You don’t need a significant other to enjoy Valentine’s Day. Take cues from Lucille Ball who said, “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” Here are 14 different ways to celebrate Valentine’s alone — and have a blast while doing so, too.
1. DETOXIFY
They say that fasting is good for the soul — and it also does wonders for your body! True, your stomach will probably feel as empty as your heart if you decide to subsist on fresh fruit juice for three days. But at least you’ll clear your body from toxins and have an excuse to stay at home this weekend. Think of it as doing a little general cleaning on the inside. Just remember to avoid alcohol intake during your cleanse, lest you threaten to buy your friends (and their bars)!
Try: The Mild Juice Jab, which consists of six 500mL juice bottles packed with vitamins and enzymes. All you have to do is to replace one meal with two juice bottles. While you’re at it, remember to steer clear of processed, junk and sugary foods.
Price: The Mild Juice Jab, which comes with a free insulated bag, costs PHP1,700 for your first order and PHP1,500 for succeeding orders. That’s cheaper than a dinner date at a fancy restaurant!
Learn more: www.juicejab.com
2. RIDE A BIKE
There’s an old joke that draws analogies between sex and riding a bike. Since you’re probably not getting any this Valentine’s, why not settle for the next best thing? You won’t only work up a good sweat, the endorphins that your body releases after you climb that hill will definitely put a smile and that after-sex glow on your face.
Try: La Mesa Nature Reserve in Quezon City, which features kilometers of challenging single- and double-track climbs. According to mountain bike enthusiast Agu Paiso, La Mesa Nature Reserve is the best mountain bike trail in Metro Manila. With an abundance of trees offering shade throughout the forest track, a beautiful view of a man-made lake along the trail, and birds serenading you while you ride, La Mesa Nature Reserve is the best place to rejoice and celebrate being unhitched.
Price: PHP200 per rider. Remember to book in advance and to bring your own helmet.
Learn more: www.abs-cbnfoundation.com/bk/lamesa.html
3. LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR PAST
It’s the closest thing you can get to time travel (and it might also give you clues about your current single state). Join “Past Life Loves: Lessons for Now,” a past life group regression seminar facilitated by ECHOstore co-founder Jeannie Javelosa. Open your subconscious through meditation and discover past connections and relationships, so that you can start living more fully in the present.
When: Feb 15, 4pm-6pm
Where: ECHOyoga Shala, 8465 Kalayaan Ave, Bgy Poblacion, Makati
Price: PHP1,000
Learn more: www.facebook.com/echoyogashala
SEE: 15 DINNER DATES AROUND THE WORLD WITHOUT LEAVING MANILA
4. SEW THE PIECES OF YOUR HEART BACK TOGETHER
Literally. La Pomme, a shop that sells hand-made toys, pillows, jewelry and knick-knacks is holding a Valentine workshop for the date-less. It’s a perfect venue to hone (or build) your sewing skills—at least you can create something to cuddle with at the end of the day. . The good people from La Pomme will even provide sewing materials, wine and bowls of Boy Bawang cornick. How’s that for the perfect un-Valentine’s Day?
When: Feb 14, 6:30pm
Where: La Pomme, The Collective, 7247 Malugay St., San Antonio Village, Makati
Price: PHP700
Learn more: www.lapommehome.com, lapommehome@gmail.com or 0919 9934795
5. BLEED YOUR HEART OUT
You might not have given your heart to someone else, but you can give your blood to those who need it. Donating blood isn’t just about draining yourself of plasma and cells just to get brownie points or help others. Studies reveal that regularly donating blood can reduce the risk of heart disease and increase the production of new blood cells. That’s enough reason for you to roll up your sleeves and head over to a blood bank!
Go to: The nearest Philippine Red Cross blood bank
Price: You can’t put a price tag on good deeds or good health.
Learn more: www.facebook.com/phredcross
6. MINGLE WITH OTHER SINGLES
Avoid those fancy restaurants that discourage tsinelas and sando. Instead, slip your feet into your fave pair of Havaianas or Rambo flip-flops, put on that faded Guns ’N Roses shirt and head on to Boho Sarapsody in Cubao, where the bartenders are hot, the food is good, and where regulars welcome strangers with open arms. February 14 is Laslasan Valentine’s at Boho, so get ready to sing along to cheesy love songs with performers Tek Templo and LC de Leon. While you’re there, be sure to order Boho’s Rum Float—a deadly concoction of rum, ice cream and rootbeer with marshmallows and chocolate syrup. Trust us — you’ll end the night (or morning!) with the beginnings of a hangover and new best friends you’ll treasure for life.
When: Laslasan Valentine’s, February 14, 2014 from 9:00 PM onwards
Where: Boho Sarapsody, Ermin Garcia St., Cubao, Quezon City
Price: No entrance fee!
Learn more: www.facebook.com/BohoSarapsody
7. IGNITE YOUR LIGHT, LET IT SHINE
Because well, in Katy Perry’s wise words — ‘baby, you’re a firework.’ But instead of waiting for yourself to go ‘boom, boom, boom’ this weekend, watch real fireworks own the night instead. The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition opens on February 15 at the Mall of Asia. Featuring an intense display of light and music from the Philippines and Australia, the competition’s opening exhibit just might make you see life (and love) in a whole new, ahem, light.
When: Feb 15, 7pm
Where: SM Mall of Asia
Price: Depends on how close you want to be to all the action. You can park your car in any of the open parkings spaces near MoA, or have a few drinks in one of the bay-side bars. Some restaurants offer spectacular views from their al-fresco dining area. The best seats, however, will be right in front (and center) of Manila Bay. Tickets to this enclosed area range from PHP100 to PHP1,500. The most expensive tickets come with a buffet dinner.
Learn more: www.pyrophilippines.com
8. BE YOUR OWN HERO
Who needs a knight in shining armor if you can be your own Super Woman (or Man)? Learn to kick some serious butt while toning your own through Krav Maga, an Israeli martial arts system that teaches practical self-defense techniques. Because sometimes, you can benefit more from being a fighter than a lover.
Try: Civilian Krav Maga
Where: Asuncion Badminton Center, 20 E Maclang St, San Juan
When: Fridays at 5:30pm & 7:30pm
Price: PHP500 per session or PHP4,500 for unlimited sessions per month
Learn more: kravmaga.ph
9. WINE ALL YOU CAN!
Party by yourself (or with friends) at Planet Grapes this Valentine’s. The cozy wine bar is throwing “Love Stinks, Let’s Drink” on Feb 14 and 15, where you can enjoy free-flowing wine from France, Chile and Argentina for only PHP999. Lightweights can opt for a two-glass pass for only P499. Pair a glass of Reistling with Planet Grapes’ chicharon, kikiam or even balut for an even more extraordinary experience. Want to wine-all-you-can for free? Get the chance to win tickets by following Planet Grapes @planet_grapes on Instagram or visit their website.
When: Feb 14 & 15
Where: Planet Grapes, McKinley Hill, Taguig
Price: Buy tickets before Feb 13, 2014 to be able to wine-all-you-can for PHP999. A 15 percent surcharge will apply for ticket purchases on Feb 14 and 15.
Learn more: www.planetgrapes.com.ph
10. FIND INNER PEACE
Instead of looking for love, why not try to understand what it is first? The Philippine chapter of Brahma Kumaris, an international non-government organization that encourages individuals to re-discover their strengths and attain spiritual awakening through meditation, is holding a special session called The Power of a Loving Heart this weekend. The session aims to break down society’s views on love and relationships in order to give students a deeper understanding of love and its power.
When: Feb 15, 4pm
Where: Brahma Kumaris Center, 34 T Gener St corner Kamuning Ave, Quezon City
Price: Free!
11. LOVE THE ONES WHO GAVE YOU LIFE.
Just because you don’t have someone to give roses or chocolates to (or to receive them from) doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate love. Show your parents your appreciation for putting up with you by treating them to a special seven-course dinner at Ninyo. The Asian fusion restaurant-slash-wine bar is holding “Degustation en Action,” an interactive degustation that gives the guests the opportunity to add their own personal flair to their plates — from appetizer to dessert.
When: Feb 12-16, 6pm onwards
Where: Ninyo, 66 Esteban Abada St, Loyola Heights, QC
Price: PHP2,500 per head (inclusive of VAT, exclusive of 10% service charge)
Learn more: www.facebook.com/events/667934433249612/
12. BE A COUCH POTATO.
Instead of braving the weekend traffic, why not stay at home this Valentine’s? Give yourself a break from breaking your back at work (or school) — load up on popcorn, grab a tub of ice cream, turn on your 50-inch plasma TV and get ready to choose from over hundreds of movie and TV series titles on Netflix. Yes — you read right — Netflix. There is a way to access this couch potato’s dream even if you’re outside the US. Just head on over to www.unotelly.com, a VPN solution that gives you access to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and a lot more. You can even try the service for free for a week! Instructions are idiot-proof, too.
Try: Easy VPN solution from UnoTelly.
Learn more: www.unotelly.com
Price: Free for a week (trial period), $4.99/month. Netflix and Hulu subscriptions are charged separately.
13. READ MORE.
Take the opportunity to flex your brain instead of your heart this weekend. Visit Bookay-Ukay and take advantage of their moving out sale—score classics or sci-fi, fantasy or young adult books for as low as PHP20.
Where: Booky-Ukay Pilipinas, 55 Maginhawa St., UP Village, Diliman, QC
When: Until Feb 15, 2014
Price: PHP20 up
Learn more: www.facebook.com/bookayukay
14. BECOME A ROCK STAR.
Or at least, pave your own path to stardom. Learn your favorite songs the fun way through Rocksmith 2014, a video game that enables you to plug in a real electric guitar or bass (not those childish Rockband / Guitar Hero toy ones) into your game console or computer. Unleash your inner rock star and learn the exact riffs to Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” or even Arctic Monkeys’ “R U Mine.” You can also hone your chord shifting or string bending skills through fun arcade games. It’s an awesome way to waste a couple of hours (or days even), while drowning out your neighbor’s karaoke rendition of “My Way.”
Where: Rocksmith 2014 is available in all Data Blitz outlets around the country
Price: PHP2,395 for the PS3 version and PHP2,095 for the PC version (guitar and bass not included)
Learn more: rocksmith.ubi.com
Photo: Meg Ryan in that funny movie
SEE: 15 DINNER DATES AROUND THE WORLD WITHOUT LEAVING MANILA
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