MANILA, Philippines - It's as if the view of Taal Lake isn't enough, there are a lot of pretty things to behold in the bed-and-breakfast place called Country Suites. Nestled on the ridge of Tagaytay City, it's surrounded by the scenic landscape of the city. Yet the charming, homey atmosphere of this inn makes it difficult for guests to even venture outdoors to enjoy the view. They'd rather relax in the cozy guest suite or in the lobby, which captures the essence of a comfy, informal living room of a country house in Europe or New England.
Given this distinctive ambiance, Country Suites is perfectly suited for traditional Christmas décor. Looking at this inn now, it would be hard to imagine it without the Yuletide trimmings. They're all there, the Christmas tree, the wreaths and all those blinking lights. And since this upscale inn has a fireplace, children are given the hope that Santa could indeed drop in on Christmas Eve.
Ironically, there isn't a sign of Santa at Country Suites. There's not a Santa figurine or picture in sight. As it happens, Country Suites adopts a different theme every year for Christmas. For this season, the place still adopted the traditional look but only up to a certain point. The décor looks rich and it complements the interiors. What is missing from the wreaths and the tree are the traditional Christmas colors: green and red. Hence, Santa in his eye-catching red outfit wouldn't have fit in.
"We call it a fusion of the modern and traditional," says stylist Ferdie Marcelo, who conceptualized this year's look. The modern touch of the theme can be noticed with the color scheme Marcelo chose, which is gold. It's especially discernible on the tree. It's adorned with gold trinkets and is almost covered with stars and "banana moons" that come in gold and in various sizes. It's a tree that would do Merlin the Magician proud. "Instead of Christmas balls, I decided why not stars instead," says Marcelo. "I was in a Madame Auring mode when I did that!"
Although Marcelo selects the concept of the décor, he doesn't have to choose every piece. The hotel has a regular supplier of decorations. "They always know what we need and what they deliver is always perfect for the place," he says.
Marcelo notes that it's always fun to decorate the Country Suites for Christmas. The place is conducive for Christmas, he says. Marcelo is dubbed the style director of Country Suites. He also did the Christmas décor of its sister hotel, the Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center. He'll soon be flying off to Boracay to do the décor for Discovery Shores. It's a bigger challenge to decorate a modern-looking hotel like Discovery Shores. Red is going to be the dominant color for that particular hotel, he says. He admits it's going to be a daunting task, what with the hotel's clean all-white interiors and exteriors. But he's excited with the job ahead of him.
As with the Christmas décor, Country Suites has always been a fusion of the old and the new. Old-fashioned hospitality is offered in a place that has a natural country atmosphere. Yet all the modern amenities are available. With only seven suites available, the place is often fully booked but never crowded.
Resident manager Jonahs Virreys says there won't be any Christmas parties come Christmas Eve but they'll be serving Noche Buena on the eves of Christmas and New Year.
For inquiries, contact Country Suites at (63 46) 413-4567.
