ADMINISTRATOR MTC Posted June 12 ADMINISTRATOR Share Posted June 12 24 thatched-roof villas designed by the same architect as Pearl Farm. A 39-acre property on Bohol's quieter west coast. The Panglao address that the Alona Beach crowd doesn't know about — and that affluent guests prefer they don't. The Second Mañosa The same architect who built Pearl Farm Beach Resort on Samal Island also built Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa on Panglao Island, Bohol. Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa — National Artist for Architecture (2018, posthumous) — designed the property in the same vocabulary that defines his canonical work: the Filipino vernacular scaled up and elevated to luxury hospitality codes. At Eskaya, that vocabulary takes the form of 24 thatched-roof villas inspired by the Filipino bahay kubo — the traditional nipa hut of the rural archipelago — with cogon roofs, creative use of bamboo and hardwood, and a spatial logic that places every villa in dialogue with the surrounding 39-acre property. For travelers who have stayed at Pearl Farm and want a comparable design experience in a different region, Eskaya is the clear cross-reference. The Position on Doljo Beach Panglao Island, off the coast of Bohol, is dominated in the tourist imagination by Alona Beach — the busy, mid-range beach strip on the island's south side. Eskaya is deliberately not there. The property occupies a stretch of beach in Brgy. Doljo on the island's west coast — the quieter side, with longer dawn light, less foot traffic, and a more residential feel. This is the affluent traveler's geographic move: the same Panglao island the budget crowd visits, but a deliberate 20-minute distance from the busy strip. The result is a beach experience that feels private even on weekends. The Property The full property runs to 39 acres — generous for a 24-villa resort, which means the buildable density is approximately one villa per 1.5 acres. That sprawl is the entire point. The walking distances between villa, beach, restaurant, and spa are substantial; the property uses electric carts to ferry guests for those who prefer not to walk. The 39 acres also include landscaped gardens, walking trails, and pockets of native Bohol forest. The property's commitment to native landscape — rather than the manicured tropical clichés — is one of its design signatures. The Villas 24 villas, all individually designed in contemporary Filipino style. The villa categories include: One-Bedroom Villas — the entry-tier, with the signature bahay-kubo-inspired thatched roof, private veranda, and pool access Premier Villas — larger, with private outdoor sitting areas Two-Bedroom Villas — family or multi-generation, with the property's most spacious format Mañosa's signature touches run through every villa: the use of cogon for the roofing, bamboo for the framing details, native hardwood (narra, molave, kamagong where appropriate) for the millwork. The villas are open-feeling — the indoor-outdoor flow is deliberate — but with the security and privacy that the luxury market requires. The Beach Doljo Beach is the quieter stretch of Panglao's coast. White sand, calm protected water, snorkel-grade reefs near the shore. The beach is publicly accessible at certain points (this is the Philippines — all beaches are public to the high-water mark by law), but the resort's stretch sees minimal foot traffic from outside guests. For divers, Panglao is the gateway to some of the country's best dive sites — Balicasag Island, Pamilacan Island, the Cabilao Channel — all reachable via short boat transfer from the resort. Dining The resort runs a focused dining program centered on the main restaurant and a beach bar. The cuisine is Filipino-international, with emphasis on Visayan regional ingredients — Bohol's coconut, its native fruits, its fishing villages' daily catch. The kitchen runs a smaller, more focused menu than the volume restaurants on the Alona strip, which suits the property's pace. For multi-night stays, private dining on the beach is the booking that affluent guests typically arrange. The Spa The spa is a significant facility relative to the resort's 24-villa scale. Treatments draw on traditional Filipino hilot, modern wellness modalities, and the locally-sourced ingredients (Bohol's native flowers, the island's coconut oil program). Open-air treatment pavilions, scattered across the property in the quieter pockets. When to Visit November through May is the dry season — the optimal window. December through February are the cool months and the peak booking window. Holy Week is at full capacity, booked 6–9 months ahead. The rainy season (June–October) sees reduced occupancy but more variable weather and rougher conditions for the diving and snorkeling programs. Getting There Manila → Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG) — direct flights on Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia; ~1 hr 25 min Bohol-Panglao Airport → Eskaya — ~30-minute road transfer to Doljo Beach Cebu → Bohol — ferry option (2 hours fast craft from Cebu Pier 1 to Tagbilaran), then ~45-minute road transfer to Doljo Resort-coordinated transfers from the airport are standard. Cross-Region Pairings Eskaya pairs well as the high-luxury anchor on a Bohol itinerary: Eskaya (Doljo, Panglao) — 3–4 nights Chocolate Hills countryside tour — day trip Loboc River + Tarsier Sanctuary — day trip Anda (east-coast Bohol quiet) — alternative 2-night extension For travelers comparing Philippine island-luxury options, the Pearl Farm comparison is the natural read — both designed by Mañosa, both in the boutique-villa tier, both built on the Filipino vernacular foundation. The geography differs (Pearl Farm: Mindanao, Davao Gulf; Eskaya: Visayas, Bohol Sea); the design vocabulary is consanguineous. Related — All Properties Under Best Philippine Beaches: Most Beautiful Island Luxury Resorts Pearl Farm Beach Resort (Samal Island, Davao): Mañosa-Designed Luxury & Davao Island Beach Pangulasian Island (El Nido, Palawan): Bacuit Bay Premium & El Nido Resorts Flagship Misibis Bay (Cagraray Island, Bicol): Private Island Resort & Albay Premium Hideaway Nay Palad Hideaway (Siargao): Ultra-Luxury Beachfront Retreat & Curated Concierge Iconic Beach Destinations Entalula Beach (El Nido, Palawan): World's #1 Beach 2026 & Bacuit Bay Lagoon Kalanggaman Island (Leyte): Globally-Ranked Sandbar & Strict Visitor Cap Bon Bon Beach (Romblon, Sibuyan Sea): Unspoiled Sandbar & Carabao Island Beach Apo Island (Negros Oriental): Marine Sanctuary & Sea Turtle Diving Beach Parent thread: Best Philippine Beaches: Most Beautiful Other Threads of Interest Bohol Travel Guide: Panglao Beaches, Balicasag Diving & Chocolate Hills — the broader region guide Panglao Island (Bohol): Alona Beach & Diving Spots — the broader Panglao guide Anda (Bohol): Quinale Beach & East-Coast Quiet — the alternative Bohol-quiet base Your turn. Mañosa villa reports, Doljo Beach versus Alona Beach comparisons, Balicasag dive logistics from the resort, Pearl-Farm-versus-Eskaya assessments from those who have stayed at both, and the spa's signature treatments — share your visits. — Bizman Quote Link to comment
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