I believe it was over a year ago when my good friend Alfred Reyes called me for some help. He joined a new multi-national firm in the hospitality business and they were about to embark on a new project. What was crucial was to be the name by which the hotel would be known. Contrary to the usual practice of getting a one-word brand or something that can easily be recalled, the owners wanted their aspirations to be bannered by their name. Racking my brain to help a friend, I gave my contributions even as I reacted to the names he sent by sms. And there were some outlandish and really preposterous sounding ones. Soon enough, Alfred stopped getting in touch and I thought he was all right.
At the end of July this year, he sent an sms regarding the opening, on August 1, of Oakwood Premiere at JOY-NOSTALG Center, 17 ADB Ave., Ortigas, Pasig, Metro Manila – just across the Asian Development Bank Building. Then I remembered our initial brain-racking sessions.
According to Alfred’s text message, Oakwood Premiere at JOY-NOSTALG Center claims to be “the only De Luxe Service Apartment in the Philippines.” It has 233 luxuriously furnished and fully serviced residences and a hotel with Studio Type to 1-2-3-Bedroom Suites. They have a fully equipped Fitness Gym, a “Music Swimming Pool with Spa” (I still will find out what this is all about!), Business Center with Video Conferencing facility, as well as Banquet Rooms for all occasions.
True to the Alfred I knew as the mischievous young airport rep when I was the PR Manager of Cebu Plaza Hotel, the first 5-star hotel in the city, he sent to titillate my imagination, a mouth-watering menu of the hotel’s classy Oakroom Restaurant Bar & Lounge, which serves continental and Filipino cuisines 24/7. What amused me was the Mix-Mix (halo-halo), a local concoction of various fruits in ice. Typical Alfred, if I may say so! Well, he invited me for lunch – hmmm, vamos a ver!
Since I am in Manila for the launching of our anthology entitled FINDING GOD in National Bookstore at Glorietta 5 tomorrow, 6 – 9 pm, I will try to visit my good friend in his post as the top man of Oakwood Premiere in Ortigas. Will check out the truth of his claims…and will let you know, my loyal readers.
Meantime, here’s how to access this newly opened apartment/hotel at JOY-NOSTALG Center: tel. # (02) 637-7888; website: Oakwoodasia.com Remember, there’s a Cebuano top boss over there. You will be in good hands when Alfred Reyes is around. After all, he has honed his expertise, not only in the Philippines but also in other countries in Asia.
Travel safely and wisely!