The Anti-Valentine: Break the Rules 13 Ways

1. Don’t go out on the 14th; celebrate on the 15th, instead. Or the 22nd (see number 7).

Seriously, why would you want to brave the traffic to get to a crowded restaurant to wait an hour for your food to be served, and pay astronomical costs for all that trouble?  

Image from living.msn.com

2. Don’t wear that little black dress; undress.

Hearts’ day is really about that – taking good care of your heart. So keep your stress levels at bay by having a Couple’s Body Scrub and Massage at Aesthetic Center. This treatment uses a rich sea salt blended with the finest oils that has exfoliating properties to remove dead and unwanted skin. A bleaching agent is then applied all over the body. Look good and feel good together!

The Couple’s Body Scrub is only available at the Aesthetic Center branch in Alabang (Kennedy Center, Prime corner Venture Streets, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang) for P2,160 / hour). Aesthetic Center also has a branch in Makati (Jupiter Place, Jupiter Street, Bel-Air)

3. Forget dinner; have breakfast instead.  

Try some of 26th St. Bistro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf signature dishes like the Toblerone Pancakes with Salted Caramel (P235) and Peach Stuffed French Toast (P295), savory Steak & Eggs (P395) and Smoked Salmon Florentine (P345), and even the Tapsilog-inspired Filipino breakfast, US Angus Tapa, served with U.S. Angus Beef Tapa and Baked Pesto Tomato (P395).

26th St. Bistro is located at the corner of 26th St. and 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City.

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4. Or, opt for high tea.

Be like the Brits and enjoy biscuits and high tea at TWG. Try their new Follow Me Tea, inspired by the budding affection of a courtesan for her lover. It’s an invitation to the delights and fragility of love, a cup of romance blended with rousing ginseng root and the tart extravagance of fresh pineapple, conceived exclusively for this season of love by TWG Tea.

TWG has branches in Greenbelt and Rockwell, Makati.

5. Or, get ice cream at an odd hour.

Be like a child again and savor the flavors of artisanal ice cream at BONO -- you'll love them!

BONO Artisanal Gelato has branches in SM Makati and The Podium in Ortigas, Pasig.

Image by Majoy Siason

6. Or, sneak in a night-out and get a few drinks.

Located at the ground floor of the Rockwell mall, Hatch 22 is a bakery, café and a bar all in one, that serves everything from fresh fruit juices to wine and cocktails. Try their Blushing Mistress, a mixture of guyabano juice, rum, and lemon, or the Port Sangaree for a refreshing nightcap.

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7. Skip the cinema and see a movie under the moonlight instead.

What could be more romantic than dinner and a movie under the moonlight? Enjoy a free outdoor screening of romantic movies at the Nuvali Night Sky Cinema on February 22. Like the Nuvali Facebook page for updates.

Image from https://www.facebook.com/NUVALIOfficial

8. Don't bother buying a card to express your feelings; paint it instead.

Be like Van Gogh and show your true emotions using a brush instead of a pen. Book a couple session at Sip Van Gogh and have a date you won’t soon forget.

Image by Mark Jesalva

9. Instead of sitting across each other, try side-by-side.

Boat ride in Manila? Well, not exactly, but if you drive a bit further down South, in Nuvali, you can go on a boat ride at only P30 per head.

Image from https://www.facebook.com/NUVALIOfficial

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10. Skip dinner by candlelight; watch the sky light up instead.

The much-anticipated PyroMusical competition begins tomorrow, so head on to SM Mall of Asia’s Seaside Boulevard, find a nice spot and watch a world-class spectacle for free. See more events happening this weekend with our Family Weekender Guide.

Image from jrelphotography.deviantart.com

11. No need for a bouquet of flowers; see thousands in bloom at the Panagbenga Festival

Find flowers too pricey? You don’t have to buy them to appreciate them. Book a trip to Baguio and enjoy the blooms and the cool weather at the annual Panagbenga festival, a month-long celebration.

Image from lakbaybaguio.com

12. Don’t take a walk; skate.

Now that the Philippines has produced its very own Olympic-grade figure skater in the person of Michael Christian Martinez, it’s time you and your partner try it out yourself. Go check out the newly-opened Skating Rink at the SM Megamall.

Image by Stephanie Esguerra

 

13. But if you must ABSOLUTELY go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day, don’t hold back; go all out.

Go big or go home – so if you are bent on having a candlelit dinner for two, celebrate it with an unforgettable spectacle at Sofitel Philippine Plaza’s Poolside Barbecue Buffet. Enjoy a poolside rendezvous which includes a sumptuous buffet dinner, free-flowing beers, soda and iced tea, a glass of AIX rose, and a rose for the ladies. The evening ends with an unforgettable fireworks display. Call Sofitel at 551-5555 for details or visit www.sofitelmanila.com.

Image from https://www.facebook.com/SofitelManila

Also, check this out: 10 Restaurants you can Go to on a Date on a P1,000 budget