Wednesday, November 12, 2003
God is in the details
 

During an exclusive tour of Unit 201, Hilton Residences, Manuel Osmeña, chairman and CEO of Hilton Towers said, “That will be the most prestigious address by middle of next year,” right before he gives a special guided tour of the property.

The tail end of an hour-long shower spatters the enclosed triangle of three buildings done in calming carnation. We rise from an underground parking area of three levels (“The largest indoor parking in the country”) to be greeted by two highrises fronting the sea. Channeling the Cote d’Azur, the towers are shifted carefully at an angle to ensure that every room has an ocean view. “Or your money back!,” Osmeña half-jests, but something in his tone suggests utmost seriousness.

So serious, in fact, that even the rushing of air has been studied extensively here. “We hired an international consulting firm to study wind movement in the area,” explains Osmeña. From their findings, the geography of the property was plotted. The open- air, skylighted lobby is right smack on the path of the wind tunnel… “so wind comes right in at all times of the day, and bounces around it so there is always a breeze.” At this stage of its development, when one needs to augment the lavish descriptions of Murano blue tiles laid out on the soundless central fountain, ornate windbreakers made to look like gigantic tropical foliage carved in stone, or the discreet glass-encased souvenir shops, the effect of the wind tunnel is already a palpable reality.

Only a dollop of this suspension of disbelief is needed when descending to the beachfront area, which is already taking shape. The eternity pool, again in Murano blue, faces a small domed structure intended to be an outdoor wedding altar. “We plan to put up a large air-conditioned tent right beside it for outdoor receptions,” Osmeña offers. Just like the movies. “And on Sundays, a worship service will be held here, where everyone can just sit around and relax wearing anything. Because in worshipping God, you can just come as you are.”

And quite unlike the old cliché, Osmeña knows that in this endeavor, it is God who is in the details. A quick look at the mock-up rooms of the hotel tower reveals just that. “High ceilings, and even the elevator hallways are well-ventilated,” he continues. “I don’t like stuffy spaces.” It also takes someone who has learned the basics enough to break the rules and get away with it. “I’ve decided to invert a number of things in this hotel.” For one, the rooms will not be carpeted but instead feature perfectly assembled imported tiles.

The carpets will be in the hallways, to muffle the sounds of luggage being dragged or people in transit. Opening their standard toilets reveals another rulebreak that works: “The original plans were to have the floors tiled in blue and the walls in white,” he says. “But that’s what you see everywhere.” This Hilton, then, will have blue walls and white floors. “An Osmeña innovation,” he laughs with the glee of a kid who just assembled his first Lego house. “The Hilton guys said it takes someone like me who is a little crazy to do these things.”

And why does the real estate developer go the extra mile? “Why, I’m going to live here, of course!” With that we come to his unfinished apartment at the promenade floor, just below the two-storey penthouse suite. “It will have glass for walls, and I’ll just draw curtains for privacy,” Osmeña says dreamily. “And here,” he leads the eager little group to a spacious veranda, custom-fit to seat a luxurious dinner for eight, “God willing, we’ll be sipping wine by next year.” Forgive my mixed salutations, but I say amen and let’s drink to that.