Tips to a Romantic Valentine's Day on a Budget

While it may seem romantic to go out to an expensive restaurant and spend thousands of pesos on one meal, there's really no need.  By just being creative, you could use a little magic for romance this Valentine’s. Here's how:

1)  Home-cooked candle-lit dinner.  It doesn't take much money to put together a nice meal for  two.  First, decide on the menu, then shop at the grocery store.  Nowadays, everything is available at the supermarket, from sushi to steak!  Go home and cook it up together.  After enjoying dinner over a glass of sparkling wine in the romantic candlelight, get close and personal and cook up some serious Valentine's Day togetherness.

2)  Have a picnic session.  Put together nice food in a picnic basket and enjoy the outdoors with a tasty lunch.  You can bring some flowers and wine, as well.  If you want to go on an out of town trip, you can go to Tagaytay Picnic Grove (entrance fee - P50/person and P50 parking fee), go horseback riding...(P200/hour) or try the Tagaytay Zipline to add fun and adventure. Check out tagaytayzipline.com for more details.

3) HHWW (Holding Hands While Watching) the Sunset at the SM By the Bay (across SM MOA). Be there before 5pm so you won't miss the sunset.

4)  Single? No worries! You can have a movie marathon with your friends and have a Girlfriends Photo Shoot.  There is no reason why you should not have fun just because you don't have a date! Invite your girlfriends over.  Ask them to bring a couple outfits... casual, formal, whatever they like. Have a Supermodel Photo Shoot.  Find out all which angles that make you look fabulous and absolutely  gorgeous. Serve appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks.  Email the pictures to your friends or tag them on Facebook and let the whole world see how alluring you all are.

5)  If you really wanted to go out this Valentine's but on a tight budget, there's one resto in the Metro which has a unique theme, a nice ambiance and where food is very very affordable.  It's the Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant in Katipunan Q.C.

Got this from their website www.pandeamerikana.mutliply.com

Pan de Amerikana's branch in Marikina, 'though a bit far,  has an awesome ambiance. It is one of the five chess-themed restaurants in the world.  Their Katipunan branch just opened Nov of 2010, smaller but more accessible...and considered the first and only upside-down restaurant (the facade, that is, and some of the interiors) in Southeast Asia.

Got this from their website, as well...

Inverted Tables and plants on the ceiling

Their wash area was also cool...

Pan de Amerikana Katipunan branch:  131 Katipunan Ave. St. Ignatius (very near White Plains) Q.C. Call them at 0917-8908824.

Their wheat pandesal and wheat ensaymada are also one of the best...

Here are some parts of their menu and look at how affordable the prices are...But you need to bring cash because credit card payments are not accepted.  

Visit facebook.com/pages/Pan-de-Amerikana for more info...

Well, what matters most is actually who you're with and not really where you are.. Expressing your love and affection to your loved ones (including your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters) is really what Valentine's is all about.  

Happy Valentine's :o)