DavidSays

The Mabuhay Manor:
Balikbayans choicest hotel
Offers service without limits,
amenities that are incomparably special
By DAVID CASUCO

The travel-weary balikbayan disembarks from the plane, listlessly waits for his luggage to show up at the conveyor, heads toward the exits and wonders if somebody else cares enough that he is in Manila, a place that, like an old song, just won't let go. Ah, but that was long time ago. The last time he was here, the first light rail transit from Baclaran to Liwasang Bonifacio was just doing trial runs, and the Anito Lodge motels were mushrooming in every nook and cranny of the Metropolis.

He moved his cart aimlessly to the exits, passing by a phalanx of people looking for their arriving relatives. And his relatives? He could hardly remember who they are. Besides, there is no way they could pick him up at the airport. They live far away up North, and he doubts if they have stable cars. He raised his head to check if by chance The Mabuhay Manor (www.mabuhaymanor.com.ph) that the travel agency picked for him had included an airport-hotel transfer. Sure enough, a driver from the Manor was there to meet him. A series of turns here and there and the service van was in front of the Mabuhay Manor. He checks his watch, travel time was exactly 14 minutes.

"This is like grandma's house, the people (hotel staff) are genuinely warm, and the guests move like they own the place," he thought.

(Mabuhay Manor front desk)

"Welcome to the Mabuhay Manor! Feel at home, sir, you are our guest, and we are at your service," said a quick-smiling young lady clad in an Igorota-inspired uniform. The front desk lady ushered him in a remarkably warm and sincere way, he couldn't believe he was experiencing hospitality at another level.
Later on, the balikbayan was to learn that The Mabuhay Manor has been, for over a decade now, a top choice for visiting Pinoy expats because of its extra-special brand of hospitality and the more personal approach to service. Actually, Mabuhay Manor is just one of the chain of budget-friendly hotels under the Legend Hotels International (www.legendhotels.com.ph) namely, the Legend Villas, The Legend Palawan, and Kabayan Hotels. There are now 11 properties under the Legends hotel group.
The brilliant mind behind this innovative "value-accommodation" concept of hotel service is Francis Patrick Favoreal, VP-COO of Legend Hotels International (LHI), a dynamic young man whose trailblazing efforts enabled LHI to corner a great chunk of the the affluent balikbayan travel market in California.
"The Mabuhay Manor enjoys a loyal following among U.S.-based kababayan because of its affordable rates and exceptio

nal service. We recognize that Filipino-Americans are a smart: They know where to buy; they know what schools to send their children; and, definitely, they know how to travel and have fun," said Favoreal.
He added that, according to their study, "the balikbayan goes home essentially for five reasons, we call it the Five Fs -- family, friends, food, faith, and fiestas," said Favoreal. "And since they are here on a limited time, the LHI staff make sure that the balikbayan guests are stress-free, and that all the "Five Fs" are served to them in the best possible way they know how. We make sure that their stay with us are convenient, pleasant, and always memorable," he said.
Unlike the conventional upscale hotel with indifferent and stiff settings, the Manor, in a way, compares to Lola's big palatial home, where the sense of belongingness makes it incomparably special. It has a place for the young and the old, and just about eveyone.
For this forty-something balikbayan, he finds the open lounge on the second floor overlooking the swimming pool his perfect sanctuary. He can turn on and off the ceiling fan and the lightings like it is his own patio in his home in California. In the mornings, he spends his time reading local magazines while his coffee is hosted by the guys from "Lola's," the second floor restaurant nearby. In the early evenings he hangs out at the open lounge with his favorite whisky bottle as he savors bit by bit the varied flavors of grilled fresh seafood from "Sutukil" right down below. The whir of the stuffy humid air gets drowned by noise of the children at the pool, and the chatter of the adults dining at the poolside give one the feeling that the party is going on in earnest at grandma's place.
Favoreal said that LHI's brand of service is anchored on two time-honored Filipino concepts namely, "sulit" and "alaga." The idea is, give the Pinoy a deal worth his money at the same time pamper him with excellent service and he will surely come back or recommend you to his friends and families."
The Mabuhay Manor and other Legend hotels do just that. "Sulit" and "alaga" are the hallmarks of their "service without limits" mission. And then some -- the endearing homey "little else's" like "palagi kang may makakausap;" "makakapaglaro ka ng dama at sungka" while the hotel staff keep an eye on your little kid; "puede kang umidlip at maghilik" at the lounge without any dread of embarrassment;" you can have a late check-out if your flight is late evenings; you can ask the cook to put more okra and kangkong in your sinigang; freshly chopped buko, balut, puto, and ice candy are readily available; and if you need a spiritual uplift, you can do fellowship with hotel staff and other like-minded guests at the Prayer Room.
(oh no, someone does not like it here)
Sounds too good to be true, indeed. Yet, at the Manor, the balikbayan gets practically everything that he yearns to experience or re-learn from his homeland. He is not just a guest, he is family. He invokes his inalienable right to extreme Pinoy pampering. He is the balikbayan and Manor honors his privilege to avail of the "alaga" service.
The hotel even has a resident pastor, Jun Enriquez, who understandably takes care of anything of spiritual concern. Pastor Jun intimated to this writer that the rise of balikbayan-oriented hotels spelled the demise of the iconic Anito Lodge enterprise, a stunning turn of events that created shockwaves in the lucrative motel industry.
Pastor Jun acts as the vital cog in the perceptible moral and spiritual regeneration that has taken place among most of its employees. It is estimated that more than half of the employees are renewed believers. And although the Manor human resources office does not discriminate anybody when hiring employees, the faith of the enlightened ones and the fruits of their spiritual walk are contagious enough to compel the lukewarm believers to serve the one mighty God.
That explains why the young man sings praise and worship songs while he makes up your room. Or why the waiters at "Lola's" might serenade the breakfast table with Don Moen's "God Will Make A Way" or "There Is None Like You."
This is a thing that does not happen very often -- a lot of genuinely inspired and happy people in one workplace.
"Our employees are inspired to work harder as they are motivated by their faith," said Favoreal, a renewed believer himself.
Little wonder Mabuhay Manor is exceptionally blessed.
Exactly what Pastor Jun had said quoting Paul's letter to the Romans (8:31), "If God is for us, who can be against us?"