THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN SIARGAO

Two soul brothers set sail on a journey to finding and fostering happiness-guided by their purpose to create

-  LAURD SALEN

“If it’s not for the soul, we won’t last a day”—this is what drives two long-time friends from Israel, Saar Geva and Eliran Elhai, to continuously develop island retreats in the country.

But before realizing that purpose is best paired with passion, the two had to completely leave behind everything they are familiar with and start over in uncharted waters.

“It started in late 2014 when I came to El Nido, Palawan for a weekend vacation,” Elhai recalls. “I saw the place and just fell in love with nature and the vibe. I was searching for some kind of change in life, so I moved there and opened a small restaurant by the beach in Barangay Corong-Corong—named it Happiness.”

After two years, Happiness Beach Bar became a hit, and Elhai knew he needed to share the experience with his childhood friend Geva, who was going through major life changes back home. Geva was looking for a breath of fresh air and a new perspective on his life’s direction.

A lot of people say it’s not wise to mix business with friendship, but luckily, it worked out for the best for these two adventure-seeking souls. As innate explorers, they naturally found themselves in the majestic turquoise waters of Siargao and quickly fell in love with its spirit and community. Here, they decided to embark on a new adventure and ultimately, open another island retreat. This time, however, they ventured into multiple businesses: a beach resort with a beach bar, hostel, and restaurant, a sustainable and eco-friendly shop, and a food truck.