The first-ever Hearth Summit Philippines was held on the mystical island of Siquijor, with a vision of exploring the multifaceted nature of well-being. Organized by Lunas Pilipinas and The Wellbeing Project, the four-day conference brought together a healthy mix of changemakers, local healers, community leaders, and participants eager to explore the intersection of individual, communal, and planetary well-being.
The summit’s purpose was clear: to cultivate a holistic wellbeing culture that embraces self-care, collective healing, environmental responsibility, and deep connections.
“It’s about how we relate to ourselves, to one another, to the land, and to the world we want to evolve into,” said Dr. Annalisa Enrile, professor at the USC School of Social Work. Enrile, who is also the founder of Keeping It 100 Solutions, is one of the organizers of the summit. This notion of interconnectedness was at the core of the gathering’s mission.
In the Philippines, self-care is often overshadowed by a culture of self-sacrifice, especially for those dedicated to social causes.
“In our culture, we’re more about self-sacrifice than self-care,” said Maitet Ledesma, project coordinator at Lunas Pilipinas.“Changemakers, always focused on the greater good, often forget how caring for oneself is essential for sustaining the work we do.” The Hearth Summit was, therefore, a much-needed reminder of the importance of nurturing one’s wellbeing in order to create a sustainable impact.
Siquijor, long celebrated for its mystical healing traditions, was the perfect backdrop for this gathering. The island’s rich cultural heritage and reputation for transformation made it an ideal setting for the summit’s themes of personal and collective healing. Siquijor, after all, is an “island of healing” as locals would say throughout the event.
Local community involvement was central to the summit’s success. Rather than imposing an agenda, the organizers worked closely with Siquijor’s people, ensuring that the event was guided by the needs and wisdom of the local community. “We are facilitating and supporting what the people need, not bringing in solutions from the outside,” said Dr. Theresa Castillo, chief program officer at Health Right International. Castillo, who helped organize the summit, is also a professor of Public Health at Columbia University and Bard College.
A key aspect of the summit was its focus on using art as a powerful language for exploring difficult emotions and experiences. “Art allows us to express what we can’t put into words. It’s a tool for understanding our feelings, especially when we don’t even know how to verbalize them,” said Jang Monte-Hernandez, a women’s rights advocate who also helped organize the event. This emphasis on creative expression allowed participants to tap into new forms of communication and understanding.
In addition to art, the summit featured several interactive workshops and breakout sessions. Participants delved into topics ranging from self-care practices to social change, all within the context of the summit’s overarching theme of collective healing. The use of traditional rituals also played a crucial role. Local healers performed tuob, a ritual meant to banish negative energy from the body. This deeply spiritual experience provided participants with an opportunity for cleansing and renewal.
The summit was an immersive, experiential journey that also included excursions to Siquijor’s famous landmark sites. Attendees visited the Old Enchanted Balete Tree in Lazi, the Siquijor Butterfly Sanctuary in Cang-apa Village, and Mt. Bandilaan in Cantabon, holding meaningful talks in those places. Visiting these sacred sites allowed participants to deepen their connection to the land and appreciate the island’s unique natural beauty.
“It’s as if the island’s energy becomes part of you—its healing presence, its stories, and its people,” said Raquel Vicedo, the Regional Summits Director at The Wellbeing Project.
The diversity of participants further enriched the experience, with a mix of youth activists, seasoned healers, social entrepreneurs, and artists. There were participants from Spain, Sweden, the USA, and Ireland, as well as individuals from different parts of the Philippines and locals from Siquijor.
Many of the youth participants are from Metro Manila and rarely get the chance to interact with elders, especially those from rural areas, which is why, organizers said, this summit is also a great opportunity for intergenerational learning and dialogue.
The event also allowed space for participants to reflect on the importance of belonging—not just to a community but to the environment. The concept of ecological belonging was a recurring theme throughout the summit.
“If we don’t have a sense of deep connection to our ecology, to the people around us, to the world we live in, we will ultimately lose our way. We are all part of nature, and the state of our planet reflects the state of our wellbeing,” said Sean Westcott, the lead for the ecological belonging initiative at The Wellbeing Project.
The summit sought to instill a sense of responsibility for the world’s healing, emphasizing the need to align personal wellbeing with the health of the environment.
By the end of the summit, participants had not only gained new insights into holistic wellbeing, but they had also built lasting connections that would continue to shape their personal and collective journeys. The summit isn’t just about one moment, but about planting seeds for future change.
The Hearth Summit Philippines, the first of its kind in the country, was part of a global movement to redefine wellbeing. Similar summits have been held in other countries such as Spain (where the first one was held), Slovenia, Senegal, Germany, Austria, and Greece. In Asia, Hearth Summits have been held in India, and Malaysia.
Through this summit, the hope is that Filipino changemakers will return to their communities with renewed strength, knowledge, and commitment to promoting wellbeing—not just for themselves but for the people around them.