What’s a perfect Valentine’s date for you?
February 6, 2005 | 12:00am
Even if people say Valentine’s Day was invented by Hallmark Greeting Cards and is now so commercialized, I’m still grateful for that one day in the year when we celebrate love in all its incarnations, when we can be romantic without being corny. It’s nice to see Valentine’s being celebrated by friends and family members, and not just between lovers. But it’s also a good day for non-romantics – they have an excuse on this day to be romantic.
I’ve been married for 16 years and have learned that aside from constant communication, an important factor in making a marriage work is finding quality time for each other and finding romantic ways to make your partner happy.
St. Valentine, after whom the holiday was named, believed that love always prevails (legend has it that he married lovers in secret after Emperor Claudius decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives). And so we have that one day to prove him right.
E-mail comments and suggestions at monsrt@info.com.ph.
Mannix Ortega, chief of staff of Representative Manuel Ortega: It’s hard to remember the true essence of Valentine’s Day amid all the chaos and commercialism surrounding it. If you love someone unconditionally and are fortunate enough to be loved in return, that’s much better than roses, chocolates, or jewelry. And much cheaper, too!
Nicole Ortega, financial consultant: We don’t particularly celebrate Valentine’s Day, but we make sure we spread the love evenly throughout the year. That way, a single day of affection turns into many. But if I were to receive Valentine’s gifts throughout the year, I sure wouldn’t complain either.
Gary Estrada, actor: My idea of a perfect date would be to bring my wife to a baseball field with all the lights on. In the center of the field, a nice elegant dinner setup and while we are having our dinner the lights would dim and a string quartet would serenade us the whole night. We would also get there in a limo and be really dressed up.
Berna Alyson Estrada, actress: My idea of a perfect date would be with my hubby, with great conversation, reminiscing about our past, savoring our present and making up silly and seemingly impossible dreams for our future, plus we’d have good food and wine. Or it could be anywhere, like at home where I can make a cozy setup, the beach, or even on our family farm in the province. But if money is no object, I’d love to go on a date a la Pretty Woman style, all glammed up, and we would ride a private plane to any destination where we would watch a play or concert followed by a very romantic dinner.
Chari Villanueva Cabral, gemologist, jeweler Briolette, entrepreneur (Jeunesse Dermaceutical): Not a lot of fanfare nor too formal. What’s important is enjoying the company of my Valentine’s date, my husband Bobby, any day of the year. Naturally, the setting and most especially the music help spice up the night and add to the romance, too. But for the ultimate romantic date, nothing beats walks by the seashore at sunset. Or going much farther, I’ll take walks by the River Seine, the little alleys of old-world Venice or an evening stroll fronting the mighty Niagara anytime. Now that would be some unforgettable evening!
Bobby Cabral, businessman (Pro Star Marketing Corp., Dr. Martens Philippines, Pro Star Sports Philippine): Views are important to me as they create the ambiance. The ideal places for me would be overlooking Niagara Falls, the marina in downtown San Diego or Castaways in Los Angeles. An ideal Valentine’s date would start out with a cool, breezy evening on a cloudless night. Roses would be standard fare. Dinner would be at a very cozy French restaurant with just the right lighting and a good bottle of red wine (not necessarily expensive). An intimate conversation with a lot of innuendo, and then, for the piece de resistance, some forbidden place that would be extremely private. Go figure out what I mean.
Cheska Garcia, model, actress: A perfect date for me would be during the Close-up Lovapalooza on February 12 at the Baywalk, starting off with a cruise by the bay while a violinist plays our favorite songs and at the stroke of midnight I will give my special someone the sweetest kiss!!
Doug Kramer, basketball player: A perfect date for me and my girlfriend would be watching a concert and having Sting as the performer. I know it will make my girlfriend smile the whole night and it will be something truly unforgettable.
Al Santos, chairman of Global Restaurant Concepts: A perfect date for me is having a delicious and not-so-expensive dinner with Therese!
Therese Santos, president of Cinderella: The perfect date for me is an intimate dinner with Al in a fine-dining restaurant with a casual and warm ambiance and, of course, a great dessert menu!
Mary Ann Lumen, wife, perennial student: To cart off my hubby to a location where we will be absolutely incommunicado! The ultimate treat is conversation with pure, honest hearts. On the menu: Romance "pate," "tornedos" of love, humor "flambe"
Francis Lumen, CEO, NBC: Since is it impossible to transport Dangwa to my wife – I will take her to Dangwa to enjoy a field of flowers!
Wanwan Reyes, model: My idea of a perfect date is a huge dinner on the beach with my boyfriend Rafael.
Rafael Rossel, actor, model: My idea of a perfect date is simply spending it with my girl. But on February 12, it will be at the Lovapalooza in Davao which my girlfriend and I are hosting.
I’ve been married for 16 years and have learned that aside from constant communication, an important factor in making a marriage work is finding quality time for each other and finding romantic ways to make your partner happy.
St. Valentine, after whom the holiday was named, believed that love always prevails (legend has it that he married lovers in secret after Emperor Claudius decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives). And so we have that one day to prove him right.
E-mail comments and suggestions at monsrt@info.com.ph.
Mannix Ortega, chief of staff of Representative Manuel Ortega: It’s hard to remember the true essence of Valentine’s Day amid all the chaos and commercialism surrounding it. If you love someone unconditionally and are fortunate enough to be loved in return, that’s much better than roses, chocolates, or jewelry. And much cheaper, too!
Nicole Ortega, financial consultant: We don’t particularly celebrate Valentine’s Day, but we make sure we spread the love evenly throughout the year. That way, a single day of affection turns into many. But if I were to receive Valentine’s gifts throughout the year, I sure wouldn’t complain either.
Gary Estrada, actor: My idea of a perfect date would be to bring my wife to a baseball field with all the lights on. In the center of the field, a nice elegant dinner setup and while we are having our dinner the lights would dim and a string quartet would serenade us the whole night. We would also get there in a limo and be really dressed up.
Berna Alyson Estrada, actress: My idea of a perfect date would be with my hubby, with great conversation, reminiscing about our past, savoring our present and making up silly and seemingly impossible dreams for our future, plus we’d have good food and wine. Or it could be anywhere, like at home where I can make a cozy setup, the beach, or even on our family farm in the province. But if money is no object, I’d love to go on a date a la Pretty Woman style, all glammed up, and we would ride a private plane to any destination where we would watch a play or concert followed by a very romantic dinner.
Chari Villanueva Cabral, gemologist, jeweler Briolette, entrepreneur (Jeunesse Dermaceutical): Not a lot of fanfare nor too formal. What’s important is enjoying the company of my Valentine’s date, my husband Bobby, any day of the year. Naturally, the setting and most especially the music help spice up the night and add to the romance, too. But for the ultimate romantic date, nothing beats walks by the seashore at sunset. Or going much farther, I’ll take walks by the River Seine, the little alleys of old-world Venice or an evening stroll fronting the mighty Niagara anytime. Now that would be some unforgettable evening!
Bobby Cabral, businessman (Pro Star Marketing Corp., Dr. Martens Philippines, Pro Star Sports Philippine): Views are important to me as they create the ambiance. The ideal places for me would be overlooking Niagara Falls, the marina in downtown San Diego or Castaways in Los Angeles. An ideal Valentine’s date would start out with a cool, breezy evening on a cloudless night. Roses would be standard fare. Dinner would be at a very cozy French restaurant with just the right lighting and a good bottle of red wine (not necessarily expensive). An intimate conversation with a lot of innuendo, and then, for the piece de resistance, some forbidden place that would be extremely private. Go figure out what I mean.
Cheska Garcia, model, actress: A perfect date for me would be during the Close-up Lovapalooza on February 12 at the Baywalk, starting off with a cruise by the bay while a violinist plays our favorite songs and at the stroke of midnight I will give my special someone the sweetest kiss!!
Doug Kramer, basketball player: A perfect date for me and my girlfriend would be watching a concert and having Sting as the performer. I know it will make my girlfriend smile the whole night and it will be something truly unforgettable.
Al Santos, chairman of Global Restaurant Concepts: A perfect date for me is having a delicious and not-so-expensive dinner with Therese!
Therese Santos, president of Cinderella: The perfect date for me is an intimate dinner with Al in a fine-dining restaurant with a casual and warm ambiance and, of course, a great dessert menu!
Mary Ann Lumen, wife, perennial student: To cart off my hubby to a location where we will be absolutely incommunicado! The ultimate treat is conversation with pure, honest hearts. On the menu: Romance "pate," "tornedos" of love, humor "flambe"
Francis Lumen, CEO, NBC: Since is it impossible to transport Dangwa to my wife – I will take her to Dangwa to enjoy a field of flowers!
Wanwan Reyes, model: My idea of a perfect date is a huge dinner on the beach with my boyfriend Rafael.
Rafael Rossel, actor, model: My idea of a perfect date is simply spending it with my girl. But on February 12, it will be at the Lovapalooza in Davao which my girlfriend and I are hosting.
BrandSpace Articles
<
>