In keeping with a well-loved tradition

The Peninsula Manila found the best way to say “welcome back,” as it recently reopened its doors just a few weeks before Christmas.

After closing for nearly eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Peninsula announced its re-entry into the hospitality scene the grandest way possible on Oct. 27—lighting up its 45-foot Festive Tree.

In a socially distanced afternoon ceremony, general manager Masahisa Oba and Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat officially lit up The Peninsula’s signature tree. Right after the guest of honor pressed the button, the towering attraction burst with light, illuminating the gold and red laces and trinkets it dons.

Adding some quirkiness to the occasion, Peninsula mascot Peter Bear joined the photo-op dressed as Santa Claus, wearing a face mask. When one visits the tree now, especially to dine out in style after all the months of being locked down at home, one will truly appreciate the lanterns and garlands with fresh (perhaps teary) eyes.

Peninsula Manila has kept the tree lighting tradition going since it opened in 1976. For many urbanites, the event marked the beginning of the holiday season, with events, promos and other joyous gimmicks expected of the hotel. To some extent, the Festive Tree has stood for the resilient Filipino Yuletide Spirit because it lit up every single year despite calamities, even a siege.

Many of us understandably doubted if, after a 217-day hiatus in 2020, Peninsula Manila would continue its decades-long Festive Tree tradition. Lo and behold, the tree proudly occupied its place in the hall just a day after the hotel opened The Lobby and The Peninsula Fitness Center.

The Pen Strings, a string ensemble, performed again at The Peninsula Manila.

The ceremonies, however much simpler this year, still set hearts aflutter. A case in point is Romulo Puyat herself, who has been busy visiting tourist destinations and hospitality institutions to check how they have reopened for the new normal.

In an Instagram post featuring a photo of her from the Oct. 27 event, she happily shared: “Nothing can bring down the Filipino spirit of Christmas and I’m officially starting to feel it. The reboot and revival of tourism in time for the holiday season, the lighting of the tree to signify the start of Christmas, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ on strings, topped off with our most famous halo-halo! These have brought a spark of Christmas joy to my heart.”

In the next few days, we will know how much of the yearly traditions Peninsula will observe. Many are especially interested in its events leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. This early, we know that the festive hampers, their beautifully packaged gourmet treats, will be on sale beginning Dec. 4.

In the spirit of giving, too, the hotel launched a #PeninsulaLove campaign. Until the yearend, the hotel will match each order of The Lobby’s Arroz Caldo or Pancit Luglug with a meal donation to vulnerable communities in Caloocan, Muntinlupa and Taguig cities supported by the Rise Against Hunger Philippines food bank.

Whatever Peninsula decides, the Festive Tree already warms the heart. Standing proud at The Lobby is “a symbol of hope and better days to come.”