Penulitmate

The renovated wing at the Peninsula Manila was definitely worth the wait - and the ruckus. (When it was still being renovated, i stayed on the 10th floor and usually awoke to the loud banging from the rooms below.) Whilst the hotel's former rooms had this old world charm, the new ones definitely erase the Peninsula's old, stuffy image.

Changes in the Makati wing greet you as soon as the elevator opens. the old marble walls and plain mirror have given way to dark wood and an ornate glass artwork.


The same dark wood treatment is used in the foyer and corridors of the room. The carpet has also been changed to a darker hue, which is great since the old cream coloured carpets gave often looked unkempt.



The made-over rooms are sleek, but not too cold or Philippe Stack-ish. Like the elevator and the foyer, dark wood and sleek lines have been integrated into the room's design to give it a touch of youthfulness without sacrificing the Peninsula's brand of elegance.



There are a lot of Filipino touches in the room, which gives it that Manila feel. The lounge chair is made of rattan, the lamp has this bamboo-esque design and even the window screens have this "probinsya" feel to it.



The old armoire that housed a huge TV set and the mini bar has been replaced with a huge plasma TV and an oblong shaped drawer with a marble countertop. Yes, the mini-bar is hidden in those drawers.



Even the work desk has been changed. From the old "Lolo desk" that I've been accustomed to, the new work table is dynamic because of the shape and fixtures. Everything has been hidden in drawers (including the ubiquitous fax machine) and even the lamp has been changed. (I miss the chinese girl lamp that was there in the old room.)



The changes have really given the rooms of the Peninsula an updated and more contemporary look. But the downside is that now, it looks like most of the hotel rooms in Manila. (This room reminds me of Shangri-La Makati.) Somehow, I think I'll miss the old rooms that I've known to love.