Yuletide delights at the Pen

When we entered the Peninsula Manila a few days ago, our eyes immediately rested on the 45-foot tall Christmas tree at the Lobby. Decked out in red poinsettias, red and gold spheres, and mistletoes, the Lobby tree is a hotly anticipated sight this cool season. A closer look reveals that the Christmas balls are wrapped in sinamay while the light boxes are from rattan.

It is a most welcome twist for something so familiar. Of course, those who are so used to visiting, staying in, and dining at the Pen will feel right at home seeing its classic red, green, and gold décor, complete with the parol and the subtle use of abaca, palm leaves, rattan skin, native basketry, and sinamay.

Now marking its 32nd Christmas, the Pen is all decked out to ensure another unforgettable season. Right outside the junction of Ayala and Makati Avenues, the Pen installed 15 giant neon Christmas trees and 24 large neon stars to light up the Grand Waterfall.

To complement this festive mood, the Peninsula Manila has lined up its classic favorites, from the Christmas Concert at the Pen to the yearly carols at the Lobby. There is also an irresistible array of Christmas activities and events that promise a merry season for everyone.

Until Dec. 31, the Pen holds its Yuletide Afternoon Tea. Guests can enjoy a traditional Filipino merienda buffet or an English afternoon tea.

On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve, one can choose to celebrate via the Lobby buffet dinner, the Old Manila five-course set dinner menu, the Mi Piace a la carte menu, the Spice a la carte menu, and the Nielsen’s buffet dinner.

The Lobby Gala Ball and Dinner on New Year’s Eve, a tradition for some who look forward to a spectacular buffet, will have Nonoy Lopez and his band, plus Hyperbeat. This particular event is practically a fitting climax to the season.

“I think it helps that the Pen continues to evolve with the times by coming up with new and exciting offerings every year. I recall the mid-90s, when the glitz and flashy extravagance of the previous decade gave way to subtler tastes and the Pen underwent a major makeover. By the time it introduced its first New Year’s Eve Ball — a black-tie affair complete with a big band and a confetti-filled countdown that would soon become a red-letter day on many calendars — it likewise unveiled a new look,” relates Mariano Garchitorena, the Pen’s director for public relations.

He also shares that there is another dimension to the Peninsula Manila’s display of Yuletide cheer. The two Christmas trees between the front desk and concierge counters are part of the Peninsula Hotels’ Global Trees of Hope campaign.

“Guests are invited to purchase an ornament to hang on the tree to help the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Garchiterona says. “For only P300 per ornament, the contribution will go a long way.”

The Peninsula Manila’s general manager Jonathan Crook says, “We are proud to be a part of our company’s worldwide charity campaign and pleased to be raising funds for an organization that touches the lives of so many children.” 

Crook continues, “We want to expand our tradition of charitable giving at our hotel in a way that involves our staff, guests, and visitors. The Trees of Hope campaign is designed to add beauty to our hotel both physically and spiritually, and to enrich the lives of the children touched by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

Meanwhile, the hotel continues to be a venue for, dare we say it, old-time favorites. For those on a perpetual food trip, how could they miss out on the Pen Pals, a large bowl topped with a 19 mind-freezing scoops of ice cream on a bed of fresh fruit. There is also the Lobby’s Halo-Halo Harana, ice cream menu, arroz caldo, and pancit luglog, as well as the hotel’s own hand-made Peninsula Chocolates.

All these, enjoyed even beyond Christmas, are complemented by the hotel’s trademark brand of service. Garchitorena declares, “Each of our 32 years is a testament to our unwavering commitment to meet the expectations of our guests. The traditions that have made the hotel an icon have melded with Filipino hospitality, creating a service that is both personal and exceptional.”

Now that’s something we can always celebrate about.

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For more information, call The Peninsula Manila at 887-2888 or log on to www.peninsula.com.