Clockwise, from top left) SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. President Elizabeth T. Sy hands her brother, Hans, recently retired president of SM Prime Holdings, the book documenting the art collection of Conrad Manila, which he had supported. They are flanked by Conrad Manila’s Art Director Nes Jardin (left) and General Manager Harald Fuerstein; Sy, with her mother Felicidad, cofounder of the SM Foundation, and grandson Robin pose in front of the hotel’s Christmas tree sculpture created by Impy Pilapil; and the Vienna Boys Choir ,with its first Filipino member Lance So (far right, back row), performs Christmas carols after the tree-lighting ceremony. (STELLA ARNALDO)

YOU have to admit, last week really wore everyone down.

If there’s any “worst week in recent history” award, last week would probably own it. It started off with the killing of accused druglord Mayor Rolando Espinosa in jail, followed by the Supreme Court decision allowing the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which led to protest rallies from universities and other concerned citizens, and then concluded with the always-bankrupt businessman Donald Trump being voted as US president by the country’s electoral college, despite the popular votes going to his chief rival, Hillary Clinton.

It was like last week magnified the world’s descent into sheer madness.

So you can imagine how it was welcome respite for many when Saturday rolled around, and I, among a handpicked few, had the opportunity to marvel at the splendid art collection of Conrad Hotel Manila.

Artist and educator Nes Jardin, director of the hotel’s arts program director, told the audience, “It took two years for my committee to put together the art collection. It was exciting and site-specific, meaning that it was curated and commissioned for specific locations in the hotel.” He added it was Elizabeth “Betty” T. Sy, president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.’s idea “to feature all Filipino artists” for the collection.

Jardin also said it was challenging to choose the artists and their collection “because of the budget of [just-retired SM Prime Holdings President] Hans Sy,” which elicited laughter among those present, “and because of the time frame given by Betty Sy.” But he underscored it was “gratifying” to do the project, because it showcases Filipino artists who come from different backgrounds, work with different mediums, and include young and up-and-coming artists and veterans like Impy Pilapil, Jon Pettyjohn and his wife Tessy, to name a few.

The art pieces—consisting of 635 contemporary paintings, sculptures, installations and decorative arts created for the 347 guest rooms and suites, public areas and the three restaurants (Brasserie on 3, China Blue by Jereme Leung and C Lounge)—are catalogued and documented in a limited-edition book launched that day, titled The Art of Conrad Manila.

On its cover is the seaweed-like installation called Oroborus by Leeroy New, which is the artwork that greets guests who enter the ground-floor lobby of the hotel.

It’s one of my personal favorites, along with New’s chandelier, which he describes as a “spherical constellation of glass diatoms” suspended to the left of C Lounge’s entrance, and the Huanghou series of striking Chinese imperial portraits—their faces obscured by flora and fauna designs—which hang on the walls of the function rooms of China Blue. The series was created by three young female artists who collectively call themselves Khia Chong. (Trivia: New’s wearable art pieces were donned by Lady Gaga in her Marry the Night music video. He is a graduate of the Philippine High School for the Arts and the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.)

Other Filipino artists whose works are featured throughout the hotel are Leo Aguilar, Nicole Coson (an accomplished visual artist and daughter of Banco de Oro Chairman Teresita Sy Coson), Olivia d’Aboville, Don Dalmacio, Joey de Castro, Pardo de Leon, Monica Delgado, Yasmin Doctor, Alain Hablo, Nilo Ilarde, Eugene Jarque, Mark Justiniani, Raffy Napay, Nikki Ocean, Demi Padua Jr., Indy Paredes, Michelle Perez, Stanley Ruiz, Van Tuico, Mac Valdezco, Alvin Villaruel, Mm Yu and Reg Yuson.

As the sun set on Manila Bay, guests at the book launch then moved out to third-floor lobby to be serenaded by the angelic voices of the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir. The children, who gained more popularity after performing “We Are All God’s Children” with composer/singer Jamie Rivera for Pope Francis on his visit to Manila in January 2015, sang Christmas carols, much to the delight of the guests.

Their performance heralded the lighting of the Christmas tree at the hotel’s lobby by the Sy family, led by brother and sister Hans and Betty, along with their mother, Felicidad, as well as Tourism Assistant Secretary Ma. Lourdes Japson, Austrian Ambassador Dr. Josef Mullner, Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles and Conrad Manila General Manager Harald Fuerstein. (We also espied Sy Coson, lending support to her sister’s event, as she quietly mingled among friends.)

A creation of prominent Filipino artist Impy Pilapil, the Christmas tree sculpture is made of glass and steel, and unique to Conrad Manila, which decided to go for the understated, artistic and elegant Yuletide décor to complement its stunning design and interiors.

This year the hotel aims to raise funds for the scholarship of children in the Baseco in the Manila port area, from the sale of its stuffed toy, Carey the Carabao, who dons a Santa hat for the Yuletide season.

After the lighting ceremony, the world-famous Vienna Boys Choir, led by Choirmaster Manolo Cagnin, gave an exhilarating performance of a German Christmas carol “Still Nacht [Silent Night],” and a rousing rendition of “Feliz Navidad.” It was just two songs but the harmonious blending of the boys’ heavenly voices wrapped us with an even magical Christmas air. (Among the boys was its first Filipino member Lance So.)

Last Saturday’s events were definitely heaven-sent after the chaos of the week that was. It was a rare moment when the mind could calm down, and the soul could breathe in