“Quiet luxury is more than just a catchphrase in fashion, it’s the Calatagan lifestyle,” declares Metro Society EIC and EIC on the Move Raul Manzano.

Just a three-hour drive away from Metro Manila, Calatagan in Batangas offers a welcome respite for the weary souls of weekday warriors and city dwellers. For a charming beach community that’s a quick trip from the Metro, Calatagan is surprisingly quiet, laidback and feels very much away from the madding crowd. No wonder, it has earned the reputation for being a playground of Manila’s elite for decades.

Among the best things about Calatagan is the locals living their best lives in the community. Like an enchanting small town where almost everybody knows everyone, residents and beach property owners would often find ways to meet up, commune, dine and drink together by the beach.

Atty. Rene Puno and his wife Ann, along with neighbor Basti Lacson, welcomed back EIC Raul—a former Calatagan resident himself—to their lovely abode over a hearty potluck of sumptuous meals and colorful conversations on why Calatagan is such a beautiful place to stay in.

“For me really it was the opportunity to be a part of a community where people are nice and they appreciate life. Here, the simple things make them so happy,” Atty. Puno shares.

Calatagan is also a family-oriented community where some families make it their second home. It’s where children and families can experience a homey, provincial life surrounded by beach, mountains and farms. It’s an accessible place for those yearning for a little quiet luxury by the beach.

“It’s somewhere you feel safe, psychologically and physically safe. So I think everyone who comes here that’s what they appreciate,” Basti says, adding that it’s also a good place to invest in [properties].

As Raul spent some time outdoors to walk and explore the neighborhood with his friends, it brought a rush of wonderful memories.

“And boy, am I reminded why I fell in love with Calatagan in the first place. After allthese years, its beauty is still striking. Even if it’s accessible from Manila, the beaches are still uncluttered. And its local community is still as charming as ever,” the EIC says.

Calatagan is an area for nature lovers and there are plenty of spaces to appreciate including the mangrove areas and a coral reef you can swim to at anytime. You can also appreciate architecture by just looking up the various impressive houses in the community.

“There’s more than one way to experience Calatagan. You can take the leisurely route on foot, you can enjoy its sights and sounds at cruise control inside a car, or, as resident Art Hyndman shows us, you can take it all in at thrilling speeds and [ride a motorbike],” Raul notes.

Playa Calatagan resident Art Hyndman takes EIC on the Move on the new developments in the area including the Landco BeachTowns. The properties have such attractive and desirable propositions - accessible seaside communities in an upscale leisure and tourist destination where properties that are residential, commercial, or a mix of both, are available to help recalibrate one’s lifestyle. Homeowners and property investors can enjoy their dream beach house, second home or an exciting new business venture. It’s setting a new standard for luxury beachside living, as these Landco BeachTowns are excellent master-planned communities.

Nestled on the white sands of Calatagan is the 15-hectare CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach). CaSoBe features a more laidback resort lifestyle in an intimate setting, complemented by the rich heritage of its location and hospitality and entertainment attractions like the Crusoe Cabins and Aqua Park that are already operational.

Aqua Park

Crusoe Cabins

“It’s very relaxing here. I don’t have a timeframe. It’s like living inside a resort. In the village proper, we have pools. One here is the Hilltop clubhouse where you can have a nice view of the ocean. Then we have the Oasis, a nighttime pool, hundreds of LEDS underneath so it feels like swimming above the stars. We have the Playa Calatagan main beach club [and Aquaria Water Park at CaSoBe] and a huge expanse of beachfront,” Art shares, adding you can also do water sports from kayaking to snorkeling to swimming and a lot more recreational activities.

“If I had to choose, I’d say CaSoBe/Playa Calatagan is more up to my speed. Of course, it’s going to be different for everyone. But after seeing Calatagan’s/Landco’s various premium BeachTown properties, I’m confident there’s something here that’ll suit your unique lifestyle,” Raul opines.

Because it’s a connected community, Raul was also able to bump into one of his good friends, journalist Stephanie Zubiri who spent most of her childhood here on beach holidays. Calatagan gave them the chance to catch up on their lives over barbecue and cocktails amid the majestic Calatagan sunset by the beach.

“It’s great because I have small kids. My sons are 6 and 8 and this beach is so safe because the tide goes out so far, you can walk all the way out there and they can hunt for starfish, shells and crabs. I feel safe because the waves here are so gentle,” Stephanie says of her experience as a resident.

“I like doing nothing here,” she laughs.

“I just like to sit. My whole day revolves around the sunset and then just relax and unwind. I bring a book, I try to turn off my phone and enjoy the quiet. Weekdays are nice because it’s really quiet. I do yoga by the beach or in the garden and just read. Here with my kids, we just walk around. I feel safe because we also have a tight community and lots of people we know. It’s fun. I also like that there’s a sense of like a local childhood. We have a banca, my kids and I ride it. There’s a sense of being Filipino. They hang out here and talk to the fishermen,” Stephanie happily narrates and shares.

Calatagan’s proximity to Metro Manila may be one of its prime attractions but the overall relaxing vibe, the serene environment as well as the sense of community it offers are precious finds to wholly bask in.

“From its gorgeous scenery to the affluent community, and down to the priceless beachside lifestyle, Calatagan is truly is an understated paradise that you can actually come home to, a quiet luxury worth rewarding yourself with,” Raul concludes.