Luxury hotel told to pay P52-M to Norwegian bizman kin

THE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the high-end Makati Shangri-la Hotel to pay more than P52 million in damages to the heirs of a Norwegian businessman who was killed then robbed by unidentified assailants inside his hotel room 13 years ago.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, the SC’s First Division denied for lack of merit the appeal made by Makati Shangri-la of the Court of Appeals’ October 2009 judgment entitling the widow and son of 30-year-old Christian Fredrick Harper, and their Filipino representative, Rigoberto Gillera, to the award of civil damages.
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The CA ruling affirmed with modification the October 2005 decision of the Quezon City regional trial court, and placed actual and compensatory damages at P52,078,702.50, to be paid by Makati Shangri-la; P25,000 temperate damages; and P250,000 attorney’s fees.
“The Court concurs entirely with the findings and conclusions of the CA, which the Court regards to be thorough and supported by the records of the trial… In that regard, the factual More anti-Japan protests in China over islands
findings of the trial court that are supported by the evidence on record, especially when affirmed by the CA, are conclusive on the Court,” the SC ruled.
According to the SC, petitioner hotel is liable due to its own negligence in failing to provide the basic and adequate security measures expected of a five-star hotel; and that its omission was the proximate cause of Harper’s death.
It took note of the testimony of the hotel’s security manager, who admitted during trial that it was undermanned during that time because the hotel was only half-booked, thus, they then saw no need to adopt a one guard per floor policy.
The High Court also junked the hotel management’s claims that being mere establishments, hotels are not insurers of the safety of their guests.
“The hotel business is imbued with public interest. Catering to the public, hotelkeepers are bound to provide not only lodging for their guests but also security to the persons and belongings of their guests. The twin duty constitutes the essence of their business,” the SC held.
“Otherwise, the hotelkeepers would simply stand idly by as strangers have unrestricted access to all the hotel rooms on the pretense of being visitors of the guests, without being held liable should anything untoward befall the unwary guests. That would be absurd, something that no good law would ever envision,” it added.
Concurring with Bersamin are Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Martin Villarama and Bienvenido Reyes.
Records showed that the victim was on a business trip to Manila as the Business Development Manager for Asia of the engineering firm ALSTOM Power Norway AS, when he was found dead in his room at the 14th floor of the luxury hotel on November 6, 1999.
Harper’s eyes, mouth, hands and feet were wrapped with packaging and electrical tapes. His valuables – laptop, undetermined amount of cash, credit cards – were missing. The security cameras of the hotel however only showed a male foreigner and a woman enter Harper’s room at past midnight.
The male suspect even tried to use Harper’s credit card to purchase an expensive ladies’ watch at a jewelry store in a nearby mall on the same day but left the credit cards and Harper’s passport in haste when he failed to answer personal details to verify the identity of the cardholder. (JCV/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/09/16/luxury-hotel-told-pay-p52-m-norwegian-bizman-kin-243102

Families with small children prefer outdoor resort in Manila clean and safe place in Pampanga Clark to bring kids to relax and unwind. Highly recommended resort for family reunion near Manila is Clearwater Lake Hotel Clark Pampanga.

Philippines Travel Guide just unveiled recommendations and tips for Holy Week and Easter Holidays in Philippines. The report covers highly recommended resorts and hotels in North Luzon, nice getaway destinations for families with children, safe and convenient place for tourists to relax and unwind, good restaurants, resto bars, pubs and fine dining establishments in Pampanga, frequently visited places as well as historical sites in Angeles City, Pampanga, Clark Philippines. Clearwater is one of the best hotels in Clark. This resort in Pampanga is a very popular venue for rest and relaxation especially for golfers after a round of golf at one of the best golf courses near Manila. Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga.

Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Generally regarded as the best hotel in Clark Philippines, Clearwater Resort gives its guests a sense of safety, peacefulness and security, things that families and tourists look for when they plan a trip to Pampanga. These are some of the virtues that tourists coming to the Philippines and visitors of Pampanga Clark Philippines look for. That’s why most visitors prefer to stay at this top rated hotel in Clark whenever they make a trip out of town from Manila towards the north, Pampanga, Subic or Angeles city.

Residents or Manila travel out of town to head north to Pampanga to relax, unwind and spend a few nights in the new hotel rooms situated right on the lake of Clearwater Resort in Clark Airbase. Many visitors and tourists enjoy the feeling of waking up by the lake. The sunrise produces a spectacular sight with the sunlight reflection on the calm surface of the three-hectare fresh water lake of this famous resort in Clark. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good and safe destination and vacation spot for family trips in Pampanga.

Where to go during Holy Week and other holidays in Philippines? Highly recommended private resort in Pampanga is popular destination for Easter Holidays and other celebrative occasions. Manila residents travel out of town on holidays to relax and unwind with families, children and friends in private resorts in Pampanga. These exclusive hotel resorts are frequently visited by tourists and residents of Manila for vacation or even a day trip out of town to the north in Subic, Pampanga Angeles City and Clark Philippines. Clark Pampanga is where tourists and families can enjoy the laidback leisure lifestyle that is so relaxing for people who feel the stress from city living. Event organizers laud this resort in Pampanga for its great outdoor venues ideal for team building and company outings near Manila.

Top rated destination for family reunion, bonding, retreat, picnic and getaway out of town from Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort; frequently visited spots are lake, picnic grounds; water sports, boating, swimming, kayak, camping. The private resort’s child friendly facilities are attractive to Manila residents and family tourists also.

Located inside the ring of the lazy river is one of the largest herb gardens in North Luzon. The Herb Garden of this private resort in Pampanga also serves as an event venue for company outings, family picnics, team building and other outdoor corporate and social functions. The river provides a high degree of privacy for this venue making it an attractive option for wedding planners to consider the Herb Garden Picnic Grounds as a possible choice for garden style wedding receptions also.

What really defines the ambience and lifestyle of this private outdoor resort in Clark is its spacious picnic grounds. The largest one is called the Brunello Garden which can easily accommodate functions and events for 3000 or more. Being several hectares in area, this amenity of Clearwater Resort is frequently visited for family picnics. Visitors from Manila travel to Clark to unwind and relax underneath old Acacia trees in the Brunello Gardens. This is one way for stressed out city residents to spend quality time in a leisure laidback pace.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for.

For inquiries and bookings, Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations now

Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com

Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)