The Conrad opens by the Manila Bay

We were warmly greeted by hotel staff and led to the third floor reception area where guests can also enjoy a good view of the Manila Bay. 

While waiting for our turn at the reception desk, Conrad Manila's Journey Ambassador Pablo Arguelles, who hails from Spain, engaged us in a short chat and made sure we had all the assistance we needed. If there is one thing the hotel can be proud of, it is the overall attentiveness of their staff, at least during our visit.

Compared to the nearby Solaire Resort and Casino that boasts of lavish interiors and amenities, Conrad Manila seems minimalist in its approach.

To cite, toothbrushes were only available upon request. At the gym and sauna, there were no toiletries except body soap, plus the usual blow drier, slippers and towels.

The Brasserie on 3 Restaurant offers buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

While enjoying the breakfast buffet, diners may wish to stop at the healthy bowl section that serves Greek yogurt and an array of nuts (macadamia, walnut, pine, pistachio).

During the lunch buffet, the seafood selection at The Brasserie on 3 Restaurant didn't look too enticing on the day we dropped by.

A few pastries are available at the first floor. However, the view is limited and the tables face the hotel driveway.

Another restaurant called China Blue by Jereme Leung serves modernized Chinese cuisine.

There is an upscale mall called S Maison adjacent to the hotel. There are a few restaurants and well known brands such as Cole Haan, Shiseido, Fully Booked, and more.

Towards the end of the day, some hotel guests simply look forward to viewing or taking pictures of the Manila Bay sunset that is free for everyone to enjoy.

Of course, certain hotel guests also appreciate this evening surprise from Conrad Manila.

Almost blind once, HR Manager finds new life in her paintings

"I'm very happy that I can have my normal day job and paint on the side," Ioni says.

Almost blind once, HR manager finds new life in her paintings

Ioni Mendoza’s job as Human Resources (HR) Manager covers regional assignments in Australia, New Zealand, North Asia, and Southeast Asia. She works for a contract research organization that handles clinical research requirements from pharmaceutical companies.

During weekends, however, you are most likely to find her painting either with Western art (oil) or Chinese art (Shui Mo). She happens to do both.

“As a child, it has always been my interest,” she starts. 

She was interested to take Fine Arts in college but because she came from a family of six children, practicality guided her educational choice at the University of Santo Tomas. Ioni finished AB Behavioral Science Cum Laude and eventually pursued her Master in Business Administration from the same school and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

While working in HR for a company at the RCBC Tower, Ioni would receive invitations to join traditional Chinese watercolor classes, also known as Shui Mo, at the Yuchengco Museum. The first ten sessions taught by a respected teacher Arsenia Lim covered bamboo, plum blossom, and chrysanthemum subjects.

At that point, she realized that she had a lot to learn but received encouragement with her painting composition. It was also during these classes, around the year 2011, that a classmate introduced her to a Western art teacher Adler Llagas of Ecca Gallery. Eventually, she worked under the tutelage of Brando Bati.

“It was really a dream for me to be able to pursue my passion. Before I thought it was unreachable. Now I’m happy that I can pursue both Eastern and Western art.”

Ioni has since joined yearly group exhibits starting in 2012 at Ecca Gallery, 2013 at a Chinese painting exhibit in Binondo, 2014 at the Old Manila Gallery, and 2015 at the Philippine Heart Center.

This year 2016, she is also joining the Philippine Zi-Der Chinese Art Club’s 10th Anniversary Exhibit of Professor Arsenia Lim and her students at the main lobby of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Binondo, Manila to be held on October 16 – 19, 2016.

Eye operation

Unknown to a lot of people, Ioni had “ulcer of the cornea” as a baby. This meant taking steroids for more than twenty years until her cornea got thinner (side effect of medication). 

In 2004, before she even started her painting classes, Ioni underwent a corneal transplant in her right eye with the help of Dr. Cosme Naval, ophtalmologist at Cardinal Santos. According to Ioni, he was the one who aggressively pushed for the operation in order to save her eye. 

On hindsight, Ioni thinks that the whole experience was a miracle.

“The timing of my transplant is such that we had the right donor when the cornea burst during the operation.”

She was also able to work after a few months and continued with post-operational visits.

Ioni is deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue her painting. “I feel that my art now is truly a blessing because I thought at one point in my life that I would lose my eyesight.”

Other plans

Ioni still hopes to study painting and to exhibit abroad, if circumstances allow. She once received an invitation to exhibit in Winnipeg, Canada but funds were limited. 

She is also happily single and is open to meeting the right man. When asked in jest what her specifications are in choosing the ultimate guy, Ioni reveals.

“He has to be God-fearing, self-driven, and can afford to send me to painting class abroad.” She answers succinctly.


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Ioni will exhibit some of her paintings at the Philippine Zi-Der Chinese Art Club's 10th Anniversary Exhibit of Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings by Prof. Arsenia Lim and Students at the main lobby of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Binondo, Manila on October 16-19, 2016.

Chinese painting is rich in meaning and symbolism.

These cranes symbolize longevity.

For Ioni, painting is also a great stress reliever.

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Postscript: Ioni has studied under Arsenia Lim for many years. However, she admits mixing both Western and Eastern techniques once in a while. 

"I will no longer correct your work because you have your own style," her teacher once said.