Melo Villareal
SilverKris Airport Lounge Manila Opens in NAIA T3
Home Away from Home
Singapore Airlines finally opens its SilverKris Airport Lounge Manila in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last July 1, 2015. With the theme “home away from home”, Singapore Airline’s SilverKris Airport Lounge takes traveling from the Philippines to Singapore and vice versa to a whole new level of modernity, style, and most especially, comfort.
SilverKris Lounge Manila
Interior design firm ONG&ONG and the whole SilverKris Lounge development team made extra steps to make the newly-opened lounge as comfortable and as homey as much as possible. Aside from interior designing that compliments and reminds the travelers of both the Singaporean and Philippine cultures, the dishes offered both on air and in the airport grounds will feature Singaporean and Philippine dishes.
Signature Batik Design Screen
Singapore Airlines also makes sure that all Lounge hosts apply the theme “home away from home” in all the services they provide to the travelers going back or away from their own respective homes.
Dining Room showcasing Impy Pilapil’s Artwork
A Glimpse Inside SilverKris Airport Lounge
The entrance to the newly-opened SilverKris Airport Lounge Manila features Singapore Airline’s trademark—the batik-designed transparent screen. The widely-opened foyer and the transparent batik pattern of the Lounge will let people get a peek of what’s inside in store, and gives them a sense that they are always welcome to come to the Lounge.
Food and Beverage Area
The interior of SilverKris Airport Lounge Manila includes well-defined spaces that mimic the basic divisions of a normal house—a Living Room, and Dining Rooms. Each room is designed with paintings from the SilverLens Gallery, which also showcases Filipino-made artworks. The development and designing team believes that the people can be given a sense of home through the specially-curated artworks.
SIA Signature Armchairs
Magazines inside the lounge
The center of the lounge features a sculpture by Filipino artist Impy Pilapil, which gives Filipino travelers a sense of home, and the Singaporean travelers a sense of the Philippine culture.
Productivity Pods
Living Room Area
The waiting area of the Lounge takes up 450 square meters of breathing and relaxing space, and 117 signature SIA armchairs. Customers may also choose to use the Lounge’s pods for more privacy, comfort, some electric outlets, and USB ports. The whole waiting area is Wi-FI connected, which ensures that costumers stay in touch with all the things that matter to them.
Delectable dessert
The food selection, staying true to the theme “home away from home”, provides the customers as much comfort and homey feel as possible by providing both Filipino and Hainanese delights. Classic Filipino dishes such as Adobo and Beef Tapa are also available in the lounge.
Lounge food selection
Singapore Chicken Rice
The customers may choose to go to the Lounge’s salad bar, if ever they desire a lighter meal before leaving. Desserts are readily available as well—be it chocolate or ice cream. If a little tang to the tongue is what a customer wants, the Lounge also has a bar that serves wines, beers, and rums.
Gallery
Opening the Doors to the Home Away from Home
During the opening of perhaps the most revolutionary airport lounge ever by Singapore Airlines, several government officials relating to the travel sector both in the Philippines and in Singapore were present. These included Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Kok Li Peng, Department of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Department of Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr, and Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla.
Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr before the ceremonial dragon dance
Regional Vice President for Southeast Asia Philip Goh and executives from Singapore Airlines, and General Manager Philippines Carol Ong complete the crew included during the launch of SilverKris Airport Lounge Manila in NAIA Terminal 3.
Executives from Singapore Airlines and various government officials during the ribbon cutting ceremony
Goh spoke of the missions and visions of the newly-opened lounge.
“Launching our new SilverKris Airport Lounge concept here in Manila (NAIA Terminal 3) is especially meaningful as the Philippines has always been known for its traditional warmth and hospitality, and it is a very important market for us. This year, we mark our 49th year of operations in Manila and we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to the aviation and tourism industry here,” Goh said.
“Manila is our fourth station globally after Sydney, Hong Kong and London, and the first in South-East Asia, to receive this new concept (“home away from home”). This is a multi-million dollar investment to renovate our 15 lounges across the world,” Goh mentioned earlier.
Carlos Celdran hosted the launch
The opening of the grandiose SilverKris Airport Lounge Manila was accompanied by an equally-majestic traditional Singaporean Lion Dance. The master of ceremonies was loyal Singapore Airlines flyer David Celdran.
