Palawan’s Bacuit Bay has long been the backdrop for some of the Philippines’ most postcard-perfect images—limestone cliffs, turquoise water, and islands ringed with forest. Among them is Lagen, a resort that has been welcoming travelers for more than two decades. This September, it reopens after a complete redesign, emerging as a 42-key private island retreat that aims to set a new standard for Filipino luxury, one grounded in culture, craft, and conservation. The new Lagen pares down its accommodations to just 42 Forest Rooms and Water Villas, leaning into intimacy rather than scale. The rooms themselves are simple in silhouette but layered with cultural references: weaving patterns from the Batak tribe, indigenous motifs from the Tagbanua and Tausug, and partitions that nod to traditional bahay kubo architecture. The effect is contemporary, but unmistakably Filipino. Public spaces tell a similar story. The arrival hall takes its inspiration from the paraw sailing..
