IDEAS (FOR ME?)

10 things to do on Valentine’s Day
By Bianca Consunji
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Last updated 18:40:00 02/12/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Valentine’s Day, more often than not, causes hundreds of people to run around in panic, looking for something to do either for their significant others or their lonely selves.

Thus, restaurants are always full of lovestruck couples or big groups of people out to have a good time.

However, Valentine’s celebrations need not be limited to expensive dinners and giant bouquets of roses. Want to do something unusual for the day? We’ve got a list of things for you to do, whether you’re preparing for a hot date with your significant other or celebrating contented singledom with your friends (or by yourself).

Have a picnic
Lay out a plaid blanket, make some sandwiches, pop some bubbly, and have a picnic in the park—or your backyard, if you prefer. A picnic will save you from the horrendous Valentine’s Day traffic and is infinitely more romantic than a generic dinner in a restaurant.
If you want something more formal, set up a candlelit table and serve cheese or chocolate fondue.

Watch a play
Take your date to watch a play (trust us, a movie won’t produce the same effect). Have coffee afterward as you talk about the production and share a laugh or two about your favorite parts.
Looking for the ultimate Valentine’s Day play? Check out Dulaang Sibol’s “Sinta” at the Tanghalang Onofre Pagsanghan at Ateneo de Manila High School.

Explore the city
If you have the whole day blocked off for your date, explore the city. Try a coin-flip date—heads, turn right, tails, turn left. You might end up discovering places you’ve never heard of before, like a cool hole-in-the-wall café or a small art gallery.

Go to the spa
A day at the spa is something nearly impossible to refuse. Whether you’re trying out a new salt scrub or relaxing massage with your significant other, or having a full-body treatment to escape from the nauseating Valentine’s Day songs, a couple of hours at the spa will guarantee pure bliss.

Bake cookies for single friends
This is a foolproof way to make other people happy on Valentine’s: if you’re single, you’re sharing (non-romantic) love with other people. If you’re attached, you’re showing them your world doesn’t revolve around your significant other. No better way to prove that giving is better than receiving!

Have a romantic scavenger hunt
Go beyond merely handing over the usual bouquet of roses or box of chocolates by setting up a scavenger hunt for your special someone. Plant clues in places that mean something to both of you, like the place where you first met or had your first kiss. This will take a lot of effort, but could be one of your most special Valentine’s Days.

Hire a singing telegram
“Uso pa ba ang harana?” We think it will never go out of style. If you don’t have much of a singing voice yourself, get some friends to sing for your significant other, or hire a singing group. If you’re still in school, there’ll surely be an organization that offers singing telegrams as a fundraiser. Surprise your crush with a song or two.

Go dancing
Dance like no one’s watching. Visit a ballroom-dancing club and be the only young couple or group in a sea of matrons and have some wholesome giggly fun. Want something more romantic? Bring your date to a rooftop of a condo and play music from your iPod dock.

Set up a date for your parents
Whether you’re single or not, Valentine’s Day is a good way to repay your parents. After all, if they didn’t get together, you wouldn’t even be alive. Get them tickets to a concert of a retro band, or splurge on a fancy dinner for two. Can’t break the bank? Get your siblings out of the house and set up dinner for them, or be their maitre’d for the night.

Hold an anti-Valentine’s party with your friends
When all else fails, hold an anti-Valentine’s party with some good friends. With them, you don’t have to pretend you’re not bitter or heartbroken—sing cheesy songs on videoke, watch a movie or two, and binge on pizza and ice cream. You can also go for the slightly less pathetic route by going for a theme party (say, Las Vegas night or Welcome to the ’90s) to make things more fun, with less wallowing.

E-mail the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com

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