Cover The tree lounge is the best spot to unwind
The tree lounge is the best spot to unwind
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Known to provide guests with “barefoot luxury”, Siargao’s Nay Palad Hideaway returns refreshed and recharged this year
"Eighty per cent was destroyed,” recalls Herve Lampert, one of the founders of Nay Palad Hideaway, a breathtaking resort tucked in picturesque General Luna in Siargao. Imagine the chaos and the ordeal Herve and his brother Vince had to go through before arriving at an important decision for the property: to start anew, as if taking a blank piece of paper and drawing everything from scratch. “Instead of just rebuilding what was there before, what we did was we started to reimagine the whole concept of ‘barefoot luxury’ and try to bring it to a new level,” he adds, speaking of the signature concept the resort is known for since it opened in 2012. “In the first months post-typhoon, we focused on our people and the community to help as much as possible. The first three to four months [we spent] re-building homes, finishing about 50 of them before anything else,” shares Vince, general manager of Nay Palad Hideaway.
Above The Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve is a Wetland of International Importance
Above One of resort’s many chillout lounges
The Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve is a Wetland of International Importance
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In March 2022, Herve together with another co-founder, Bobby Dekeyser, flew to Siargao for the first time after the typhoon. They saw the massive devastation at the resort, one that could easily drive anyone to walk away and never look back. “It was a paradise before, and now it’s like hell,” Herve describes what unfolded before their eyes the moment they set foot in Siargao after the typhoon. While they all felt it was impossible to fix the resort and that they had limited funds to rebuild, one thing changed their decision. “We went around the island and saw the new houses that we built for our staff. We saw their smiles and we looked at their eyes. Then we realised, we cannot just leave it like that. We cannot give up. It’s impossible. They’re a part of us... a part of our family. They’ve been with us for so many years. We have to find a way to get back,” Herve recalls. With this, they decided to reconstruct the resort and get back on their feet. “We want to build [the resort] back no matter what happens and leave an impact to the community,” Herve says, emphasising that, for someone who fell in love with Siargao and for someone impressed by the resilience of the Filipinos, the least they can do was to rebuild and reopen the resort to help the community. This goes without saying that reopening the resort also means creating more job opportunities for the locals. “While typhoon Odette heavily devastated the resort and affected thousands of families around the island, our very first priority was to support our beloved community,” says Dekeyser.
Above A Dedon Nestrest hang by a coconut tree
A Dedon Nestrest hang by a coconut tree
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So, in April 2022, the renovation of the resort started. Together with the seasoned architect and designer Daniel Pouzet, Bobby Dekeyser and the Lampert brothers revamped the resort and relaunched Nay Palad 2.0 in June this year.
Above Filipino fare to indulge in
Above Chef Père Massana combines the freshest ingredients
Filipino fare to indulge in
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Some of the most apparent changes in the resort are the five new villas and the addition of the Hideaway Village on top of six renovated existing villas. “The typhoon destroyed all the garden villas. So we knocked down the remnants and then constructed five new villas,” Herve explains. Guests can relax in the villa’s luxurious main and attic bedrooms after a day at the beach. The outdoor deck, covered by an Ibiza-style roof, beckons everyone to lounge on the cosy daybeds. The new and exclusive Coral Villa has a private pool, a secluded garden, a generous outdoor lounge and a dining pavilion—a peaceful spot to recharge in complete privacy.
Above The villas highlight Filipino materials that are calamity-proof
The villas highlight Filipino materials that are calamity-proof
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“We want to build [the resort] back no matter what happens and leave an impact to the community”
Above The Garden View Villa echoes a tropical feel
The Garden View Villa echoes a tropical feel
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The Hideaway Village, on the other hand, which comprises the common areas surrounding the pool, highlights two new restaurants, a kitchen, beautiful lounges, a game pavilion, an enchanting pool pagoda, a vibrant pool bar and floating loungers. The ocean-view restaurant in this area is perfect for breakfast while taking in the morning sea breeze or dinner on one of its balconies that command unhampered ocean vistas. There is an outdoor terrace where you can dine under the open sky. Meanwhile, the new Dansuli Lounge floats amidst water ponds on the way to the restaurant. It is the perfect spot to get together for pre-dinner cocktails under the beautiful handwoven chimney lit by thousands of little pin lights. “There’s a tree lounge. There are a lot of new and different lounges that are all interconnected with nipa-covered bridges. So we’re giving the feel of being in a village: you can still walk barefoot, but you’re inside a village where you can go to one place to have a drink, walk to another place to swim, or move upstairs to the panoramic restaurant, which commands 360-degree views. You can see the entire resort [from there]. Downstairs, you can enjoy coffee and watch the children playing in the park,” Herve explains the never-been-seen features of the resort. At dusk, the Tree Lounge will stimulate your senses with hanging loungers on 300-year-old tree logs waiting for you to hop on while enjoying the stunning seascapes. Guests can also practise yoga, have a tea break at the tree-top terrace, or have a romantic dinner under the stars or surrounded by fireflies. “We created a village where the guests can spend the day and relax,” he adds.
Above A panoramic view of the mangroves from the pagoda
A panoramic view of the mangroves from the pagoda
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Since the resort experienced the worst one could ever imagine with supertyphoon Odette, it just follows that the team ensured that the structures were more resilient and calamity-proof. “We have nipa roofs everywhere, and nipa will always fly away with the typhoon. We realised we needed a cement foundation and steel bars to reinforce the ceiling and the roof. All the new buildings are built with this new ‘technology’. We’re going to lose the nipa for sure with the strong winds. Still, the nipa is part of the signature of Nay Palad Hideaway,” he continues, explaining their decision to keep this material, which is very sustainable.
Hilot is a traditional Filipino healing massage
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Nay Palad Hideaway also showcases Filipino craftsmanship in every corner. Besides the nipa roofs, local artisans were also employed for woodwork. “We worked with woodcarvers to do the details like the headboards of the beds. We also worked with weavers from Cebu,” he says, enumerating the many handwoven pieces in the resort, including wall panels, ceilings, furniture and lamps, among many others. “I think most of the weavers have been working with us for 25 years,” Herve shares, as some of these artisans used to work in their furniture business in Cebu.
Above A giant bed at the beach for guests to enjoy
A giant bed at the beach for guests to enjoy
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With the revitalised Nay Palad Hideaway, Dekeyser and the Lampert brothers hope to give guests a renewed ‘barefoot luxury’ experience. “If you look at the people living in Siargao, [almost] everybody’s barefoot. It’s the perfect laidback lifestyle. What is luxury nowadays? Luxury is not about things; it’s not about a beautiful car. We define luxury as having a good time, spending quality moments with family and friends and enjoying the simple moments in life. [This], of course [should be experienced] in a quality environment. Everything must be perfect,” Herve explains further. Adding to the beautiful, cosy villas and ambience, the resort also ensures exquisite dining experiences, with the Spanish chef Père Massana preparing a fantastic menu for guests to enjoy. “Life in Siargao is great and very peaceful with an amazing vibe and spirit,” says Vincent, and everyone who has been to the world-class surfing destination would agree. And Nay Palad 2.0 beckons everyone to experience this.
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Credits
Images: Courtesy of Nay Palad Hideaway
Whether on assignment or not, Maritess is always on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path destinations as well as the yummiest finds in the Philippines and abroad. In 2020, she plunged into the black hole of Korean la la land. Follow her escapades at @matetreyes.
