Celebrating Valentine’s Day the Filipino Way

And no holiday brings out the romantic in us than Valentine’s Day. In fact, in a survey conducted in 2008 (see link), Filipinos, among Asians, are the ones most ‘into’ Valentine’s Day.

So, how do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? We celebrate this occasion in various ways.

Of course, some of these we’ve already adopted from other countries. The concept of Valentine’s Day itself was adopted by our culture from other countries. The color red is another such adoption as well as the giving of flowers, chocolates, Valentine’s card and the romantic candle light dinner for two.

But then again, like Halloween, Christmas and New Year Celebrations, we, Filipinos, have our own way of celebrating Valentine’s Day. Some of these ways may be those we’ve adopted from other countries / cultures and, through some twists and turns, given a local flavor. Still others are uniquely our own. And in this hub, I’d like to relate how we celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Filipino way.

The Dangwa Market. The number one Valentine’s Day gift? Flowers, or more specifically, roses, what else? But what if you want to buy your special someone roses (or other flowers) for Valentine’s Day but lack the budget? Where would you go (if you live in Metro Manila, that is)? Enter the Dangwa Market. Located in the country’s capital, Manila, this is the place to be when you want to buy beautifully arranged flowers at a budget. Be warned though, the place really gets jam-packed during and even before Valentine's Day. But if you really want to buy those flowers for your sweetheart, go ahead and brave the crowd.

Prices of flowers…go over the roof before Valentine’s Day. Did I say you have a tight budget? Okay, you might want to re-consider that budget. There are basically two holidays when the prices of flowers go up in the Philippines: All Saint’s Day / All Soul’s Day (or Halloween) and Valentine’s Day. During this time, prices of flowers increase by 100% (or even more). So check your budget again or plan to buy them early (or right after Valentine's Day) so that you can avoid the high prices.

Serenading your loved one. I haven’t seen this practiced much these days but I know this is done. We have what we call the “Harana” or a guy serenading a girl he’s courting under the moonlight. Then we have the “Singing telegrams” where the guy will hire a local singer to do the serenading for him. When I was in college, this is a favorite fund-raiser for some of our organizations. Some of their members become “singers for hire” during Valentine’s Day and they will go to our classrooms to serenade the girl while the rest of us listen and giggle (and secretly envy them LOL).

Dinner by candlelight. I know this is a common practice even in other countries. But have you ever seen McDonald’s in the dark, with only candles on each table to light it up inside? It’s their idea of a dinner by candlelight to those couples who don’t want to spend much during Valentine’s Day but still want to celebrate it romantically. Corny? Yes. Romantic? Hmmmmm, let’s ask those who have gone there during Valentine’s Day. LOL

Full hotels, motels, inns, etc. Every Valentine’s Day, all taxis and a lot of private vehicles head for one destination (after dinner that is), the uhm, private rooms for some private tête-à-tête (you know what I mean). And during this time, traffic to and from these establishments is really something. If you’re not one of those people heading to these establishments, don’t drive near them or you’ll just get stuck in traffic.

Lastly, the Valentine’s Gifts. And I don’t even mean just flowers, although I would see big bouquets delivered to our office when I was still working in one. Take your pick – the usual candies and chocolates, stuffed toys, cookies, cakes, perfume, jewelries (even an engagement ring!), a romantic text message, a Valentine’s Card (or e-Card), a treat in a spa or a home massage, a romantic night out (sans the kids if you’re already married), or a retreat in Tagaytay or another city far away from the crowd.

And that’s it. Hope you enjoy reading how we celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you’re single and unattached, why not check out my hub on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day? I’m sure, regardless or despite your status, you’ll still have a great Valentine’s Day.