A STONE bench makes her heart flutter.
For many that piece of concrete jutting near a statue in the middle of an old university campus is just for seating. But for Christine Bautista, warming the bench is not just her behind but the memories she shared sitting on it with her boyfriend.
It’s just around the corner of the school building and you don’t need to spend anything except the time with each other, Bautista told the BusinessMirror in Filipino.
Couples like Bautista and her beau have chosen such location as the top spot for millennials in a romantic relationship. Of the many reasons for selection, they chose ambiance.
Bautista’s selection has been aptly called “Lover’s Lane.” The stone benches sits in the middle of a 21.5-hectare university in downtown Manila. Potted plants of pink bougainvillea sit at arm’s length from the benches and beds of Bermuda grass create a sea of green. Leaves of trees—star, narra, fire and camphor—rustle with the wind, further helping create a relaxing atmosphere. The latter, some young people the BusinessMirror talked to, lends to the whiff of romance in the air.
“The cool air and earthy smell from the moist soil makes me romantic,” according to Janna Santa Ana, 19.
But for Santa Ana, the stone benches are south of Bautista’s choice: a park at the heart of a business district.
“Since it’s located in the midst of the busy streets of Taguig, it kind of reminds me of one part of loving someone. I find peace in this place even when there are enormous buildings surrounding the area. In another way, it’s like finding myself in another person despite of all the walls surrounding us,” Santa Ana told the BusinessMirror.
For these millennials, the Metro, amid its busy noise, offers romantic spots. Here are the top 5 features a location should have to be considered romantic:
• Ambiance. For some of the millennials, an art gallery in Antipolo, Rizal, offers the ambiance they said puts it as a top romantic spot. They cite the soothing music—more like entering a spa—and the trees and flowers as lending to the ambiance. There are paintings and sculptures that allow couples to be steeped in art. “Romantic is being quiet, letting your eyes and heart speak for what you feel.”
• Food. Some find a coffee shop romantic: the scent of coffee being blended in the air-conditioned shop creates a sweet atmosphere. “It’s a perfect environment to enjoy good company and have a good conversation. You get to concentrate on one another while good music is playing.”
• Nature. The bed of grasses under the biggest tree in a commercial district in Taguig City gives you the chance to appreciate the stars, according to some of the people the BusinessMirror talked to. Despite being surrounded by tall buildings, the site is perfect for holding hands while stargazing in silence as the noise of vehicles don’t reach the area and lights from nearby shops are closed by 9 p.m. “We’ll just lie down there, gaze at the stars and talk about life.”
• Affordability. For some, home is still where the is. One can enjoy a quiet dinner of take-out food as their favorite band’s song plays on the stereo. “Dates should not be too expensive. It’s the company of the person that is important,” a millennial said.
• Significance. For other millennials, a good dating site is the highest point at a wall in Intramuros. The wall gives a clear view of Manila: busy streets, City Hall, old buildings and the golf course. The history of Intramuros, every building before and after, adds to its romance.
Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas & Carissa Marie T. Palpal-latoc
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Image credits: Carissa Marie T. Palpal-latoc