Southern staycation

One of the tallest buildings in Alabang is Vivere Hotel. It is among the few five-star hotels south of Metro Manila.

Vivere boasts large spaces in its 200 rooms and suites, the smallest of which is at 35 square meters. This is unexpected as it is not a sprawling property. It compensates by being high and vertical, the benefit of which is the view from the higher floors.

The one-bedroom suite on the 21st floor, with wide windows, offers a commanding vista of communities and buildings around the hotel, the highways and Laguna de Bay. Popularly called Laguna Lake, it is actually Lake of Bay (pronounced "bah-eh"), portions of it crisscrossed with lines of many fish pens.

The room is very spacious, almost totally painted in white. A bathtub, a little kitchen, and living/work area promise a relaxing time. The adjoining bedroom is a cocoon but also has a view.

Even the hallways are airy, because the building is built with an atrium that seems to pierce through the entirety of the building. Those with a fear of heights, don't look down.

The height and the view are taken full advantage by the hotel's dining outlets — The Nest Dining in the Sky and Picasso — at the 31st floor.

The Nest is one of the best rooftop restaurants in the country, offering al-fresco dining with signature cocktails and live jazz music at night. A small pool and rocks that jut from the floor simulate a garden setting.

The adjacent Picasso is an intimate venue with elegant interiors, highlighted by capiz-shell chandeliers, and its own bar, perfect for gatherings. Both offer spectacular views of the cityscape.

All these have made Vivere popular for staycations lately, a change for a hotel that was built with business people in mind, being in the financial hub of Filinvest City.

This is perhaps because people want to have a change of environment after being locked down in their homes but cannot travel too far yet, said general manager Elvie Sanchez-Quiazon.

Sanchez-Quiazon is one of the pioneers working at the hotel, which is more than 20 years old, and the first woman hotel general manager in the country.

What is notable about the hotel is that it is Filipino-owned and -managed by the Garcia family, which operates the Richville Federated Group of Companies. Their other property is Vivera Azure, a family vacation house turned into a resort in Mabini, Batangas.

Another notable thing about Vivere, which means "to live" or "to be alive" is its brand of Filipino hospitality.

"Our team is trained to exceed guest expectations, value guests, for the ultimate memorable experience," Sanchez-Quiazon said.

This holiday season, Vivere Hotel is launching The Gift of Respite Room Promo, which includes an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room for two adults, breakfast buffet for two at The Nest, access to the Lama Pool, Fitness Edge Gym, and Kids' Playroom, and one-hour Swedish massage for two at the Vivere Spa. The package is available for P6,900 for stays until 31 January 2023. For a suite upgrade, add P1,000.

Christmas dinners on 24 and 25 December start at P3,000+ per person, with a glass of house wine and nostalgic holiday tunes from a live band.

For something extra special on your dinner table, you can order a lamb leg roast, slow-roasted or herb crusted, with sidings of watermelon and tomato salad with honey yogurt, chicken-fat roasted potatoes, and cauliflower and anchovy cream. It is good for eight to 10 persons and is available from 1 December 2022 to 31 January 2023. Pre-orders are required two days ahead.

Vivere Hotel will also host a New Year's Eve countdown party with a view of the city's fireworks displays. Rates start at P3,550 per person.

Visit www.viverehotel.com.ph for bookings and inquiries.