GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A local entrepreneur has launched a boutique hotel initiative aimed at expanding General Santos City’s tourism identity beyond its traditional reputation as the nation's tuna capital.
Jessica Manilay-Santos, a Psychology graduate from Ateneo de Davao University who returned to her hometown after working in Manila, opened the 28-room Bila Boutique Hotel and its in-house Tribu Kefi café in December 2025.
The venture integrates indigenous arts and regional culture into the local hospitality landscape. Named after the Blaan word for "home," the hotel showcases regional craftsmanship and collaborates with local communities to source authentic artisan goods and souvenirs.
"We want to showcase to others that GenSan is not only tuna," Manilay-Santos said. "We have something else to offer."
At Tribu Kefi, menu offerings draw inspiration from regional dishes. She collaborates with the culinary heritage advocates Chef Christopher Guado Carangian. The staff explicitly includes members of local Indigenous Peoples and Moro communities.
The business has faced operational headwinds typical of small hospitality ventures, including staffing challenges, rising inflation, and volatile raw material costs. To maintain affordable room and dining rates while ensuring financial sustainability, the hotel sources ingredients directly from local agricultural markets.
During a power outage following a major earthquake on June 8, the hotel operated on generator power to provide free phone-charging stations for residents and offered 50 percent off food items to assist relief efforts.
As a member of the GenSan Hoteliers Association Inc., the property helps absorb city accommodation surges during major events, including the national Batang Pinoy games.
Looking ahead, Manilay-Santos plans to expand Tribu Kefi's evening operations to include wine services while expanding direct retail partnerships with indigenous producers.
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