Maria and Ines Matos of Casa Kaos, the team behind Roots Siargao, collaborated with Dusit Thani Lubi for the annual  Food and Wine Festival in Davao Danah Gutierrez

Davao City, located in the southern part of the Philippines on Mindanao Island, is one of the largest cities in the country by land area and population, known for its vibrant culture, natural beauty, and progressive urban development. It provides a balance of metropolitan life and astounding nature spots. From the highest peak in the Philippines, Mount Apo, to the abundance of durian, the “king of fruits”, popular for its distinct smell and rich flavor, Davao is wealthy with some of the country’s national treasures. Other than the urban development is the neighboring islands’ impressive vacation accommodations, with Davao de Oro’s Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort (or simply Dusit Thani Lubi) being a mere 45-minute boat ride from the city.


Bluer than blue—Dusit Thani Lubi’s infinity pool overlooking Davao de Oro’s white sand beaches Danah Gutierrez

Since I haven’t had the chance to thoroughly immerse myself in any of the Dusit Thani properties, I was filled with sheer excitement to experience the 5-star hotel brand. I stayed at Dusit D2 Davao in the city before my island staycation and special degustation dinner at Dusit Thani Lubi for their annual Davao Food and Wine Festival. Upon arrival, it was noticeable that every corner of the urban hotel is picture-perfect, and stunningly clean, with the distinct Filipino warmth of every staff member I encountered. The room was gorgeous, with complete and quality amenities, amazing turndown service, with complimentary fruits, and beautifully crafted welcome pastries and desserts. The breakfast buffet was indulgent with a vast array of international cuisines and selections, with trays of Davao’s unforgettable in-season fruits. My whole experience at Dusit D2 set my expectations on what’s to come on the island.


The high-speed catamaran is comfy and cool.

 Danah Gutierrez

I was whisked away by their van to their Welcome Center just at the back of the hotel, where we hopped on the high-speed catamaran ferry to get to Lubi Plantation Island. After a smooth 40-minute cross, we disembarked to be happily greeted by fresh coconuts, branded bracelets, and festive dancing. The exteriors of the reception and establishments are inspired by British colonial design to take the guests to historical coconut plantations in the past. The incorporation of machuca tiles, stucco columns, steel-framed windows, pitched timber roofs, and elbow pipes with typewritten signages cohesively achieve the look, as executed thoughtfully by world-renowned Filipino hospitality architect, Manny Samson.

The design genius, Manny Samson, tastefully executed the British colonial inspiration for Dusit Thani Lubi. Danah Gutierrez

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The 2-bedroom villa is extra fancy with a private plunge pool and an indoor-outdoor bath. Danah Gutierrez

The man-made resort may already be breathtaking, but the island itself is an awe-inspiring marine sanctuary with white sand beaches. Their seas are rich in aquatic life and have been designated a protected coral sanctuary in partnership with Philippine Department of Natural Resources. No wonder Dusit Thani Lubi is serious about keeping things sustainable for the preservation of its earthly wonders.


Local furniture from Cebu are scattered all around the beachfront for relaxed lounging. Danah Gutierrez

We toured the island with Tomas Lorenzo, owner of the property and CEO of Torre Lorenzo Development and Corporation (TLDC), and his daughter, Monica Lorenzo. As we had lunch before the tour, his aura was vibrant and his energy cool. He has a charisma that will draw you in and engage you. He casually and animatedly narrated his recent marathon in South Africa (the tycoon and father of 8 is obviously fit and in shape, after all), showing us photos of the hyenas and rhinos he encountered. His antics made us laugh and feel relaxed, like we’re long-lost friends being reunited. He obviously comes from a place of privilege and power, but his personality is grounded and truly affable, with his passion for the plantation island so palpable.


Tomas Lorenzo is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to property development and hospitality 
(oh, and international marathons, too). Danah Gutierrez

“When I travel the world, I really pay attention and observe the industry’s best practices. I want to learn and adapt. Everything we do here has to be good for the island, and we want our guests to be a part of that,” Tomas spoke about their ethos as we cruised around in our golf carts and iced coffees with their in-house coconut milk. Their eco-consciousness surely increases brand points, since we are living in a time where deep consideration for the planet is simply the bare minimum.


The plantation island is proudly solar-powered! Danah Gutierrez

For this Dusit Thani Lubi, energy is one of the many resources they wanted to preserve. The resort houses a 756-paneled solar farm that generates up to 60% of the island’s energy, and the air-conditioning units’ heat is maximized for hot showers. Their advanced water desalination process transforms seawater into clean, potable water for resort operations (yes, you can drink water from tap). This innovative approach minimizes environmental impact while ensuring sustainable water management on the island. As for their restaurants, they do their best to implement zero waste, and since it’s a coconut plantation, they make the most and ensure everything is done in-house to keep high-quality standards of ingredients. On top of that, Dusit Thani Lubi has been nesting turtle eggs on the island, which they carefully nurture and protect from predators, so these majestic creatures can safely go back into the ocean. Their rehabilitation team and their guests can participate in their seasonal and magical turtle hatching and releasing event, and just my luck, I was able to witness one myself! (Fun fact: Lubi is home to several species of sea turtles including green, leatherback, and the endangered hawksbills.)


These baby turtles just hatched and we’re helping them swim into the wild seas. Danah Gutierrez

It was quite a ride around the whole island, as the resort boasts of world-class amenities that cater to a wide spectrum of various interests. There are extensive sports facilities for the active vacationers such as a tennis court, a basketball court, a fitness center, a mini golf course, and rentals for bicycles and water sports. For recreational fun with the whole family or travel buddies, there’s The Mill, a game center that has full-on studios for karaoke, with board games, foosball, billiards, darts, and gaming consoles, too. After a day of leisure, guests can unwind and get a sense of tranquility in their infinity pools overlooking white sand beaches, then opt to avail rejuvenating massages at the spa before bed time. The island also features the picturesque Holy Family Chapel for intimate weddings, Tamsi Ballroom for lavish events, and The Mill meeting rooms for productive work-cations. As for the delicious dining experience, guests will not run out of food options with their authentic Thai cuisine at Ga-Ti Restaurant, classic Filipino comfort food at Tarictic Grill, and American burger and ice cream bar at The Mill.


Rarely affected by typhoons, it’s always sunny in Dusit Thani Lubi. Danah Gutierrez


The Holy Family Chapel is clean, minimalist, and perfect for intimate weddings. Danah Gutierrez

Given Tomas’ vision for sustainability, it’s only fitting that they partnered with Roots Siargao for Davao’s annual Food & Wine Festival. The people behind Roots restaurant are a chef, an anthropologist, an art director, and a business strategist who call themselves Casa Kaos. The dinner showcased a seven-course degustation highlighting Davao’s biodiversity with wine pairing sponsored by Philippine Wine Merchant. Carmina del Rosario, Davao Food and Wine Festival’s Chair opened the event—'This year’s event is a culinary journey honoring Davao’s culinary excellence.” After a toast, Tomas took the stage, 'At Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, we are as much about the culinary experience and its quality as we are about our beachside luxury.'


The tablescape was beautifully designed by their in-house team with natural and reusable decors. Danah Gutierrez

As for Casa Kaos’ team, their representative, Ricardo Miranda de Sousa, boldly declared, “Our purpose at Casa Kaos, and Roots, in particular, is to generate a positive impact on our surrounding community and environment through a gastronomic model rooted in a specific landscape… We aim to showcase local products and producers and act as a platform to tell their stories through our space and the stories we convey. Our mission is to serve food that is not only flavorful but rooted in sustainability and the nourishment of both body and soul.”


Casa Kaos received a lot of praise and applause from their delighted and well-fed guests
(L-R Chef Filippo Turrini, Maria and Ines Matos, and Ricardo Miranda de Sousa) Danah Gutierrez

The seven-course meal that followed celebrated the best of Davao’s local produce and Casa Kaos’ unique craftsmanship.

• Roots & Dip: featuring Salvaro, goat cheese from Noble Goat Farm, and ube

• Tartar, Duck Egg, and Davao Wild Herbs: a creative dish with catch of the day, wild herbs, and duck eggs from Agriya

• Bread and Butter (not in photos): made with breads from Grateful Bread, ampalaya oil, and goat burnt butter from Malagos Farm

• Ceviche: crafted from the freshest catch of the day, coconut tiger milk from Lubi, and singkamas

• Lazy Raviolone: blue swimming crab, banana flowers from Agriya, and fresh pasta

• Wagyu and Mole: Filipino Wagyu short ribs from Kitayama Farm, mole, and langka

• Cacao and Lubi Crumble: a decadent dessert with Namelaka, cacao husk from Gran Verde Farm, and chocolates from Malagos Farm


Roots x Dusit Thani Lubi’s 7-course degustation for the Food and Wine Festival was a big success! Danah Gutierrez

The thoughtful scouring of Davao’s best ingredients while highlighting the abundance of the agricultural landscape and creatively executing their Casa Kaos’ original cooking style was an extraordinary gastronomy. It left my appetite satiated and my palate pleased, but my curiosity still hungry. It’s true, the more you eat, the more there is to taste. Each element included in each dish was mindfully considered with flavor and texture as the ultimate priorities.

With Dusit Thani International’s commitment to quality, excellence, and eco-mindfulness, the event was a sold-out success. The night’s atmosphere testified as it was harmoniously filled with roars of laughter, meaningful conversations, and exuberant merriment.


Our “life of the party” table had a blast! From left to right: Taryn Navarro of The Scoop Asia, Jhei Manzanero, Assistant Director of Marketing for Dusit Davao Hotels and Resort, Carmina del Rosario, Chair of Davao Food and Wine 2024, Karl Antic, Marketing Executive of Dusit Davao Hotels and Resort, Resty Absulio,  F&B Manager of Dusit Davao, Macy Bibat, Asst. Vice President of DamosaLand’s Township and Tourism Operations, Influencer Stacy Gutierrez, and Kenneth Ong of the Daily Tribune Danah Gutierrez


A sweet goodbye: yummy coconut popsicles await us as we board the catamaran ferry back to the city! Danah Gutierrez

What impressed me the most as a first-time Dusit Thani guest was how seamless the whole experience was—luxurious travel matched with true Filipino hospitality, bound together by their heart for sustainability. The best part? The island rarely gets affected by typhoons. It’s safe to say that Dusit Thani Lubi has an endless supply of sunshine all year round so you can pack your bags and cave into that wanderlust anytime. Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort may only be starting to generate buzz among the Manila travel community, but it’s becoming a promising must-visit destination for those looking for a blend of world-class hospitality, memorable nature adventures, and a planet-conscious, serene island escape in the Philippines.

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Dusit Thani Lubi | Phone: (082) 272 7500 | Facebook: @dusitthanilubi | Instagram: @dusitthanilubiplantation | For bookings and inquiries, visit their official website here.

Photos by Danah Gutierrez | Lead photo courtesy of Dusit Thani Lubi