Date night suggestions for any relationship status

MANILA, Philippines – Another year, another Valentine’s Day. All around, expect to see people clad in their snazziest ensembles, carrying huge bouquets in one arm and a heart-shaped box of chocolates in the other, walking presumably in the direction of their significant other.

But this tried-and-tested method of wooing doesn’t work for everybody. Different people have different tastes, and not all couples go for traditional displays of affection. In this day and age where relationships run the gamut from boyfriend-girlfriend tandems to “non-exclusive” agreements to everything in between – well, it simply gets complicated. 

So how can MUs, LDRs, and Tinder couples celebrate V-Day? We have a few suggestions:

Relationship status: MU

So you’ve vaguely established that you like each other – what now? How do you decide if it’s time to take things to a more definite phase, or to keep it cool for a little longer?

Date Reco: Pull a ‘That Thing Called Tadhana.’ Why leave what needs to be said up in the air? Spend Valentine’s Day getting to know each other on a deeper level – say, on a bus somewhere with as few possessions as possible, since surplus baggage will just weigh down your love. On this date, attempt to go where the wind takes you, and maybe make a stop at some obscure restaurant neither of you have heard of before. 

Relationship status: Long-distance

When your love is this strong, proximity ain’t an issue. It’s all about keeping the fire burning day and night, time zones be damned.

Date Reco:  A cozy night at home. Who says you can’t have a nice dinner and movie date at home? On Valentine’s Day, cook yourself a nice dinner, log in to a video-calling app, and stream the same movies on your phones. Press the play button at the same time, and it will be as if you’re enjoying a movie marathon in one couch. You guys get to see each other’s reactions and make little comments on the side.

Relationship status: BBTF*

You’ve dated before, and it just didn’t work out the first time around for, well, a number of reasons. This time around, it’s your chance to make it all right! 

Date Reco: Play to his/her interests. Instead of the typical dinner and drinks, take advantage of your stock knowledge and let your date know how well you (still) know him or her. If your date is a gym buff, spend V-Day running a marathon or making laps in the pool. If your date is a kid at heart, head to the laser tag studio and have a good time with your common barkada. And if your date is a homebody and Koreanovela enthusiast, an iflix fix would be nothing less than perfect.

Relationship status: Swipe right

You liked what you saw on your date’s Tinder profile. After chatting for a bit, you decided that even though your relationship at this point has just been virtual, it’s time to take things to the real world. Sure, a first date on Valentine’s Day seems to be a little forward, but it’s all or nothing!             

Date Reco: Café au yay! Before jumping into this date, just remember that definite no-nos for Tinder dates include, but are not limited to: meeting the parents, an invitation to watch one of your spoken-word poetry slams, or a wild, drunken rave. Keep it simple. Since you have never met in person yet, take this time to get to know each other in a relaxed place that will let you talk. Spend V-Day at a nice café (preferably not one of the mainstream, overcrowded ones), sipping café au lait and exchanging life stories. Who knows, this could be the new romance story of the 21^st Century: from You’ve Got Mail to You Have A New Match.  – Rappler.com

*Bringing back the flame

 This Valentine’s Day, keep it simple but make it unique! Bond with your significant other over your favorite flicks as Smart Big Bytes lets you download two movies from iflix for you and your significant other’s viewing pleasure for only P15. It’s the perfect match!