hilton days in a book. She heartily approved and kept updated on its progress. The book will be launched next month.

I can still hear her hearty laughter that day. She was fit and healthy and happy in her job. She said she was still running daily and admonished us to eat healthy.

When we got the e-mail of her aneurysm attack, we were in shock. She touched all of our lives with her example and dedication. She was also a compassionate and loyal friend. Such a vibrant shining star can never be dimmed.

Ambassador Philip Mabilangan (her only remaining brother) and his wife Ada immediately left for Little Rock when she was brought to the hospital and an hour after their arrival Marilou passed on. There was an impressive memorial for her at Little Rock, which was attended by over 500 people, including people who flew in from Washington. President Clinton, who had a speaking engagement abroad, sent a video message praising Marilou for her dedication and accomplishments. Her passing also merited an obituary in the New York Times and publications around the US.

At the time of her death, Marilou was the head of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission with over 100 people under her. She has received numerous awards for her professional achievements. John Haley died in a plane crash a few years ago and she remained close to his family in Little Rock. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2:30 p.m at the Ateneo Law School Chapel in Rockwell. Her ashes were brought home by Philip and Ada. Although she had lived and worked abroad for so many years, it was her wish to come home and be buried with her parents in Batangas.