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I like staying in nice hotels and doing staycations but I rarely do contents for these stays unless the experience was totally extraordinary or something travel-worthy came around during my stay. Most of the time, I do get a nice experience but just not enough for me to make a content out of it. But a recent stay in this “heritage” hotel had me totally swept off my feet because I walked through its rooms of history. Yes, this is THE Manila Hotel and, most of you, are not aware that they offer a FREE history tour where you walk into its history.  The historical Manila Hotel is the oldest 5-star hotel in the country.
Built in 1909, the Manila Hotel is the oldest premier hotel in the country that is conveniently located in the historical core of Manila. It officially opened its doors in 1912 with 142 rooms and was constructed to rival the Malacanang Palace. The penthouse of the original structure eventually served as the official residence and office of General Douglas MacArthur from 1935 to 1941. From the damage it bore during the end of World War 2, it has undergone rehabilitation and expansion to become a 570-room hotel. It has played host to famous entertainment and political personalities like Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Ernest Hemmingway, Bill Clinton, and King Charles III. Unknown to many, the Manila Hotel offers a heritage tour for both guests and non-guests that walks you through the hallways and, if you are lucky, suites of its rich and colorful history. The Hotel The original 5-story structure was designed by New York architect William Parsons. The structure would be utilizing the sea breeze for its ventilation with rooms having amazing views of the Manila Bay Harbor on one side and Intramuros on the other. The renovation of the hotel in the 70s added the hotel tower behind the original structure that expanded its room capacity to 570.  The iconic lobby of the Manila Hotel is one of the best in Manila. The hotel lobby remains to be the icon of the Manila Hotel. It exudes elegance with its Doric columns, brass chandeliers, marble floors, and mahogany furnitures. The wide lobby is a great place to hold meetings, gather up with friends, or just enjoy a cup of coffee while reading a book. It also serves as an art venue where artworks are often on display for guests to admire.
The rooms are kept on old elegant styling with wooden bed frames and furnitures. Crafted wooden sliding doors frame its windows that offer amazing views of the Manila Harbor or the Walls of Intramuros. I prefer the rooms facing the bay because it gives you personal front seats to the famous beautiful sunset of Manila Bay. They offer a great staycation experience with their complete facilities from restaurants to the hotel’s swimming pool. One thing that really stands out for me are the complimentary small chocolate treats that you get when you stay with them.” Heritage Museum Located at the ground floor of the Manila Hotel, the Heritage Museum houses the hotel’s collection of pictures, personal items, and memorabilia of its beautiful past. It bears two historical markers of the hotel - the hotel being the first consular office of Australia in the country and Manila Hotel being the venue of the opening ceremonies of the 1971 Constitutional Convention led by former President Diosdado Macapagal. A miniature rendition of the present-day Manila Hotel is the main attraction of the receiving area of the Heritage Museum.  One of the historical markers installed at the Manila Hotel. The main gallery is a small room that serves as a repository of the hotel’s vibrant past. It has a collection of pictures of the hotel’s historical events and famous guests who have stayed here displayed on its walls. It has volumes of press clippings in its catalogue. Its collection also includes memorabilia from prominent personalities that was given to the hotel and antique furnitures from. These collections walks you through the century-worth history of the hotel from it construction to its devastation in World War 2 to it rehabilitation to its expansion in the 70’s. It was great to see that all these are properly documented and preserved for everyone to learn and enjoy.
The most prominent artifacts that really stood out for me was the hotel’s collection of memorabilia from its most popular resident, Gen. MacArthur, and the replica copies of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The hotel was able to save and preserve some of the personal effects of the famous general that are prominently displayed in the museum and in the MacArthur Suite. It was also great to be able to have a closer look at the handwritten novel of Dr. Jose Rizal with his own handwriting. You will get impressed at our national hero’s neat handwriting. The museum not only showcased their history but also linked the hotel with our country’s rich past. The MacArthur Suite We were lucky that we were able to step inside and explore the historic MacArthur Suite. You can make a request to include the suite in the tour but it is subject to its availability. The whole heritage tour is guided so you really get to explore the locations and also get facts during the tour.  The MacArthur Suite was once the official residence of General MacArthur during his stint as the Field Marshall of the country. The MacArthur Suite is located on the penthouse on the 5th floor of the original building. The sprawling suite served as the home and office of General MacArthur during his stint as the Governor-General of the country. As per our hotel guide, it was President Manuel Quezon who invited the general to assist in the creation of a Philippine Army as a Field Marshall. His conditions in accepting the position was to have a salary similar to that of the Philippine President and a residence that is similar to that of Malacanang. Hence, the refurbishing of the 5th level of the hotel to be converted into the general’s official residence. He was then appointed as Chairman and President of the hotel to justify his salary and residential requirements.
The two-bedroom suite was classy, elegant, and gives off a vibe of luxury with a pinch of history. It has 2 bedrooms, a dining area, a receiving area, a study, and a kitchen. Our guide, Rap, shared with us that you get a personal butler when you book the suite. The amenities also include luxurious brands for its hygiene kit. You get to enjoy the luxurious living in a historical site rolled into one. You get to live a day or two like a Field Marshall.  The elegant Master's Bedroom of the MacArthur Suite. The suite displays collections of personal artifacts of General Douglas MacArthur. The walls of the hallway and the dining area have photographs displayed of his family members and event highlights during his stint here in the Philippines. His office, complete with his table and chairs, are accessible to guests and you get a glimpse of his work area and how it feels to be on his seat with the view of Manila Bay on his window. The family of the general has also allowed the display of the general’s medals in his former office in the hotel.  Of course, I wouldn't miss out on checking out the office of General MacArthur. Staying in the suite is heavy on the pocket but worth the value. You get to experience living the way General MacArthur did in a modern hotel set-up. But our guide also shared with us that the Manila Hotel gives a HUGE discount on the historical suite during the hotel’s anniversary every July. POST TRAVEL NOTES Who would have thought that my attentiveness to hotel ads running on TV would open up a different and interesting staycation experience for me. We all know that Manila Hotel is significant in Philippine history and yet I never knew that they have a heritage museum in the hotel and they offer a free guided tour of the museum and, if luck is on your side, the historical MacArthur Suite. The neat part of it - it is FREE! You just have to make a prior appointment with the Front Desk and pray that no one is staying on the historical suite. Here is something that is worth checking out when you find yourself staying or sipping a cup of coffee at the Manila Hotel.  San maganda pumunta tuwing tag-ulan? Where to next? It’s interesting to find something new in a destination that you have become familiar with. Discoveries like these give you a different excitement and perspective that amplifies the experience. It doesn’t change what is already there but it does add more spice to the “usual”. #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: Major airlines have direct flights to Manila from local and international airports. You can take a cab or Grab car to get to the Manila Hotel. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels. Get 5% off on your Hull & Stern dry bag purchase on the Hull & Stern website when you use the code - marc7del Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/hull.stern/ Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/hull.stern Get 10% off on your Magwai purchase on Lazada, Shopee, and Magwai website when you use my code: marc7del10 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/magwaiph/ Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/MagwaiPH
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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