A date with the Grand Dame of Tagaytay

MANILA, Philippines - Taal Vista Hotel, the legendary Grand Dame of Tagaytay, a venue of significant historical events and for many of its long-time patrons, a repository of priceless memories, is presently in the midst of drawing up meticulous plans and preparations for endearing and fun-filled activities to commence in October 2014 as it marks its much-awaited diamond celebration, truly a momentous occasion.

Back in the early ’30s, Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon envisioned Tagaytay as the new leisure destination for rest and recreation. The bracing mountain air and its proximity to Manila made it the ideal and more accessible alternative to then popular Baguio.

By the mid-’30s, the Manila Hotel Company built the English Tudor mansion-style Taal Vista Lodge, the very first hotel in Tagaytay. Perched on a highly valuable strip on the Tagaytay Ridge, it offered an unobstructed and breathtaking view — arguably the best — of Taal Lake and volcano. It opened its doors to great fanfare on Oct. 7, 1939 with a stellar guest list that would eventually constitute its highly appreciative clientele.

In the next decade, the venue played host to visiting heads of state and global celebrities, industrialists and philanthropists, educators and culture mavens. President Quezon loved the rarefied atmosphere of the gentrified destination so much he even held many important Government Cabinet meetings there.

After World War II, Tagaytay became the inevitable site of choice for families who wanted to escape the stultifying pace of life in Manila and even for corporations rebuilt from the ruins of war, that needed an invigorating place for their vital life-changing conferences. An ambitious development program commenced with the addition of more cottages and cabanas, dining rooms, coffee and tea lounges, a children’s playground complete with horseback-riding facilities. The then First Lady Luz Magsaysay cut the ceremonial ribbon at its re-launch in 1956.  

Rapid expansion continued with large pavilions constructed to meet the exacting needs of a growing clientele. The iconic veranda — scene of many unforgettable moments for its guests — was refurbished to make it more conducive to taking those precious photos of family get-togethers.

At the turn of the new millennium, Taal Vista Lodge was faithfully reconstructed in the style of the original Tudor-style lodge. It has undergone a remarkable transformation from one with 12 cabanas to the present sprawling establishment with 261 guest rooms and suites, 16 modern function rooms and conference facilities, and a 1,000-seater grand ballroom. On March 27, 2003, it reopened its doors under its current name, Taal Vista Hotel.

The hotel has much of its fabled past to commemorate even as it keeps in step with a new generation of patrons who first entered its doors as eager youngsters in the company of their doting parents in those earlier, gentler times. Today, it is doing so in the gracious and altruistic manner it has long been known for.

Recently, Taal Vista Hotel was aglow with the bright lights of the holidays as it quietly observed its 74th anniversary with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The mood was festive yet hushed for simply there was no stopping Christmas even though sadly many parts of the country were still reeling from the effects of recent calamities. The concerned and caring hotel officials decided on a low-key but meaningful celebration to spread the joys of the season and share its blessings. The young cancer patients of Make-A-Wish Foundation and some wards of the Chosen Children’s Village were joined by the property’s corporate family and friends. 

The affair started with pre-event cocktails at the Sampaguita Ballroom lobby where a photo exhibit of milestones in the hotel’s history served as a fitting backdrop. Taal Vista Hotel Area GM Walid Wafik warmly welcomed the guests while SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. president Elizabeth Sy delivered her Christmas message.

Caught up in the merriment, everyone then proceeded to the hotel front garden beside the main entrance for the actual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. With the kids from the Chosen Children’s Village in Silang, Cavite excitedly gathered around her, Sy switched on thousands of tiny LED bulbs on the pine trees as dusk enveloped the sky while it burst with thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights.

The Chosen Children’s Village is close to the heart of the SM corporate family as it continues to provide a serene home environment for special children with mental and physical disabilities. Based in more than two hectares of vast greenery in Silang, Cavite, it houses cottages, a chapel, a school, an administration clinic and physical therapy centers. The central focus is a spacious and airy multi-purpose play area where the children fill the air with laughter and squeals of delight.

In the season’s spirit of giving, Taal Vista Hotel in active partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation played Santa and made the cherished dreams of two teenaged cancer patients come true. Seventeen-year-old Remelyn Mandal and 15-year-old Dona Tomes had long wished to spend a day of fun and relaxation in Tagaytay away from hospital rooms and painful treatments. The teenagers were ecstatic as they received their most memorable Christmas present — together with their families, they were treated to an overnight stay at the hotel and were guests of honor at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Founded in the US in 1980, Make-A-Wish Foundation makes it possible to arrange unforgettable experiences described as “wishes” for children aged three to 18 with life-threatening medical conditions. It operates in nearly 50 countries around the world through 37 affiliate offices. It is a non-government organization that survives on the help of generous donors and more than 30,000 volunteers. Since it started, it has collectively granted approximately more than 310,000 wishes worldwide.   

As a thousand and one lights on the pine trees cast an enchanting spell on the hotel garden, angelic voices of the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir which won first prize in the Children’s Folk Category at the 2013 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales filled the air with well-loved Christmas carols. The most wonderful time of the year had come. Everyone forgot their cares and on that starry night had a celestial experience of what Christmas is all about.

That magical evening at Taal Vista Hotel was a glimpse of what is in store for all its visitors and guests as the hotel moves towards its Diamond Anniversary. Sy said it best in her Christmas message, “We at SM Hotels and Convention Corporation have endeavored to preserve the hotel’s heritage while staying in tune to the changing times. We value our rich history as we strive to meet global standards.”