A Perfect Romantic Date

CEBU, Philippines – When it comes to dating, I have always  believed that the venue is not a paramount consideration. My outlook is that you are there to, well, dine and spend quality time with your girl. And so any comfortable place with good food should  be an easy shoo-in.

But once in a while, we get tired of the ordinary. So one evening, under the full moon, I decided to take my Kristine to this "little spot in a huge place." As a standard for men, I arrived a bit earlier than her. I was standing at the top of that small hill, the height of five people, while I watched her sashay her way up. She was led by rose petals on the stairway, while I stood there clutching a bouquet of flowers behind me.

By the time she swapped my flowers with her kiss, the moon was already hanging just right above the silhouettes of palm trees and bushes. From a distance, we could hear the waves tenderly rumbling on the beach sand. The sound of some mellow music from a vintage radio in the corner was set not too loud as to break the stillness of the night, yet not too faded out enough to fill the occasional, natural dead airs in the course of our conversations.

Kristine and I were informed it was going to be a six-course Italian dinner from an international team of expert chefs. I didn't count, but the food was, hands down, delizioso. She particularly relished on her prawns, the biggest ones I have ever seen. As for me, I became a fan of lamb meat after that night as it perfectly blended well with the champagne.

For two people whose jobs are marked by endless interviews, transcribing, writing, editing and beating deadlines, the experience provided me and Kristine the chance to own time and space for once in our lives. It also altered our prior understanding on the importance of venue in a date. And I guess, that's a good development - for us and for our relationship. It took a perfect romantic spot at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa for us to realize that.