Love is truly in the air. Valentine's Day is not just a regular holiday at work, but a time of the month to feel the presence of love and happiness not just for couples, but for everyone who deserves to be loved. Valentine's Day is about spending quality time together and creating memories that will make us smile long after the day is over, not about extravagant preparations or public displays of affection. We began our pre-Valentine's Day stroll around downtown Cebu City, where many malls and stores had the cutest Valentine's decorations and special promos. It felt as though the world had dimmed, and we were alone in that perfect, intimate moment.
Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of our blog for this week. Today, I’m excited to share how we celebrated our pre-Valentine's date as a couple. Since Valentine’s Day falls on February 14 (Friday) and we both have work that day, we decided to have our special celebration a little earlier. Keep on reading to find out how we made it memorable!
February 9, 2025 (Sunday) – My boyfriend and I decided to have a spontaneous pre-Valentine’s date since both of us have work on Valentine’s Day, and we weren’t sure how to fit it into our hectic schedules. We also decided to plan another date after Valentine’s Day, as Sunday is the only day we both have off. Fast forward, before heading to some places downtown, we decided to have brunch since both of us hadn’t eaten yet. We grabbed Angel’s Burger and also Don Macchiato. Both of us have this habit of starting our day with coffee, so we made sure to grab one to energize ourselves and beat the heat of the sun. Coffee is life.
After grabbing our burgers and coffee, we rode the 01K jeepney heading to Downtown Cebu City, and our first stop was 138 Mall. We decided to visit 138 Mall because they have a variety of affordable and budget-friendly items. It wasn’t just a small store; you could find everything from clothing, thrift items, perfumes, and cellphones to slippers and various phone and home accessories. We went to one store because my boyfriend was looking for black socks to wear every day for work, as well as some polo shirts since he didn’t have his uniform yet. Unfortunately, we didn’t find anything suitable. We did come across a pair of white socks, but they didn’t have black ones available. So, we decided to leave and explore another store.
We went to the perfume and skincare section, as my boyfriend was looking for a perfume since he didn’t have one, and I also wanted to buy some skincare products because I didn’t have any either. As we visited different perfume stalls, we found that they had affordable prices for perfumes, many of which were international brands like Victoria's Secret, CK, Versace, and more. While searching for the perfect scent, my boyfriend was drawn to perfumes with caramel notes and fragrances that were typically considered more feminine. After visiting three stalls, he finally found one he liked: Victoria's Secret Bare Vanilla. It’s for women, right? Who cares? He loved that scent! Afterward, we headed to the beauty shops so I could pick up some skincare products.
We decided to leave 138 Mall and continue strolling around Colon Street. As we walked, my boyfriend finally found some very affordable black socks, only 40 PHP for three pairs, and basketball socks for 50 PHP. They were super budget-friendly, so without hesitation, he grabbed as many as he could, and in the end, he paid just 100 PHP for everything. Afterward, we spotted a vendor selling buko juice with mango, and I really wanted to buy some since I felt super dehydrated from the intense heat of the sun. When we tasted it, it was so yummy! For only 30 PHP, it was incredibly refreshing. The vendor is located near Far Eastern Medical Supplies, and you’ll spot the stall easily. I promise, it’s delicious and refreshing!
Before we decided to go to SM City Cebu, we spotted our all-time favorite appetizer, "saang." Saang, or spider shell, is a type of large sea snail commonly recognized by its unique spiral shell. The term "conch" is often used to refer to both the mollusk and its shell. This is really one of our favorite appetizers, especially when paired with vinegar, red onions, and chili. For only 5 PHP per stick, you get the best experience. However, not everyone will love this type of food because it's very chewy, and you can taste the saltiness of the sea. Some people might even get a stomachache from it, especially if they have a sensitive stomach like mine. Personally, I usually eat 1-2 sticks to avoid an upset stomach and drink buko juice afterward.
As we arrived at SM City Cebu, we went to Watsons because my boyfriend had something to buy. While he looked for what he needed, I strolled around the makeup section because I wanted to learn how to do makeup for myself. Though I know the basics, there’s always a part of me that wants to expand my knowledge about makeup. I browsed through some makeup essentials so that if I have extra money, I can buy them. After about 20 minutes in Watsons, we finally grabbed some food to eat.
We went to S&R Pizza and quickly grabbed a New York-style pizza and honey-glazed chicken wings. This felt like a small win for us because, finally, we could enjoy this kind of date using our hard-earned money. Sometimes, moments like these make me feel what love truly feels like. We talked about our work, our parents and siblings, and even our future plans. At this stage in life, we’re already contemplating what the future holds for us.
After eating, I bought a Mr. Potato because, before we went home, I was going to accompany him to the barbershop. While waiting, I got some French fries to share with him so I wouldn’t get bored. I ordered a jumbo-sized serving for only 90 PHP and chose our favorite flavor, sour cream.
We went to the barbershop to get his hair trimmed and cleaned. We waited for almost 30 minutes because there were plenty of customers. It was a good thing I bought fries so we could snack while waiting. When it was his turn, he chose his own haircut. After about 20 minutes, we saw this handsome guy with his fresh new haircut! His hair looked clean, and he even had a line design shaved into the side. Afterwards, we headed home since it was our long weekend date, and we needed to sleep early because we both had work the next day.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect with my thoughts today. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey with you, and I hope you found something here that resonated or sparked an idea. This blog is a space for growth, inspiration, and conversation, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences in the comments. Feel free to share if something stood out to you. Here’s to many more stories, lessons, and moments of connection ahead! See you in the next post!