“The Philippine Star” is usually a source for a laugh or two today’s newspaper didn’t fail with a story titled
‘Motel Chain shuts down for God’.
The quote the article:
There will be fewer lovers’ trysts in Metro Manila as the owner of one of the most popular motel chains in the country said he has succumbed to “God’s will” and decided to padlock the last of his establishments.”
Wyden King, chairman of the Anito Hotels Inc. (AHI), said the closure of the 137-room Anito Arellan Kalookan in Barong Barrio was the proverbial last nail on the coffin of his family’s decades old motel business.
The ways of Lord are very strange and we can’t fully comprehend them. Many people, too, do not understand our letting go of this business,” King, 54, said.
We did not want the devil’s mannon going into the family coffers,” said King, a born-again Christian.
Later on:-
King dramatized his distain for his old business by slashing with a knife the familiar red apple logo on the canvas signage that was brought down form its perch during ceremonies marking the Kalookan motel’s closure.
A white tarpaulin over the main gate read “ Anito Hotel closed for the glory of God”.
The closure was also a religious event attended by family and friends, and even former self confessed patrons of the motel.
Pastors of the Caloocan Minsters Associated (Camia) and the Metro Manila for Jesus Movement officiated at he religious ceremonies.
The ceremonies included King’s sprinkling of water on a bed to exorcise “the devil’s presence.”
King said the beds were mute witness to sins like abortion, suicide, incest and drug abuse, amongst others.
Huh? Suicide and drug abuse I may get as going on in a hotel room, but mute witness to incest?
Back to the story:
“I declare all the beds redeemed, (the hotel) totally closed and destroyed in the name of Jesus. I also destroy my covenant with the devil,” he said.
“Our love for mammon had blinded us all these years. I declare this covenant totally cancelled.” He declared.
Hallelujah. Another soul saved. Lets have a round of “Kum by ya”.
Oh yeh, I almost forgot to mention:
King also asked foregiveness for city officials by encouraging corruption by offering bribes, among others, to promote his business.
And finally this:-
King told The STAR that the business was making more the P2 Million a day before the oil crunch. He admitted that theh current crisis had affected revenues but this was not why he gave up the business.
He said some 11,000 individuals “used” his motels daily and their “lives were ruined by falling into immoralty using these rooms”.
C'mon, if he was so religous, why didn't he change the hotels to a lodge for pilgrims or homes for the poor. Sounds like he is getting closure to death, he's cleansing the negatives on his sin balance sheet.
With declining revenues, there is a lesson that Las Vegas hotels should learn in this story. The City with the slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas approach”, should take a hard cold look at what goes on in their rooms.
It is scandalous and I am outraged.
They a missing out on such a gold mine where they should be promoting more decandence to get the tourists in.
Imagine this telephone conversation:
“Hello, BL Z Bub Hotel. Room service?”
“Yes, this is room 666. I like to order some heroin before I perform an abortion on my daughter.”
“Sorry sir, we are out of heroin”.
“Oh ok, what about crack.”
“Sir, we have crack. I’ll have someone bring it up”.
“Whilst I am at it, I was wondering if you have any other debauchery specials?”
"We have a special on human sacrifices. Buy one, another killed for free”.
“Are they free range? I am a environmentalist back home you know”
“No sorry sir, we only have factory farmed humans”
“Then I’ll skip it, Thanks. I pride myself in being green”.
"Have a nice day and thank you for staying at BL Z Bub. The hotel that brings the devil out of you”.Phileas Fogg,
Manila Peninsula Hotel,
26th July 2008.
