Press Room

Legend Hotels woos, wows balikbayans

FilAm Star
By Nicholas von Wettberg
June 16-30, 2008

The decision of where to stay when traveling to the Philippines is often not an easy one, with many options available for Filipinos, tourists and businesspersons who would like to, not only enjoy the country’s rich cultural landscape and its renowned hospitality, but do so at an affordable price as well.

A presentation by representatives from the Legend Hotels International Corporation on June 4 at Roberto’s Restaurant in Daly City, offered a variety of attractive options for prospective travelers to the Philippines.

Legend’s hotels were highlighted in an eye-opening video presentation for the 50-plus people who attended the event, which was in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT).

Although all of the hotels under the Legend brand were promoted in the evening’s presentation, there was one, in particular, that was seemingly emphasized more than any other.

The Mubuhay Manor the first balikbayan Hotel, located in Pasay City -- is tailored for the many Filipinos who live abroad and return to their homeland, often with the ubiquitous signature boxes filled with items.

“It is now a destination hotel for balikbayans,” said Dante Cruz, assistant vicepresident of Legend Hotels International. “Because in this hotel, there’s a lot of things that we have introduced, within the hotel, that other’s have not or cannot.”

Cruz said some of the unique and traditionally- Filipino amenities the Mubuhay Manor has to offer are: a vendor who sells balut (duck eggs) within the property, an employee who cuts and prepares buko (coconut) right in front of the guest, and the chance to feel like a kid, once again, by eating ice buko.

Embracing the spirit of the balikbayan, and their strong Filipino value of bringing back gifts for their family, the rooms at the Mubuhay Manor are spacious enough to accommodate families along with their boxes.

The rates for rooms at the Mubuhay range from $10 for a shared room (Team Suite) with six beds, up to $80 for a Manor Suite, which has a poolside view, its own Jacuzzi, a kitchenette and a sofa bed.

During the presentation, there was a rise in talking whenever pictures were shown of the traditional Filipino food the Mubuhay Manor has to offer. The hotel’s Sutukil Restaurant, which is located poolside, serves the freshest food, such as lapu-lapu, in the Cebuano style of cooking.

“If you notice, our market truly is the Filipino market, and that’s you” said Rowena Eliscupides, director of central services for the Legend Corporation.

As a 100% Filipinoowned and operated corporation, the Legend Hotels, in accordance with the DOT, is wisely promoting itself as a timely alternative to the country’s major-corporate hotel chains, which lack the personal and cultural charm many Filipino’s seek out when traveling back to their homeland.

“The Department of Tourism is also planning to give out incentives for the Filipino specialists,” said Rene De Los Santos, the Northern California director for the DOT, who attended the Legend presentation. “This is also an opportunity for travel agents to expand their market, as well as to earn more income.”

Another hotel featured in the presentation was the Legend Villas, which is an elegant property built in the Vigan style of Filipino and Spanish architecture.

Located in Mandaluyong City, the Legend Villas is a luxurious, but very affordable, hotel and caters to tourists, businesspersons, and locals with a number of different amenities for meetings, conferences and social events.

Also featured was the Legend Palawan at Puerto Princesa, which is another hotel steeped in elegance, although its location emphasizes visitors to take advantage of the many outdoor activities available to them.

With distinct personalities, each Legend hotel seemingly embraces a unique set of Filipino experience for the Balikbayan, or first-time visitor, all the while providing them with the satisfying feeling of time and money well spent.

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