Sarabia Manor’s unparalleled charm

The charm of Iloilo’s premier hotel destination, Sarabia Manor Hotel
and Convention Center, is still unmatched to this day, more than three decades after it was born.

Located at the heart of Iloilo City, Sarabia Manor has become one of Iloilo’s foremost landmarks, blending the old and the new and capturing the province’s rich culture, unique traditions, and fluvial festivities.

No wonder that it was named Hotel of the Year for Western Visayas by the Department of Tourism in 2000 and has become the favorite destination of the country’s chief executives including President Arroyo when they visit the province.

As if Iloilo’s unique history and tradition, architectural and artistic legacies, rich heritage as shown by its beautiful churches, and its famous Dinagyang festival weren’t enough, Sarabia Manor has become one of province’s famous landmarks and has managed to lure local and foreign tourists alike who after having experienced Iloilo hospitality at its best now consider the hotel their second home.

And why not? Despite having facilities and amenities that rival the best in the country (the hotel has a Clark Hatch fitness gym, an Olympic-size pool, specialty restaurants: Filipino, Japanese, American and Mexican, Italian, Thai, including a global bistro), Sarabia Manor’s management and staff make each and every guest feel at home, a feeling not common in big hotels.

So when Sarabia Manor president and CEO Dr. Sandra Sarabia Gomez says they always treat guests like family, it is no mere lip service. After all, the Manor Wing (old wing) used to be home to the Sarabia family. Even the family matriarch at 82 still spends her mornings in the hotel, greeting guests and touching base with the staff. Other family members behind the hotel, including Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, Dr. Melvin Sarabia, and Rosalie Sarabia-Trenas, the gracious better half of Mayor Jerry Trenas are also familiar sights.

Its beginnings

In the early ’70s, Dr. Salvador Gonzales Sarabia, an optometrist by profession and owner of Sarabia Optical Clinics, and Amparo Divinagracia Sarabia, a jeweler, accepted government’s challenge to help develop tourism in the countryside when they decided to convert their Japanese house into a 13-room boutique hotel. In the ’90s, their son Salvador took over the reins and spearheaded the hotel’s expansion to 184 rooms with the construction of the corporate wing in 1999. Acquisition of modern equipment, aggressive marketing, and continuous personnel training marked the beginning of a new era for Sarabia Manor.

Salvador eventually relinquished his position to eldest sister Dr. Sandra Sarabia-Gomez, who has aggressively and with unmatched determination created the "premiere" image of the hotel. Rooms were upgraded to international standards, a marketing office was set up in Makati, facilities and services were expanded, amenities were increased, and linkages with airline and shipping companies multiplied. Seasoned hotelier Bobby Laygo was tapped as general manager.

"These developments are in line with our goal to sustain our position as the premier hotel in Iloilo and our way of intensifying efforts to promote the city as a premier tourist destination," Dr. Sarabia-Gomez, a doctor of optometry and an active business and socio-civic leader, pointed out.

The hotel

Sarabia Manor is strategically located at the heart of Metropolitan Iloilo and is only 10 minutes from the airport and the seaport. It is also five-minutes away from major shopping malls, 10 minutes from the historic Calle Real, and 20 minutes from Southeast Asia’s oldest golf court Sta. Barbara.

The 184-well appointed hotel rooms and suites in two buildings – the Manor Wing and the Corporate Wing – provide guests with unmatched comfort and satisfaction. The hotel’s ballroom is the biggest in Iloilo while numerous specialty restaurants offer a wide selection of international and local cuisines. For sushi lovers, they have Suehiro which is the first-ever Japanese restaurant in Iloilo. Freddy’s Bar and Restaurant is an all-American and Mexican bar and resto for those who go for steaks, pizzas, baby-back ribs, tacos and charbroiled burgers.

For those who want to swing the night away, there is Club Bwana which is the city’s favorite night haunt. Recreational facilities are likewise unmatched, what with an Olympic size pool, a Clark Hatch gym, a hair and beauty center (Pelo Salon). For those who brought their work with them or simply want to check on their e-mail, there is Perk Central which is a total business center.

What’s in store

Dr. Sarabia-Gomez says Manor Wing, the hotel’s old wing, will soon be upgraded, together with an improvement of the Kalantiao Hall grand ballroom. Wireless internet access (Wi-fi) will likewise be made available for business travelers and guests. Sometime next year, a new bar/restaurant with modern and hip theme will be opened. Expect Sarabia Manor to be hosting more fashion shows, conventions, and other big events. And very soon, a first-class Thai spa will be made available, to make your stay more enjoyable.

So the next time you’re visiting Iloilo, either for business or pleasure, make Sarabia Manor your second home. For inquiries and reservations, call (33) 3351021-32 in Iloilo or (02) 8894620 in Manila, or email at [email protected].