the chandelier were inspired by the “pabitin.”
The team dreamed of a white Christmas, but the inspiration wasn’t snow.
With an organic and traditional holiday décor of sinamay, parol, capiz shells, glittery balls and Christmas trees, Bellevue hotel welcomed the season with nationalistic pride.
To floral designer, Tony Rodriguez, the Filipino Christmas theme sparked memories of his childhood in Bacolod, where his neighborhood put on a festive air, with bold lanterns, and where children would grab candies and little toys suspended from the pabitin, a hanging bamboo lattice.
Giant lanterns are wrapped in hundreds of yards of shirred sinamay.
Rodriguez interprets the white Christmas as warm shades of ivory capiz and antique white native woven fabric and beige woven boxes from Sorsogon.
Cutwork figures of teardrops, birds and dancing ladies inspired by the callado tracery in ancestral homes also lend the local flavor. These are carefully intertwined in the garlands and Christmas trees.
Then again, Rodriguez punctuates the native inspirations with his signature décor —Christmas berries, pine cones, shiny balls in red and gold, the color of good luck and prosperity.
High style
The 456-room Bellevue is the only hospitality place in Metro South given a five-star rating by the Department of Tourism.
In the past years, it has tapped Rodriguez to interpret the hotel’s high style. Rodriguez dressed up the lobbies in colorful themes inspired by harlequins, the carousel and the “Nutcracker” story.
This year, the hotel expresses the patriotic sentiment that has swept the country in time for Apec week.
The tall Christmas trees dominate the lobbies of each tower. Beneath them, traditional woven baskets with shiny ornaments replace the traditional wrapped presents.
The color scheme of the main tower lobby is swathed in demure ivory and refined silver. Combining various metallic finishes of silver and gold with natural fibers creates glamour without being over the top.
Gold balls, gold spray-painted leaves and berries are added sparingly.
At the second tower lobby, red balls add splash and drama to the black, white and beige color scheme.
As in all his projects, the stairways and banisters brighten up with elegant swags of Christmas garlands.
“I’m always associated with Christmas,” says Rodriguez. “It brings back happy memories of family and loved ones.”