From September 18–20, Lihim Resorts El Nido opened its sanctuary to celebrate the 10th edition of World Wellness Weekend, carrying the theme “Connect, Recharge, and Turn Your Wellness ON.” The three-day celebration brought together nature, movement, sound, community, and meaningful conversations about what it means to live well.
Designed as an immersive wellness retreat, Lihim’s celebration culminated in a dedicated Wellness Day that gathered guests, local communities, wellness advocates, practitioners, and the resort team for an experience rooted in the natural beauty and spirit of Palawan.
Championing a Filipino Brand of Wellness
As a destination committed to showcasing the beauty and character of the Philippines, Lihim Resorts champions a distinctly Filipino approach to wellness—one deeply connected to nature, community, culture, and a sense of place.
At the heart of the three-day gathering, Lihim opened its doors to participants, inviting them to experience wellness within its natural sanctuary. Led by Mr. Andrew Walsh, Deputy General Manager of Lihim Resorts, the initiative welcomed guests with the property’s signature Filipino hospitality and demonstrated how the destination itself can become part of the healing experience.
The celebration also highlighted Panari Spa by Lihim Resorts, the property’s signature wellness sanctuary and recipient of Travel + Leisure’s Best Spa in the Philippines recognition. The spa spearheaded the resort’s wellness programming, reflecting Lihim’s commitment to creating meaningful and restorative experiences for its guests.
Where Nature Became the Wellness Space
The Lihim wellness experience invited participants to immerse themselves in nature, making the surrounding landscape an essential part of the program—from the morning light and tropical air to the sounds of the forest and the energy of the sea.
The Wellness Day began with a collective sunrise yoga session led by Donnela Mabbayad, encouraging participants to slow down, move together, and start the day in connection with themselves and their surroundings.
Throughout the day, wellness conversations and activities explored the relationship between personal well-being, environmental stewardship, and community.
Facilitated by Wellgather, a social wellness experience platform, the gathering provided a space for local residents, advocates, and community initiatives to share their efforts in supporting both human and environmental well-being.
From sustainability and community initiatives to wellness practices and local advocacies, the conversations highlighted how wellness can reach beyond the individual and become a shared responsibility.
“Wellness becomes more meaningful when we experience it together. At Lihim, we were able to create a space where nature, people, and purpose could meet—reminding us that healing is not only personal, it can also be communal and regenerative.”
— Mr. Andrew Walsh, Deputy General Manager of Lihim Resorts
As the day drew to a close, participants came together once more for a sunset sound healing experience led by Marla Ramos, gathering in stillness as the sun descended over the El Nido landscape.
The experience provided a fitting conclusion to a day centered on connection—from movement at sunrise to reflection at sunset.
Wellness Begins Within the Community
The three-day celebration extended beyond resort guests and visitors.
As part of Lihim’s World Wellness Weekend retreat, the resort also concluded the celebration with a dedicated wellness activity for its staff and internal community, reinforcing one of the weekend’s central messages:
Rejuvenating the souls behind the wellness experiences that are the pillars of the wellness industry.
This approach reflects a growing movement in hospitality toward creating healthier, more conscious environments not only for guests but also for the people who make each experience possible.
For Lihim, wellness is more than a service or amenity. It is part of creating a destination where people, community, and nature can thrive together.
A National Celebration Rooted in Community
The Lihim gathering formed part of the broader World Wellness Weekend Philippines 2026 celebration, which brought wellness experiences to communities and destinations across the country.
World Wellness Weekend is an annual global pro bono initiative held during the third weekend of September. It promotes healthy and active lifestyles in alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.
For its 10th-anniversary edition, World Wellness Weekend reached 185 countries, 1,626 cities, and 11,992 participating venues worldwide, bringing people together through accessible wellness experiences.
In the Philippines, the celebration was supported by the Department of Tourism, Department of Health, and Wellness Tourism Association of the Philippines (WeTAP), with activities held nationwide.
Leading the Philippine celebration were World Wellness Weekend Philippines Co-Ambassadors Marla Mae Ramos, Founder of Wellgather, and Cybille Barcebal, Corporate Wellness Manager and CSR Champion of Araw Hospitality Group.
Together, they continue to connect wellness practitioners, hospitality brands, tourism stakeholders, communities, and travelers in building a more accessible and distinctly Filipino wellness movement.
