Guests can choose from two New Year’s Eve Countdown parties. The countdown at the Lobby will have the Music Unlimited Band performing at the lobby starting 11:30 p.m. tonight. Party favors and noisemakers are on the house. For a more private show, a dinner concert by the sultry, international chanteuse Verni Varga will be held at the Fiesta Pavilion tonight at 9 p.m. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. The ticket priced at R1,500 net is inclusive of dinner buffet.

For food lovers, Café Ilang-Ilang will prepare a special midnight merienda overflowing with cold and hot foods, desserts, plus a choice of iced tea, chilled juice, softdrinks or beer for only R500 net. Merienda will be served from 11 p.m. onwards.

At the Champagne Room, a menu degustation is available for lunch and dinner on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for only R1,700 net.

The Cowrie Grill offers a four-course set menu at R1,200 net with main course of Beef and Herb Crusted Salmon with Frozen Pistachio Parfait for dessert on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Over dinner or while partying, guests can try the Cocktails of the Month priced at only R220 net. One may opt for Rudolf, an alcoholic drink of Southern Comfort, Bailey’s, banana, grenadine syrup and cream or Snowman, a blend of lime juice, cream, coconut milk and syrup, with banana.

For get-togethers and gatherings, take home the delectable Effendi, Manila Hotel’s cake of the month. This white chocolate and coffee in a mousse, and sandwiched in between dark Viennese sponge crust, is available in medium and large cake sizes for only R570 net and R720 net respectively.

For those who want the ultimate New Year Experience, Manila Hotel offers a special holiday overnight accommodation rate of R3,500 net for single or twin occupancy. Package includes daily buffet breakfast at Café Ilang-Ilang for two persons, welcome fruit platter, local newspaper, complimentary two bottles of mineral water replenished daily, and free use of the swimming pool. The rate is per room per night, for a minimum of two nights stay and is inclusive of 10 percent service charge and government tax. Available until Jan. 8, 2006, promo is applicable to both locals and expats with valid ACR I.D.

For inquiries and reservations, call 527-0011 locals 1039, 1175 or email resvn@manila-hotel.com.ph.