Want to experience an authentic retreat that embodies traditional Ilonggo healing practices, cultural heritage, and nature-inspired relaxation? Check out Daluy Retreat Spa as it officially opens its doors today, July 30, 2025 — positioning as Iloilo’s premier Filipino wellness sanctuary in no less than the heart of Iloilo City. In a place where wellness centers often follow imported trends, Daluy flows the other way. Named after the Ilonggo word for “flowing water,” Daluy reflects a seamless journey toward healing, rest, and renewal.
Tucked in the third floor of Citadines Amigo Iloilo in Iznart Street, Iloilo City Proper, this luxury retreat spa offers an experience rooted in Filipino wellness traditions. Ancient Ilonggo practices like tuob and bayabas cleansing are thoughtfully woven into a curated menu of treatments designed to nourish both body and spirit. Every element of Daluy in its seven rooms with nine beds, from the use of natural ingredients to its hablon uniforms and hilot-trained therapists, celebrates the elegance and depth of Ilonggo culture. Even its partnership with Citadines managed by The Ascott Limited is intentional, aligning with shared values of local pride, sustainability, and community care. At Daluy, wellness is not a borrowed concept, it is a homecoming.
This is not just a spa. It’s a sanctuary where tradition meets comfort and Ilonggos reclaim their own way of wellbeing and something that non-Ilonggos should experience to say they have experienced the Ilonggo way of relaxation. Rooted in Ilonggo traditions, Daluy’s name is a localized take on ‘daloy’ or flow which is spelled with a letter O by the Tagalogs but the Ilonggo founders chose to spell it with a ‘u’ to reflect the Hiligaynon vernacular, grounding it further in Ilonggo identity.
“Because the real meaning of spa is “Sanitas per aquam” which is Latin for “health through water”,’ so I said, let’s call it Daluy—Filipino for flow. And we spelled it with a ‘u’ to reflect the Hiligaynon sound, to make it truly Ilonggo,” says Churchille Montealto-Pasague, co-founder of Daluy Retreat Spa.
The spa revives healing rituals known to Ilonggo homes for generations: the therapeutic hilot, the warming tuob with guava and local herbs, and the bayabas leaf cleansing. These practices, once seen in humble households, are now reimagined in a luxury setting without losing their soul.
“When we thought about what kind of spa we wanted, I realized there was none that truly felt Ilonggo. I grew up with hilot—it’s what made me well whenever I was sick. Why not create something rooted in that tradition?” says Churchille, a native of Miagao, Iloilo.
While most spas in the city carry Thai or Western themes, Daluy is unapologetically Filipino with a strong Ilonggo emphasis.
For example, the Hilot Dāluy Signature Massage for 90 minutes is “a deeply restorative Filipino Hilot therapy that combines warm coconut oil and banana leaves to release stagnant energy, ease muscle tension, and restore balance.” On the other hand, the Banaag Body Scrub is “a revitalizing full-body exfoliation using a blend of kapeng barako, bayabas leaves, and coconut husk to detoxify, soften, and refresh the skin.” The traditional hilot techniques that most Ilonggos are used to when they want to alleviate headaches, loosen stiff shoulders, and unburden the back from stress are found in the spa’s Hupáy Massage (Head, Shoulder, Back) which is the most affordable among the spa treatments for P500 for 30 minutes. The Pagpag Foot Massage, on the other hand, is also P500 for 30 minutes.
Tuób (also spelled tuob, túob, or suob) is a Hiligaynon and Cebuano word that means “to steam” or “to fumigate.” Beyond its physical benefits, tuób is also regarded in many communities as a spiritual or emotional cleansing practice that is said to relieve fatigue, stress, and even ward off negative energies. From the sampaguita-infused air to the lull of native instrumental music, every detail is curated with intention.
It is the only Ilonggo luxury retreat spa in the heart of the city, and it stands out not only for its treatments but also for its story. The interior design echoes the Spanish-era bahay na bato, featuring conversation pieces like locally sourced baul and intricately carved balusters from Sara, Iloilo.
Citadines Amigo Iloilo considers Daluy Retreat Spa a great partner, considering the hotel’s own values and practices. “Citadines is all about an activated lifestyle—connecting people to local culture. Daluy brings that to life in a way that’s elegant and rooted in heritage,” says Rey Vergel Mulat, Citadines’ residence manager.
Uplifting the Daluy Wellness Therapists Daluy is just as much a sanctuary for its guests as it is for its wellness therapists. Known as Daluy Wellness Therapists, they are offered stable income, government benefits, and a safe, nurturing environment—a rarity in an industry where many work on commission without benefits. There are no quotas. Instead, therapists are encouraged to rest, recharge, and serve clients with aruga (care) and malasakit (compassion), values ingrained into Daluy’s brand ethos.
For Residence Manager Rey, taking care of employees is a key factor in the key success of many Ascott hotels, given his experience of 22 years in the hotel industry. He was impressed upon seeing the construction of a room at the spa dedicated only for employees with bunk beds, a refrigerator, pantry, and other amenities.
This reflects Churchille’s belief not only in creating a wellness space but also practicing fair labor practices.
“We want our therapists to feel valued. No quotas, no pressure. They rest when they need to. Their body is their capital, and our job is to protect that,” says Churchille.
Daluy Retreat Spa is more than a destination—it is a movement toward honoring the past while nurturing the future. Whether you’re Ilonggo or simply seeking meaningful rest, this sanctuary invites you to experience wellness the Ilonggo way.
