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My Favourite Hotel Resort in Manila

Updated: Aug 31, 2020

Many years ago, it is used to be Westin Philippine Plaza. Now, it is called Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Regardless of its name, the hotel is close to my heart.

it is hard to find a 5 star hotel that has a good view of nature amongst the concrete city of Manila
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What I like most about this hotel is its resort ambience. Truly, it is hard to find a 5 star hotel that has a good view of nature amongst the concrete city of Manila. The hotel’s amusement such as the swimming pool and the lawn is overlooking the iconic Manila Bay. Most importantly, the magnificent sunset is viewable from the breakwater and it never fails to amaze.


The hotel is also famous for both indoor and outdoor wedding venue. In fact, each time I spend some time in their vicinity, there are love vows recited.

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My favourite activity in the hotel is to dine at the lobby’s restaurant. I particularly liked the bakery section especially their muffins. I also fancy the magnificent sunset while sitting quietly at the lawn located outside and at the back end of the hotel.


At night, I enjoy settling down inside the lobby while appreciating the soothing sound of the piano being played. However, I always make sure to double the money I bring for the an average tropical juice cocktail.

grace under pressure is just the ability of handling it

The hotel had been my favourite hang out as a stayed-out guest. Personally, it has been my sanctuary amidst all my life’s constraints. It is also where I always come to my senses and realise that grace under pressure is just the ability of handling it. And because I find it quieter to spend quality time with my loved ones in this place, some of my significant memories are carved in its structure.



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The Day He Went Away

Updated: Aug 31, 2020

TOTGA Part 2: I TRUSTED RAIN BUT…


We proceed at the outdoor poolside area of the hotel. The surrounding’s beauty is convincingly astounding. The pool has a large garden complete with bars and restaurants. To top it all up, it's overlooking the prestigious Manila Bay


Together, we sat down at the dark side of the lawn and ordered some cocktail drinks. From far end, was a stage where the singing performers in traditional attires was singing ballads. It soothes the ambience.


Few minutes though, while he was about to confess something, it drizzled. Damn! Rain quickly stood up and decided to go home before the rain pours so hard. Nevertheless, it was a lovely night.




The following few weeks, I became so consumed about my university life. The next thing I knew, I was voted to be the female representative of a charity organization in our campus. Alongside with me was Rain for the males. Every weekend, we are called for a leadership training at the nearby park of our school. But Rain was always nowhere to be found.




One afternoon was a surprise, he finally showed up in our circle. The group had actually decided to stepped him down from the role but he insisted his rights. He actually, convinced me to plan with him for the upcoming charity program. I gave in despite all the hesitations of the members.


After the meeting, Rain looked too disturbed. He kept on mumbling to himself that after all, he doesn’t want to be a leader. He only accepted the role because he just wanted to spend some time with me. My response was a clueless look.


I walked home with Rain and Ellie. But Rain was walking fast and head down ahead of us. He was consumed with his heavy thoughts until Ellie and I were almost hit by a jeepney*.


“That is not the proper way of handling a woman”, taught Ellie to Rain. “If you want to be liked, make sure to be a gentleman.”


But Rain replied, “Tina, doesn’t like too gentle. She likes it when men are a bit strong and rough”.


I was stunned. I looked him straight in the eyes for a long seconds. How can he know that much about me and yet not really that much? I mean, yes, I like a bit of arrogance but deep inside, I also wanted to be treated like a princess.




Fast forward to the end of the semester, Ellie invited us into her house for a birthday party. Many friends came including Rain. We made noise, watched TV, played guitar, sing songs, ate dinner, had lots of snacks, laughter and fun. We also played my favourite board game. And aside from me feelin’ frustrated when Rain gave up at the middle of our scrabble (which according to him, its a plain boring game), our day went well.


Soon after it was night, everyone left except me. As usual, Ellie and I were trapped in a bottomless conversation before sleeping. Also, she took the opportunity to tell me a serious confession.


“Rain was madly in love with you”, and as simple as that.


All of a sudden, I became mute. I was startled. How can I be so naive not to know?


“In fact, he is desperate for you to know but you seem not to care about what he feels. You are so dear to him that he tries to make time with you as much as he could”, Ellie added.


Uh-oh!


All our scenes flashed back at me, everything - including the times when he met me at the university hall with a big smile, teasing me and telling me I am his big crush. As well as the time when he stayed late to have a dance with me during an annual acquaintance party in the campus.


For the first time in my teenage life, I felt so loved by a friend and I don’t know if that is of Ellie or Rain. But at that moment, only one thing I am sure of, that is considering Rain. He is not that hard to like and love after all. That night, I vowed to my self to tell him. Tell Rain how much he means to me too as well.




So, the next day, I hurried to Rain’s boarding house and looked for him. But instead, I found Niel, his roommate.


“Where’s Rain?”


“You’re too late, he took tickets going back to his province.”


“What? But that was far away!”, I protested.


“He changed his mind of enrolling for the summer classes”, Niel explained.


“But he promised me! He promised me to take summer courses with me!”, I shouted.


I walked out exasperated. I vowed to my self that I will wait for his return the next semester - I will wait for Rain.




I seized summer classes one day at a time. Each day became harder as I have no other means of contacting Rain (that was a year where there were no internet and mobile phone yet, by the way). This was the time I realised how important he had become to me, and yes, I actually did fell in love with him too. I just found it hard to comprehend what I felt for him ‘cause normal teenage and university stuffs just came crossing in between. But his absence made me more and more convince that I do - after all.




When summer classes was finally over, I anticipated for Rain’s return. Everyday, I knocked at his boarding house to check if he already came back. Until one afternoon, Niel told me that he is not coming back for good.


“He just made his girlfriend pregnant and decided to stop schooling for the meantime to raise his new family”, he explained.


My heart sank. “But how did that happened? I never knew he had a girlfriend!”, I am in too much confusion.


“He met a girl when he went back and boom! Something happened.”


“But who?”, I insisted.


“I don’t know…”


I went blank after. My world crashed. I just found myself back at the hotel’s pool area. I knew it was a good windy afternoon. The sunset reflects the building. I stayed there until it was dark and until the clouds showered with tears. Poor me, alone and literally crying. All I have now is only rain pouring down on my face.


*JEEPNEY - A Philippine jitney bus converted into a jeep. It is the main public and iconic transportation used in the country.




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The One That Got Away

Updated: Aug 31, 2020

Part 1: WHILE I WAS HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH LEON, I HAD RAIN


“You must see him! He’s too handsome. Everybody in the gang was attracted to him”, Ellie assured me. “I guarantee, you will like him too. His name is Rain”, she added while we were going down the stairs for her to Introduce me to him.


After Rain and I was acquainted, I sat in front of him while he was busy doing his assignments. He was quiet and poker-faced so I assumed the same aura to myself. I felt nothing special and different from what my friends had told me about seeing him for the first time. Its not that he wasn’t handsome like they claimed him to be. Its just that I felt no sparks at all.




Few days had gone by, I gathered with my peers at the park for a planned birthday surprise. It was Rain’s. The party went well and when it was time for all of us to go, he stood up and made an awesome speech. I was startled and moved not by its content but because he did it with so much conviction. I heard leadership, command and power. I discerned someone who had so much potential of being a somebody. That night, I was convinced about him.



Many days had past, Rain remained a campus heartthrob. I noticed he’s a good dresser and exudes self-confidence. On the other hand, I had been busy with my love interest - with someone I am falling in love with - Leon, a very comical and jolly person. Sadly though, Leon is too consumed with my beautiful friend, Beauty.


One day, Ellie came rushing to me. She wanted me to accompany her going to a bookstore to see Rain. “He was there! Please come with me. I wanted to see him even from afar”, she exclaimed. So we hurried and saw him there.


Rain was busy choosing books to buy. “See! I really like his style. And I’m cool to admit that I am crushing on him so bad!”, Ellie told me with so much admiration on him.


He was wearing a navy blue shirt and jeans. In my mind, “Yes, he has good taste.” I very much agree with Ellie but I chose to keep silent as I believe it wasn’t that important for me to say anything.


After a while, we tailed him from afar while he goes to a fast food restaurant to buy a chocolate coated sundae.

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I can’t exactly remember how I got tied with Rain. Perhaps, its because of the common friends we had. One night, I just found myself in a shared taxi, going home with him. We were both living in the south of the metro.


Approximately, we spent 2 hours on the road talking about our weaknesses, the things we like to do for fun, the sports we always wanted to play, his brother who just recently died of cancer, his course enrolment struggles, his father’s job as an architect and many more. One thing that sticks to my mind though - its how close his face to me, his eyes twinkling with happiness and his smile that never fades until he finally arrived in his destination and I was left to continue my own journey.


That first ride home started our closeness. in fact, he tries to piss and tease me about looking like the old famous actress. Even if he wasn’t successful in poking me, our friends started to call me, Amelia, the veteran’s actress name.




More days had past, Leon and Beauty started dating each other. I was so heartbroken and my world began to shatter. I tried to move on alone and shut the people around me. I was so hurt that I began not to see my friends.


Until one day, Rain bumped at me and told me that he wanted to see me after class. I felt a bit of excitement but I unconsciously suppressed it. Nevertheless, we continued this set-up for the rest of the semester.


Often, he will extend his hand for me to hold as I go out of the class. Other times, he will start to call my name outside our classroom if our instructor doesn’t dismiss us on time. Always, we will hang out first before we will finally ride a shared taxi home.


Our favourite routine is buying a chocolate sundae in a fast food restaurant where Ellie and I used to follow him from a distance. Then, we will sit at the nearby park and enjoy the ice cream together - often without a word from each other. This was actually the moment where I knew we had gone from friends to best of friends, simply because we are mutually aware that silence doesn’t made us uncomfortable being with each other.




The next semester, Rain started to struggle maintaining his grades, he decided to rent a boarding house near our university. This is when our ‘going home’ routine ended. We still see each other after class though. There are times, we will play arnis* up until evening and there are times we will go to our drama club together for a practice.


I also had a fair share of challenges. My health was hit and I undergone a facial surgery. I took a long leave from classes to rest until I received a call. It was Rain. He asked me to meet him at the park overlooking the Manila bay. My heart leaped a bit to finally see my best friend again.




The set day came, our pals, Ellie and Neil fetched me from home. Halfway to the vicinity, they covered my eyes and let me walk with them for another 30 minutes until we reached the vicinity. When they finally took off the hanky from my eyes, I was surprised!


Rain, had picnic cloth, lighted candles, snack foods, red wine and glasses. He decorated the spot by scattering red rose petals and chocolate candies. Before we sat down to a romantic night, a couple right at the far end crawled out from their tent and told me how sweet my boyfriend was. I answered back telling them he was just my best friend.


We happily moved on talking about life in general and savouring the prepared food. Afterwards, we decided to rent a cycled rickshaw. We drove around merrily and when Rain saw a group of street children admiring us, he called them, jumped out of the rickshaw and whispered something to them. So, I decided to return the bicycle instead.


As soon as I came back, the children were all lined up. Rain queued them for a choreographed song and dance complete with props of letters, spelling “I Love You”. I was so stunned and delighted. But more on how he had orchestrated the night. Also, the stars aligned when suddenly, there were fireworks from somewhere. We fancied it until the end of the display. As soon as it dies out, it signalled us that we should call it a night.


Immediately after, Ellie and Neil had left. But Rain refused to take me home. Instead, he invited me to go to a nearby 5 star hotel. Just when I am about to say, “I can't”, he held my hand tightly and off we go...


*ARNIS - Philippines’ national martial art sports. It is a fight mainly using a wooden sticks.




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