The Pen looks back over 50 years

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THE Peninsula Manila 50th anniversary timeline unveiling.

1980s and ’90s timeline

2000s to ‘20s timeline

Why the Grand Old Lady still stands

SOME of the better moments of one’s life in the Philippines may have been spent at The Peninsula Manila: think weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries, all wrapped up in The Pen’s charm and elegance. Adding to that is its history, spanning 50 years since its opening in 1976 all the way to its 50^th anniversary this year.

On June 24, Peninsula Manila unveiled a wall in their lobby showing highlights of The Pen’s history, from 1974 (the day of its incorporation, the press announcements about its building, and more) to today. In between are cheerful moments like a visit by Barney (as in the purple dinosaur) and celebrity encounters — and some more serious moments, like the experience of standing witness during the EDSA Revolution of 1986, being stranded within the hotel during the 1989 coup attempt against former President Corazon Aquino, and another coup attempt in 2007, where the hotel played a role, this one against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is better remembered.

There are also highlights of the building’s own history: from its renovation in the 1990s, the installation of the waterfall in 1996, its renaming from the Manila Peninsula to the Peninsula Manila in 1992, and the addition of the Napoleon Abueva sunburst sculpture that adorns the hotel’s ceiling in the lobby.

All the information on the new wall was collected from the hotel’s own archives, cared for over the years.

HOTEL BOOM
The Peninsula opened in 1976, during a luxury hotel boom in the Philippines spurred by international conferences hosted in the country during the Marcos dictatorship. At that time, several well-remembered properties rose up in the city: the Philippine Plaza (called the Westin Philippine Plaza at one point, which closed in the 2020s which it was under the Sofitel brand), the Manila Mandarin (called the Mandarin Oriental before its closing in the 2010s), and many others. Few survive today, and those that did survived in lesser, more unfamiliar forms.

The Pen still stands.

In a Viber message to BusinessWorld, The Peninsula Manila Director of Brand Communications Mariano B. Garchitorena said, “There were four hotels that opened at the same time for the 1976 IMF-World Bank meetings. Yet 50 years later, only one remains substantially what it was when it opened: The Peninsula Manila. Us. Part of the reason is undoubtedly ownership and stewardship. The Peninsula Manila has had the advantage of continuity through both the local shareholders and the long-term commitment of our parent company — Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH). Many great hotels disappear not because they fail, but because ownership changes, priorities shift, brands come and go, or real estate values eventually outweigh hospitality considerations.”

This, however, does not completely explain the hotel’s enduring longevity.

“I don’t think ownership alone explains it. What struck me most — especially last night [during the official opening of the exhibit] while listening to stories from so many people — is that The Peninsula Manila has never tried to reinvent itself completely every decade. It has renovated, modernized, and adapted, but it has remained recognizably itself. The Lobby is still The Lobby. Afternoon Tea is still Afternoon Tea. The grand staircases remain. The sense of occasion remains. Guests who first visited in the 1970s or 1980s can still recognize the hotel today. There is a continuity of identity that many luxury hotels lose in pursuit of trends.”

As we mentioned above, some of the best moments of many a Filipino’s life must have been spent here: “There’s the fact that The Peninsula Manila has become woven into the emotional life of the city. People don’t simply stay with us. They get married here. They celebrate birthdays here. They attend Christmas Concerts here. They meet for afternoon tea here. They bring their children and, eventually, their grandchildren here,” said Mr. Garchitorena.

“At some point, I guess we stopped being a building and became an ‘institution,’” he continued.

Mr. Garchitorena also highlighted the various crises the country has faced, and where The Pen was during that time (right there). “During the 1989 coup attempt, staff cared for stranded guests. After Pinatubo, there were relief efforts. After [typhoons] Ondoy and Yolanda, there was community support. During COVID, the hotel kept its employees,” he noted.

“Those moments matter because they reveal character. A hotel’s reputation is built during good times; its legacy is often built during difficult ones,” he said.

He even pointed to the hotel’s nickname: The Pen. “Only institutions get nicknames. Nobody nicknames a building. They nickname something they feel affection for.”

“The real story is that for 50 years, I guess Manila kept choosing The Pen. Generation after generation. It’s a privilege that we will always be grateful for. And it’s probably the closest thing we’ll find to a formula for longevity. Manila has amor (love) for The Pen. Cariño. Affection. Manila’s affection for The Pen that has outlived competitors, economic crises, political upheavals, natural disasters, and a pandemic,” he said. “Not all hotels can say that.”

A CELEBRATION
Following the exhibition’s unveiling, guests can look forward to a series of special experiences commemorating the hotel’s golden jubilee starting this July, including the launch of a rare 1976 Vintage Wine Collection, a bespoke Golden Pineapple IPA, a specially bottled Peninsula Dry Gin crafted with botanicals from the Cordilleras, and a collection of celebratory anniversary cakes.

The festivities will continue with exclusive room offers, wellness experiences, and cultural programs throughout the year, including the exhibit Art in Resonance in late July, presented in collaboration with Vinyl on Vinyl; the return of former Executive Sous Chef Albert Thony for a special Swiss Weekend Brunch at The Lobby on Aug. 29 and 30; a whimsical Peninsula Bear Afternoon Tea in September; and the continuation of the hotel’s community outreach initiative, 50 Acts of Kindness.

The anniversary year will culminate with the beloved Christmas Concert at The Pen on Nov. 28, bringing together guests, friends, and members of the community in a celebration of music, generosity, and shared memories. — Joseph L. Garcia