October 18, 2010

If walls could talk

Built in 1908–1912, the Manila Hotel is the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines. It was part of American architect and city planner Daniel Hudson Burnham's plan for the City of Manila which included neo-classical government buildings (like the old Finance, Legislative and Post Office buildings) and a large park, and was designed by American architect William Edward Parsons. Located along Roxas Boulevard, the hotel has commanding views of Manila Bay, the old walled city of Intramuros and Rizal Park. From 1935 to 1941, Manila Hotel was the residence of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and the MacArthur Suite, which displays some mementos of his and of the war, is one of the most lavish in the hotel.

Manila Hotel



Reminding all City Daily Photo bloggers again: our theme for November 1 is Public Transportation, and don't forget to vote for the December theme!

14 comments:

  1. Looks as if it might even be stronger than time. May life continue to treat it and its guests kind.

    Please have a good new week.

    daily athens

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  2. If the walls could talk, I am sure that they could retell stories to General Douglas MacArthur and his father, Arthur McArthur, telling stories that include references to how great they were.

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  3. je pense que pour beaucoup de politiques ou de militaires, heureusement que les murs des hotels ne parlent pas....

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  4. If walls could talk... it will tell every guest that I took my oath as a vet in Manila Hotel. Very memorable place for me, too! o",)

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  5. Wow, that is a hotel that has seen many things! The white walls are beautiful :D

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  6. I would definitely like to hear what these walls would say if they could talk. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  7. the one place i have yet to visit. ^0^ i want to see what it looks inside.

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  8. It is an elegant old building, and from your description, suitably situated. MacArthur, being a preening egotist, would most certainly have the most lavish suite in any hotel anywhere! :-)

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  9. It's beautiful Hilda. I would love to see what the rooms look like on the inside!

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  10. Heard about a mega storm coming your way. Please be careful.

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  11. Hmmmm. How interesting that MacArthur had such a lavish suite. Now that's something you never read in school textbooks. :)

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  12. I've seen pictures of this hotel while it was occupied by the Japanese. A lot has truly change, yet the memories still linger within those walls.

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  13. Funny, in the '90s I used to go to the Manila Hotel a lot, for afternoon tea, after-word drinks, or dinner. Now I haven't been there in over a decade, I think! That may be because so many new options have opened up since then. It still has one of the nicest lobbies for a big hotel... unless they went and changed that too. I do hope they renovated the old rooms. I had colleagues stay there... once; weren't impressed by the mustiness. No, it wasn't the MacArthur Suite! :-D

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