FORMER SOFITEL EMPLOYEES REMINISCE MEMORABLE MOMENTS AS THE HOTEL BIDS FAREWELL

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila—formerly known as the Philippine Plaza and the Westin Philippine Plaza—is admired for many reasons: its luxurious accommodations and world-class amenities, its stunning panoramic sunset views by the bay, and its reputation as a premier venue for high-profile events. Not to mention, it boasts one of the finest buffet dining experiences in Asia. But, for the countless employees who dedicated themselves to crafting unforgettable experiences for the hotel's guests, Sofitel is more than just a resort hotel—it is a second home where they forged invaluable memories and lifelong lessons.

As Sofitel prepares to close its doors, we asked former employees to share their fondest memories, stories of camaraderie, and the lessons they’ll carry with them forever.

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Catwalk dreams

For Yasmine Hidaldo-Giovannoli, who worked at Sofitel for a total of 11 years—between 2005 and 2007, and from 2012 to 2019—it was a place where grand ideas turned into reality. During her tenure, the former PR director had the chance to mount fabulous events showcasing the talents and ingenuity of Filipino creatives in the fashion industry.

Sofitel's spiral staircase served as the platform for showcasing fashion events. 

"During that time, I had the opportunity to work with fellow Filipinos who had big ideas," Giovannoli says. "Fashion events were held in hotels even back in the '80s, so the idea wasn't exactly new. But I thought Sofitel's spiral staircase could be a great catwalk, and it did serve as a platform for those events."

She still remembers the first fashion show they staged for Mother's Day in 2013, featuring the works of fashion designers Mark Bumgarner and Pia Gladys Perey. The event showcased beauty queen Maggie Wilson, ex-supermodels Patty Betita and Lou Bunyi, actresses G Tongi, Maritoni Fernandez, and Gwen Zamora, lawyer Karen Jimeno, and GMA executive Ida Henares.

The events that followed showcased the couture creations of Patis Tesoro, Ryan Madamba, and Albert Andrada. Working behind the scenes was renowned Filipino fashion director and event producer Robby Carmona.

"Those events allowed me to collaborate with different brands and invite numerous guests, so I made lots of friends," Giovannoli says. The fashion aficionado also enjoyed dressing up with her hotel colleagues for those occasions. "I had a glam team which the hotel also supported. I made sure that everyone looked their best."

Dressed to the nines with her bosses. 

Working at Sofitel during the beginning and peak of her career in the Philippines—first as a management trainee and later as a PR director—Giovannoli says she's thankful that the company, its employees, and even the media embraced her with welcoming arms.

She left the country and her job in the Philippines when she tied the knot with her Italian boyfriend, Marco Giovannoli, in 2019. Yasmine continues to do PR work for luxury hotels in Germany.

Sense of pride

Miguel Capistrano III, who was employed at the hotel from 1996 to 1999 (when it was known as Westin Philippine Plaza), believes it was the collective pride in being part of the esteemed resort hotel that united its employees.

Fresh out of college, the Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate got hired to work as a front office agent. "[Westin] was very unique at that time because it offered the best of both worlds—it's in the city, but it's by the bay. It had a pool plus the world-renowned Manila Bay sunset view. Kasi when you work in Makati or Ortigas, walang ganung resort feels," he says. "It was a very beautiful hotel to work in because it had the best of everything."

Taking charge of the operations of a 609-room convention hotel was no small feat and provided him with the essential training to advance in his chosen career. "It's a very dynamic hotel. It had so much to offer; it was multifaceted, and every day was exciting because there was always something different happening."

Enjoying the Front Office shift with colleagues Beth Imperio and Lee Flores, circa 1997 

Four years of working at the hotel, says Capistrano, developed his character and skills in hotel organization and operations. "Also, working with people who have been there for more than 15 years, you can sense their passion, and that gets transferred to you," he adds.

Being at the heart of the operations department allowed him to work with different divisions of the hotel, providing him with valuable training for his future career endeavors. After his stint at Westin, he worked at Oakwood Makati where he rose through the ranks to become a sales manager, and at several other companies in the hospitality industry such as  Resorts World Manila, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, Microtel Inns and Suites, The Henry Hotel Group, and Discovery Resorts.

Currently, he is the general manager of Estancia de Lorenzo, a resort and events venue situated on a sprawling property in San Mateo, Rizal.

Family culture

Sands Palabrica, who worked with the Human Resources department as a training and development officer in the 90s, also takes pride in the resort hotel's breathtaking sunset view by the bay, its iconic lagoon-shaped swimming pool and sunset bar, high-ceilinged ballroom with a teardrop chandelier, the famous Siete Pecados buffet spread, and beautiful corner suites.

But beyond the physical beauty of the hotel, the memories he cherishes most are of its people and the family culture they nurtured together. "We call each other associates—from the managers, supervisors, rank and file, to kitchen helpers—not co-employees or colleagues, because we treat each other like family," says Palabrica.

Palabrica (left) with Sofitel associates

"As part of HR, we remember the names of all 650 employees and make an effort to understand each of them," he adds.

They called the cafeteria "saluhan," says Palabrica. "Sama-sama kami doon kumakain, so saluhan. Yan ang namimiss ko na samahan talaga."

Christmas parties, which usually happened in January since December is a hectic month for the hotel, were loads of fun, complete with contests, production numbers, and amazing gifts. All the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao ballrooms were blocked for the occasion. "I remember we had a Wild Wild West-themed party, and it was [the late] German Moreno who hosted it. The management really took good care of the employees," says Palabrica.

With the HR team

With the training provided, employees had a chance to carve their career paths in the company. "For example, if you're with the housekeeping department and you wanted to move to reservations, there are cross-trainings provided for that," he offers.

Through his experience working at the company, he developed the social skills he needed to explore other fields. After working at Westin, he ventured into producing stand-up comedy shows before eventually deciding to work overseas. He became one of the pioneering HR employees at Arabian Courtyard Hotel and Spa in Dubai before moving to Montreal, Canada, to join Manulife Global Investment and also to start his own modeling agency.

"In my line of work now, I need to know how to deal with people of different nationalities and attitudes, so I'm really thankful that I was able to acquire the foundation I needed in my years working at Westin," he says.

'Service beyond expectation'

For Nitz Angelo, who worked at Sofitel for 15 years—from September 1976 (during its pre-opening) to September 1991—what made her proud was the "professionalism, culture, and training and development programs" that the hotel introduced.

"Overall, it’s really the people that made the difference. We were like one big family, all aiming to provide service beyond expectation. We were one big team," she tells Esquire Philippines.

Angelo in her receptionist uniform

Angelo started her career in the Food and Beverage Department as a service attendant. She then transitioned to a receptionist role before being transferred to the Front Office as a clerk in different areas. Eventually, she was promoted to supervisory and managerial positions, becoming the Front Office Duty Manager. Later, she advanced to roles as Resort Manager and Business Center Manager.

Through these various roles, she acquired some of the most crucial skills in the hospitality industry, such as handling difficult guests and resolving critical situations. Her experience provided a solid foundation for taking on more challenging roles in subsequent stints at prestigious establishments such as Le Méridien Hotel Kuwait, Dubai InterContinental, Shangri-La Makati, Shangri-La Surabaya, Traders Hotel Yangon, Mactan Shangri-La, Dusit Thani Guam, and Pacific Star Resort & Spa, Guam.

While the iconic structure may cease to welcome guests, the impact and memories of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila will remain in the hearts of those who experienced its storied history. Their stories remind us that it is not the buildings but the people within them who create lasting legacies.

2024-06-29T08:18:45Z dg43tfdfdgfd