I have been to Calatagan several times for location hunts and securing of shooting permits. That's why spending 2 days there for a company outing didn't seem exciting for me anymore. Still, I went along and we stayed at The Residence Inn.

This one in Calatagan is just one of the many chains of The Residence Inn as they also have branches in Tagaytay, Lipa, etc. I liked this one the most because all the cottages (all 5) were placed above the sea, not on the beach. For me, it was very scenic. The beach, though, was a great disappointment. It was covered more with dead white corals than sand and the sea boasts nothing but dead corals still and sharp rocks. Low tides here are at ankle-length and they are considerably longer than the high tides. And even if you take a boat and go farther to check out other sites, you'll only get frustrated. No changes at all. Still, the picturesque beauty of the resort made up for nature's shortcomings and I fell in love with it. It was a perfect place to go romantic and sentimental.

I have been back to The Residence Inn several times after the company outing, mostly for work-related purposes. But I know, one day, I will be back to this very place and reminisce, Calatagan marked the beginning of the rest of my life.