South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao offers a sanctuary where myths, handmade craft, and local flavors shape guest experience
On the shores of Panglao, South Palms Resort & Spa has opened as a new sanctuary where Bohol’s stories and traditions are woven into every corner.
The property, which officially opened its doors to guests this August, joins the MGallery Collection as the brand’s flagship resort in the Visayas.
Beyond its white sand and coconut groves, the resort reimagines luxury by drawing on local craft and myth, turning design and daily rituals into cultural experiences.
Design that tells a story
The creative team behind South Palms leaned heavily on local culture to shape the resort’s identity. Interior designer Patricia Ho Douven of Singapore-based White Jacket said each building was crafted to reflect themes drawn from Boholano heritage.
“Inspired by the rich history of the island, we designed murals based on what were once called the tattoo people,” she explained.
“We wanted every block to carry its own theme—harvest, culture, nature—so walking around feels like an immersive village.”
Douven emphasized that authenticity was key. “Everything here is made locally. We don’t have anything imported, and it’s all bespoke. The whole point is for guests to touch and feel, because every piece carries the handmade quality of Boholano craft.”
Public spaces follow the same philosophy. Architect Patrick Keane of Australia’s Enter Projects Asia, who worked on the lobby and pavilions, said his team used kilometers worth of rattan to shape ceilings into organic, wave-like patterns.
“Luxury in resorts now is about sustainability, going local, and most importantly, engaging community,” he said. “When guests step inside, we want them to feel they’ve entered a zone of barefoot luxury—back to nature, away from the built environment.”
The design also takes inspiration from Sirenna, a sea guardian from local lore. Her story comes through in coral-like installations and in evening rituals by the shore, weaving mythology into the resort’s look and feel.
Master planning was led by Prasasti Chenchin of Bangkok-based SCSY Studio, who emphasized harmony with the natural environment.
She and her team designed the property with low-rise, low-density structures to preserve Panglao’s limestone cliffs and mature native trees.
“The idea was to protect the beachside ecosystem from overdevelopment while creating an authentic sense of place,” she said.
Salt as soulwork
The resort also introduces visitors to Bohol’s traditions through curated experiences. Its signature activity, called the “M Moment,” highlights Asin Tibuok, a centuries-old salt-making technique where seawater is filtered through burnt coconut husks and shaped into egg-like forms.
For Krai, the resort’s recreation and activities manager, the choice was clear once she visited the salt makers.
“We asked ourselves, what makes an experience meaningful and memorable? When we saw the Asin Tibuok process, we looked at each other and said, this is it,” she said. “It’s not just about the salt—it’s about the soul of it, the sweat and hard work of generations.”
She added that climate change threatens the tradition, since lower seawater salinity could affect production.
“If this continues, the process might not survive. Sharing it with guests is our way of keeping the story alive,” she said.
Dining rooted in local life
Culinary spaces at South Palms also reflect Bohol’s heritage. Designer Phillip Pond of Thailand-based Atelier Pond said his inspiration came from time spent in local markets.
“We found ourselves in a hall with food stalls, chefs serving straight from their hands to your plate,” Pond recalled. “That became the model for our all-day dining. It ties back to Bohol’s heritage of fish farms and markets, which evolved into restaurants. Here, we’re bringing those traditions together in a meaningful way.”
This philosophy comes alive at UMA, the resort’s beachfront seafood concept designed like a lively marketplace.
Guests can taste tropical fruits, enjoy freshly caught seafood, and dine under the open sky with the sea as a backdrop.
For sunset gatherings, the Sirenna Bar offers cocktails infused with local flavors such as lambanog, served with storytelling flair that connects each drink to the island’s rhythm and mythology.
A cultural retreat
Together, these elements transform the resort into a destination that celebrates both place and people. Guests walk through spaces that tell stories, rest in rooms lined with reclaimed wood and intricately woven local banigs, and take part in rituals that connect them to the land and its heritage.
As Keane noted, the aim was to make luxury feel personal and rooted. “When guests arrive, we don’t want them to just see another resort by the beach,” he said. “We want them to step into Bohol’s story.”
