Finding luxury, stillness and space at Dusit Thani Lubi
There are places that take your breath away, and there are those that give it back.
But off the coast of Davao de Oro, a beautiful private island, framed by the blue waters of Davao Gulf and a dense canopy of coconut trees, somehow does both—leaving you somewhere between awe and calm, just long enough for you to catch your breath again.
We were in Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation for the weekend, and it hit me—it’s the kind of escape city people like me don’t know we need until we finally slow down long enough to notice. Everyone who knows me know that I run on caffeine, deadlines, and digital noise, and calm isn’t exactly something I’m used to. But here, it found me.
Simple yet disarming
It’s not my first time here but the welcome, though simple, is still disarming–warm smiles, fresh buko juice, cold towels, and a cute bracelet gently slipped on, like the island’s quiet way of saying, “relax, you’re here now”.
And then came that stillness you don’t get in the city—a certain hush, but not silence, that makes you pause, not because you’re told to, but because you finally can. There’s no pressure to explore, no expectations to perform. Lubi lets you catch up with yourself slowly.
To be honest, I knew there were a lot of things you can do here. This is Torre Lorenzo Development Corp.’s (TLDC) flagship leisure development and two years ago, we were here for the inauguration of its solar farm. We toured the island, stayed in one of the elegant villas here, and saw how Lubi Plantation’s allure truly goes beyond aesthetics, owing to its sustainable practices, amenities, and green features.
Your plans, your pace
And there were new additions, too. Before going to the island, TLDC CEO Tomas P. Lorenzo shared that there are now two pools here—one that catches the first light of day, and another that holds the last glow of dusk. There’s a new Thai restaurant as well, while the breakfast buffet, he told us, is something we can look forward to.
And those are on top of the existing amenities here that make it easy to relax, or stay active, if that’s more of your thing—the game room with private videoke booths, a multipurpose court, gym, spa, and the life-size chess board, among others. You can kayak along the shoreline, go on a nature walk, enjoy some water sports, or watch the fire dancers every Saturday night—an island tradition that never gets old.
Dream weddings and more
Those planning something bigger will find that the island adapts to your intention.
A dreamy wedding is all yours for the taking in this chapel that seems to be made for golden hour vows. There are wide lawns, elegant pavilions, gardens, and beachfront spaces ideal not just for weddings, but also for your birthdays, reunions, anniversaries, practically any occasion you can think of—and yes, even company retreats. There are so many spaces here you can make your own.
And this is what struck me most—real, expansive, generous space. It’s the kind that makes you feel like you can stretch not just your limbs, but your thoughts in the stillness of the space. There was room to move, room to breathe, room to do absolutely nothing.
Sure, you can fill your itinerary with activities the island has to offer, but I didn’t need to. In Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation, stillness itself felt like a destination. And somehow, in the calm of the weekend, I found more energy than any caffeine could give me. I finally exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
