Things To Remember On Valentine's Day

Photo: BBC

In a few days most of us will be celebrating Valentine's Day. I like to spend mine with my family. I know that most people prefer to be with their special someone on that day but it's been a tradition in my family that February 14th should be celebrated with them. One reason for that is because that day is my parent's wedding anniversary. Yup, I can't believe they decided to do their wedding on Valentine's Day. Also, I really don't like to spend my Valentine's with a special someone where a bunch of other couples are celebrating as well. So I usually spend Valentine's Day with a special someone a few days before or a few days after.

Anyway, some of us are probably having problems in planning the perfect Valentine's celebration or surprise. Even buying a gift for a special someone can be quite taxing. But I learned through the years that it shouldn't be that difficult. Sometimes it's us who makes things complicated by planning so many things all at once without thinking whether we can actually pull it off or not.

First off, the gifts. Some of us buy the most common Valentine's gifts they can find. It's the easiest thing to do because a lot of gifts meant for Valentine's Day are often being sold everywhere we go. If your special someone appreciates everything you give him/her then good for you. But I learned not so long ago that a person appreciates it more when you give them a gift that they truly like or if you put a bit more effort in buying/making it. My father once said that he likes it best if he receives something that he truly likes. It makes him feel loved & cherished because knowing what to give him means that I paid attention to the things he said a few months back. 

Photo: Thirty Handmade Days

So my advice is that, whether the gift is for a special someone or your parents, try to recall something that they told you way back about a certain things they like, may it be a book, an accessory, something that they want to have but don't really want to buy for themselves. Or if they're not the type to give you hints about what they want, based your gift ideas on their likes & personality. Is your special someone a food lover? Then cook something or look for the best restaurants you both haven't tried. 

The bottom-line is, anything you buy for them will surely be appreciated, but if you give them a gift that means something to them - you'll be making them feel extra special even more.

Another issue is the budget. Not everyone can afford an expensive gift or a treat to an expensive restaurant on Valentine's Day. If you think you can't afford to spend a lot then don't. A simple home-cooked breakfast/lunch/dinner, even a letter is good enough. Stop stressing yourself about what gifts to buy or where to take your special someone if you can't afford it. Be flexible with your plans. There are other simple ways to make your Valentine's Day memorable.

Then there's the customary way of giving flowers (which is mostly for women). That's fine if your special someone is into flowers. I know some women including myself who aren't into it. I don't mind receiving one but I'd rather want my special someone to buy something we both can share & enjoy like food. I love flowers especially daisies but I don't like it to be picked. I appreciate the field of daisies not the ones tightly wrapped in a bouquet. Of course, some women probably prefer to receive flowers on Valentine's Day so that's really okay. Just know your women. Know what they want. Don't just buy them expensive flowers even if they're not into it. It's a waste of money, to be honest.

Photo: Healthwit

Lastly, WHERE TO GO. This is probably the hardest thing to plan especially if you want to go somewhere to celebrate the day. In my case, my go-to-place here in my country is Tagaytay City. I choose this place because it's the closest & has the perfect ambience for a romantic night (for couples), & at the same time, it can be a quiet place to celebrate with family & friends.

Tagaytay City is just less than 2-hr ride from Manila. If you go there during the day, it has the perfect backdrop of Taal Volcano, an active volcano surrounded by a lake. At night, the weather can be cold compared if you're in the busy streets of Manila. Also, it's not as crowded there so that helps when choosing the best place to eat. In Manila, you probably have to make early reservations for some high-end restaurants while the budget-friendly fast food restaurants are mostly jam-packed during that day. Not the mention, the traffic can be a hassle too.

Photo: Where To Go In Tagaytay

That's the reason why I love celebrating in Tagaytay during Valentine's Day. There are a lot of places to go there that suits every budget you may have. You can eat there, shop, do adventurous stuff, tour some scenic places even do picnics.

With that line, let me suggest places that I've already tried before in Tagaytay. So if you want to check them out, please do so. It may be the perfect place for you, your family or your special someone to celebrate Valentine's Day.

1. Sonya's Garden

- This place is located at Buck Estate. It's a B&B but you can celebrate your Valentine's Day at their restaurant. It can be romantic & it's also a good place for family. The place only serves healthy, organic food. They don't have a menu. They'll serve you whatever they have for that day - from appetizers, main course to dessert - & all are cooked/baked in their restaurant. But they do offer optional dishes (separate prices) if you don't want to try the ones they will serve on your table. You just have to pay a specific price depending on whether you'll be there for their breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Photo: Sonya's Garden

I've been there a couple of times already. It's my family's favorite restaurant in Tagaytay because of the healthy food they served & the ambience. You can also stay there for the night. They give good service & their spa is one of a kind.

Price: 

P560 per person for their breakfast slot around 8-10 am

P683 per person for their lunch/dinner

Reservation is a must. I usually call first before we go there. No dress code.

You can check out their website here: Sonya's Garden.

2. Antonio's Garden

- The thing you need to know about Antonio's Garden in Tagaytay is that they have a lot of restaurants in the area. You might get confused. I did the first time I learned about them. Each restaurant has different style & menu. Antonio's Garden is more into fine dining. If you prefer a romantic or a formal setting then this is your place. The restaurant is beautiful. It is located in Barangay Neogan. It's on the expensive side so if you don't have an issue with your budget then this is definitely a go-to-place for celebrating Valentine's Day.

Photo: Carmi's Caprice

A reservation is a must. From what I know, they serve lunch and dinner every Tuesday to Sunday only. Lunch reservation is around 11:30 am - 1:30 pm while dinner reservation can be made around 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. But their reservation lines are open daily from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

The last time I was there, a proper dress code is encouraged. It's been a while though so there must be some changes. Better call them & check once you make your reservation.

Check out their website: Antonio's Garden

3. Balay Dako/Terraza Bar & Grill

Photo: @yoko_travelbook Phonebooky

- This is also a restaurant under Antonio's as well. It's easy to find because this is just along the main road of Tagaytay. If you don't like the hassle of reserving before going to the restaurant then this is probably the right place for you. You can go here anytime of the day. In my opinion, this has the best view of the Taal Lake (make sure to get the middle table). It's best to go here during the day so you can appreciate the view but at night it's not bad at all. They serve Filipino food. You can have lunch or dinner with your family there or you can try Terraza Bar & Grill which is located above it. They are offering a Valentine's Special Spanish Buffet on February 13-15 for about P1,300+ & there will be an acoustic performance on the 14th. There's also another one on the 16th.

Photo: Balay Dako Website

For more details, check their website - Balay Dako

4. Pamana Restaurant

- This place is near Boutique B&B, just in front of Ayala Serin. They also serve Filipino cuisine. It isn't as expensive as Antonio's or Sonya's but they have a lot of delicious food as well. They also have a great view of Taal Volcano. The only downside that I see is that it can be pretty noisy here depending on where you choose to seat & if there are a lot of people, it can be a bit tight. I've been here 2 years ago on Valentine's Day & I fell in love with the place. We sat outside which can be pretty windy during the day but everything went well. We had a great time.

Photo: No Doors

I didn't make a reservation though. I'm not sure if they accept early reservation but it helps to make one to avoid having to wait outside.

Check their website here: Pamana

There are so many places to go in Tagaytay. These aren't just the only ones. I only recommended those restaurants that I've tried during Valentine's Day. You can always check out other places like Marcia Adams, Bags of Beans or Fire Lake Grill in Tagaytay.

If you prefer a relaxing day with your loved ones then you can visit Nurture Wellness Village. Or maybe a staycation since they have so many unique hotels & B&Bs there. There's always something to do in Tagaytay. You just have to do some research about what you want so you can find the best place to go.

Then again, if you don't mind the hustle & bustle of Manila streets, your options on how to celebrate Valentine's Day will expand. Never mind the traffic or the crowded restaurants/malls/entertainment areas - anywhere is good enough as long as you're with your loved ones, just make sure to plan it as early as now, make reservations if possible then have fun.

ADVANCED HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!