Insider Spotlight
South Palms Resort & Spa, MGallery Collection won two honors at AHEAD Asia 2026, taking the Sustainability and Spa & Wellness categories at the Sept. 11 ceremony at Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore.
Sustainable, local sourcing
The recognition puts a spotlight on a development model that draws its identity from Bohol rather than importing a generic luxury-resort aesthetic. Reclaimed timber from fishing boats and typhoon-damaged structures features throughout the property, while limestone excavated during construction was reused as architectural cladding.
Passive design and solar energy reduce operational demand. Greywater reuse, on-site water bottling, glass recycling and composting form part of a closed-loop approach, while Philippine-made furniture, handwoven raffia, local earthenware and nearby ingredients extend local sourcing into the guest experience.
Deep connection with land, sea
Judges praised the project for its "great storytelling and locally driven narrative," highlighting its relationship with the site and community.
"Bohol's culture has always been generous, warm, and deeply connected to the land and sea around it, and this resort was built as an expression of that generosity, not a replica of it," project developer Panglao Shores managing director Hope Uy said in a press statement.
Local way of life
The resort’s designers say that connection came from immersion rather than visual references alone.
“Bohol gave us the space to play, experiment and be resourceful, but beneath it all was a strong story rooted in understanding the island rather than simply decorating with its culture,” said Patricia Ho Douven, founder of White Jacket.
“Our goal was never to make South Palms simply “look Filipino”, but sharing the story of Bohol through materials, craftsmanship, community and the local way of life," she added.
For Phillip Pond, founder of Atelier Pond, that meant working directly with the island. "We didn't design for Bohol from a distance. We spent months living with its craftsmen, its materials, and its rhythms before a single line was drawn," he said. —Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
