By Matthew Fortuna
The History of the Manila Hotel
The Manila Hotel in the Philippines is a premier hotel in the Philippine capital where the president of the country resides. It was famously the home of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur prior to World War II, and has housed celebrities and leaders from around the world. Opened in the early 1900s, it is the top luxury hotel in the Philippines.
Opening
The hotel was commissioned after the United States took over the Philippines and decided to plan both the city of Manila and the Manila Hotel.
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft, future president of the United States, along with a city planner, established the plans and the hotel was opened in 1912.
General Douglas MacArthur
U.S. General Douglas MacArthur made the Manila Hotel his home from 1935 to 1941 after being asked by then-independent President Manuel L. Quezon to help build up the Philippine army.
World War II
Though the hotel survived the bombing that devastated most of Manila during World War II, it was occupied by Japanese troops throughout most of the war.
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos, president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, hosted his deciding political campaign at the Manila Hotel shortly before being elected.
Expansion
The hotel underwent extensive expansion in 1976 when it upped its room total to 570, added color television and a library, and brought in luxurious furnishings for first lady Imelda Marcos.
Famous Ties
In its almost 100 year history, the Manila Hotel has hosted John Wayne, Michael Jackson, John F. Kennedy, Ernest Hemingway and The Beatles.
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
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