Spa operator upholds culture with authentic Pinoy massage

Eyeing the potential of attracting more tourists in the country and achieving the goal of becoming a world-class spa destination in the world, a spa operator and a SWAC official is bent on promoting Filipino “hilot” as well as other home-grown spa treatments to the market and to other industry players.

In an interview, Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu president and Body and Sole spa chains proprietor Johnie Lim pointed out that as the spa industry here in Cebu have come to reach a certain level of growth and maturity, it is about time that spa operators focus on providing home-grown services by utilizing our own Filipino culture.

“There are many investors who usually like to invest in Thai massages but I thought why promote other culture? Why not focus on promoting our own Filipino culture this time,” Lim said.

Recently, Lim added another spa outlet in his rooster of spa business operations which he called as Alibyo Boutique Spa which offers authentic Filipino treatments such as the original Filipino massage we call “hilot.”

“After five years of operating Body and Sole, I wanted to go to the next level because I realized that its time for us to have a Filipino spa so that we can entertain our foreign visitors in a Filipino way and so that they can also appreciate our culture and traditions,” said Lim.

Lim’s Alibyo Boutique Spa not only offers the typical “hilot” but also ”pi-so” or the traditional foot massage, “bang-gud” or the reconstructed foot spa, “pahamis” or “paputi” or the natural facial , “lugod” or the organic body scrub and the “hampul” or the commonly called “bentosa” treatment. In performing these treatments, Alibyo uses organic ingredients with Filipino materials such as “uling” or charcoal, bamboo sticks, virgin coconut oil, ginger, lemon grass and other Filipino sourced materials.

True to its promotion of the Filipino culture, Alibyo also serves its patrons with “sikwati” or hot chocolate made from cocoa with puto, budbud and other native delicacies.

Alibyo has been in operation since November of last year but it will be having its grand launching this coming February.

Lim said that so far, it has generated positive comments from clients especially foreigners who frequents spa outlets for treatments.  —Rhia de Pablo