It was only last week when I learned from a friend through SMS that one of our classmates in med school is about to leave for Riyadh next week to work as a medical practictioner. Both of them are not just our friends of 12 years and counting but happen to be our son’s godparents too. Although we seldom rarely see them because of our schedules, we usually keep in touch via the wonders of cell phones and e-mails.
After my wife and I decided to meet up with our 2 friends, I also texted my sister-in-law who’s also our classmate in med school and their barkada actually, to join us in the “despedida” on a dutch treat, (read : KKB a.k.a. kanya-kanyang bayad, lol) 
Of course, we brought our son Gabby to the meeting place for him to see his ninangs claim his overdue-gifts for all the occasions that they’ve intentionally missed. And Gabby wasn’t disappointed because he received a huge Transformer action figure and a deadly weapon water gun to his delight.
It was around 4:30 PM last Tuesday when we reached this place…
No kids, this isn’t FARM TOWN of facebook, lol. 
Upon seeing the totally renovated pool side of this hotel in Pasay City after so many years that I haven’t been there, I suddenly remembered something… NO, not that alleged Piolo Pascual-Sam Milby-holding hands by the pool-tsismis lol but fun memories of my childhood years flashed vividly.
My mom used to bring us here for a weekend stay whenever my dad had his short days off from work. My dad used to work in Riyadh too, and the other key cities in K.S.A., Kuwait and U.A.E. for 17 years as a supermaket manager (read : bagong bayani, lol).
During those times, we usually checked in hotels in Manila to as far as Crowne Peak in Subic, and Venus hotel (my mom’s favorite because of cheap rates and accessibility) in Baguio City.
But this hotel is exceptionally grand…
However, since the pool side is at Manila Bay area, the only unfavorable thing was the unpleasant sea breeze that’s salty fishy to the senses (paging Manila Bay authorities, you may want to further your clean up program!). Nevertheless, this luxurious hotel was upgraded to its finest! One of its major advantages is freely given to anyone who becomes a guest in any of their 609 rooms and suites – that’s the spectacular view of the most beautiful sunset in the world. Manila Bay sunset is still breathtaking.
It was nice that we had taken a stroll while waiting for my sister-in-law who was caught in traffic on way to the venue. I felt good remiscing a part of my growing up years now that I am a parent too. I am more grateful to my parents on how they’ve tried their best raising us as kids. With these occasional hotel hopping and few travels abroad and in some provinces here, all four of us boys had an early appreciation of good things that life can offer. I just wish I can also do it to my own family. It’s so nice to share wonderful childhood memories to my own kid.
No, we didn’t get a room to check in this time but we went there to meet up with our friends to enjoy the feast at the hotel’s buffet that I will feature next.
Now that you have an idea of the venue of our get-together, swing by again soon as I post the feast we had for dinner last Tuesday.
Looks like a grand hotel indeed! What’s with the fishy smell? Was it this bad when you were going there in your early years? I am with you, sunset at Manila Bay is hard to beat.
the sea breeze at manila bay was fresher 2 decades ago; it’s polluted over time so even the most luxurious hotels and venues around it suffer from this not-so-petty problem.
if authorities won’t do something about the bay preservation, even the famous sunset may retire from its beauty.
I was fortunate enough to stay at the Sofitel last year and first thing I asked when I checked-in was to put me in a room above the pool. And what a gorgeous view I had!