There are island getaways—and then there’s Lubi. Tucked off the coast of Mabini in Davao de Oro, this serene slice of land is home to Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, a property that offers much more than beachfront luxury.
Property Report recently joined the resort’s media tour and the unveiling of the Lubi Art Project. What we found was something far more enduring than a weekend escape: a place where sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, but a working system. Where community partnerships quietly transform the landscape into something thoughtful and alive.
“When people visit Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation, they can experience a kind of luxury that’s at par with the most exclusive resorts,” said Tomas Lorenzo, President and CEO of Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation, the company behind the resort. “But what will surprise them is how cost-effective it is to stay here.”
And yet, what truly sets Lubi apart is not just its value, but its values. From infrastructure to imagination, the resort’s foundation is one of balance—with nature, with its community, and increasingly, with the arts.
Sustainability by design
Lubi’s approach to sustainability is deeply embedded in both its infrastructure and daily operations. The island is powered in part by a 1-megawatt solar farm, made up of 1,836 panels that generate up to 60% of its energy needs. Rainwater and seawater are filtered through a two-stage reverse osmosis process to produce clean, potable water. Even heat from air-conditioning units is captured and recycled to warm water in guest villas—a thoughtful design that minimizes energy waste.
Plastic use is strongly discouraged. Waste is minimized and carefully managed. Landscaping uses local and drought-resistant plants, reducing water consumption and preserving the natural ecosystem.
This forward-thinking environmental stewardship earned Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation the Best Eco-Friendly Resort Development award from PropertyGuru Philippines in 2024.
Beyond systems and certifications, Lubi is home to a designated coral sanctuary and a hawksbill turtle nesting site—two active conservation efforts supported by local dive groups and community advocates. Guests are welcome to explore the marine life through guided, respectful experiences that prioritize protection over spectacle.
Grounded in community
The resort’s commitment to care extends to its people. A full 100% of the staff come from Davao de Oro, and 80% from the neighboring municipality of Mabini. This isn’t a workforce imported for show—it’s a partnership built on trust and shared growth.
As the resort expands, so do its community initiatives: education, skills training, arts programs, and CSR projects designed to uplift, not displace. At Lubi, community development is not an afterthought—it’s part of the core strategy.
In its release, Dusit Thani Lubi asserts, “As the resort grows, our community grows with us. We are committed to helping through livelihood, education, and social development partnerships.”
Empowering the community through art
Perhaps no initiative captures Lubi’s vision more than the Lubi Art Project, launched in June 2025. A collaboration between Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, Silverlens Galleries, and Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation, the project transforms the island into a curated, walkable art trail of site-specific installations by some of the country’s leading contemporary artists.
“We started thinking about the art project as early as 2018, when the resort was still in the conceptual stage,” said Monica Lorenzo, Director for Leisure Development at Torre Lorenzo. “We were asking ourselves—how do we create something that’s not just another resort? We wanted people to keep coming back for more.”
The project began with an artist residency program. Each artist visited the island and was invited to create using only materials found on-site. The brief emphasized working with the local community to bring each vision to life.
“There’s so much to learn when you create something with local hands and local knowledge,” Monica added. “We’ve worked with over 200 members of the community—from the Barangay Pindasan Women’s Group to the Davao Gulf Divers, to welders, painters, and carpenters. One artist said that if this inspires even one person here to become an artist, then we’ve done our job.”
A walkable, living trail of art
Today, nine artworks stand as part of the Lubi Art Project’s first phase—each one reflecting a different facet of memory, rhythm, environment, and material. Some are built to last. Others are designed to weather and eventually return to the earth. They’re accessible via a curated trail that encourages exploration, reflection, and a new perspective on island life. All of them embody a shared ethic: art that grows with the island, not over it.
Purposeful tourism, reimagined
Lubi is quietly rewriting the rules for island resorts. Here, beauty is built with care. Systems support ecosystems. And tourism becomes a way to sustain—not consume—natural and cultural wealth.
“It’s about showing that we can work together to create something that puts this island on the world stage,” Monica said. “That’s the dream.”
And for Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort and Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation, that dream is steadily being realized—through deliberate planning, community collaboration, and a long-term vision that aligns hospitality with heritage and habitat. In an increasingly discerning tourism landscape, Lubi proves that purposeful development isn’t just possible—it’s profitable, sustainable, and future-ready.
Bernardo Pacquing – The Builder
Corinne de San Jose – 417
Christina “Ling” Quisumbing Ramilo –
The Builder
Gregory Halili – Monument
Gary-Ross Pastrana – Structure for Light Reading
Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan and The Fruitjuice Factori Studio – How long after sunset until it gets dark?
James Clar – Lesser Speed
Poklong Anading – recruit (no. 4)
Wawi Navarroza & Christina “Ling” Quisumbing Ramilo –
Everywhere There You Are
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