By Yelah Israel
The regal red and gold of the Lunar New Year die down to welcome a new kind of red, a romantic and loving kind.
Valentine’s Day is now around the corner. Internationally celebrated all over the globe, this is the time of year when people make time to show those they love — be it a partner, family member, or dear friend — how much they mean to them. Yet, one thing proves itself to be an obstacle, getting in the way of the celebration: the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, people are unable to leave their homes, otherwise risking increasing the spread of the disease in their areas. Of course, everyone’s health is everyone’s concern. Hence, duly following health safety protocols is an undeniable must.
Fear not, however, because today is an era of advanced technology, where individuals half a world away can reach each other effortlessly, as if erasing the physical distance with the power of online connection. In order to make sure this year’s happy hearts day leaves a sweet and not sour taste in your mouth, here are 14 virtual date ideas you can do with your significant other (or maybe just with your friends), to grab love by the reins and lead it into the digital sphere. Take out your pen and paper, because things are about to get cheesy.
Photo: HOLR Magazine
14. Movie Marathon
Ever had that one movie or show in your watchlist you've been dying to watch, but you never seem to find the right moment to do so? Well, save the date! Movies have always been the go-to for date night ever since the first theaters were opened. For good reason, too, as with every film sucks you into whole different worlds filled with cinematography, sound design, and good-old-fashioned storytelling, all while you enjoy the company of your partner.
Now, in this digital era of ours, we can bring the big screen to our homes, even if the audience is scattered across the earth. Due to the presence of browser extensions, mobile applications, or websites such as Teleparty, Rave, and Discord, you can watch your favorite movies or shows with whomever you invite to your watch party, wherever you may be. These programs have either a built-in chat feature or voice call, giving you the ability to react and chat with the other person in real time.
Get ready to laugh, scream, and cry together with your most favorite person in the world.
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13. Online Personality Quizzes
It's not the internet without your trusty personality quiz. Whether you just answer them out of boredom or if you take them as truth, online personality quizzes — the goofier they get — can make for one fun night. Not only do they entertain you, but they can also give you more insight about the person you're with. You can find out about their favorite color, meal preferences, or if they like cats or dogs more, as well as all the other little details.
Just searching up "personality quiz/test" can introduce you to a plethora of results, like the Buzzfeed website that offers tons of quizzical quizzes, or the MBTI test to find out where among the 16 personalities you fall under. So what are you waiting for? Don't you want to find out which Disney Princess you are?
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12. Powerpoint Party
You may be thinking that "Microsoft Powerpoint" and "intimate evening" could never mix. However, if you make it out to be some sort of challenge, you might find yourself having a blast.
In a Powerpoint Party, you and your partner create slides about a randomly assigned topic over the span of a few minutes. You can make use of a random word generating website to plan out your presentation, or you can even ask each other questions like, "What is your fondest memory of me?" or "What is the craziest dream you've ever had?" After creating the document, you two can take turns sharing your screens through Zoom or Google Meet to present what you have created. This is a perfect date idea for graphic designers who want to show off their Powerpoint skills!
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11. Online Team Games
It is in the heat of an intense game where you can truly be in the moment with the person you treasure.
After all, there is nothing more romantic than assisting your partner in ranked games or helping them get a kill off of the enemy team, right? If you agree, online team games such as League of Legends or Call of Duty can be the place where you and your partner can work together to feel the rush of a hard-earned win. You two can communicate with each other during the match through in-game voice chat or a call of your own.
Just make sure to not let your competitive spirit let loose, as Valentine’s is hardly the time for broken hearts due to broken win streaks.
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10. Brainy Games Online
Alternatively, if you prefer an intellectual challenge, there exist games that deviate from the violent competitiveness typically associated with online gaming. An example would be GeoGuessr, where participants are asked to identify the name of a country based on an area from Google Maps – a fun adventure for geography know-it-alls out there.
Another way to unleash the tactical genius within you can be a few rounds of online chess or other board games. For those with an appreciation of the English language, you can tune into scrabble or a hilarious game of Mad Libs. Make it more interesting by incorporating a betting system. The bottomline is: don’t be afraid to be nerdy together!
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9. Writing Challenge
Writer and activist Maya Angelou once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” What better way is there to tap into your soul and express affection to someone other than through the art of writing?
For creatives, an improvised writing challenger can not only warm your heart, but it may thrill you with a gush of competition. Through a call, assign each other randomly generated words or a calculated theme that may serve as your basis for a topic, to create flash fictions, cleverly crafted limericks, elaborate poems, or all of the above. The power of creative freedom is within the hands of you and your partner.
Photo: VSCO
8. Painting Date
While writing is for the romanticists who want to capture beauty through words, painting is for the artists who do so with every stroke of their pencil or brush. Furthermore, in art, one does not need to be the next Michelangelo to appreciate it as a means of emotional expression.
Assemble all your art materials and tools or install an art software. With the abundance of communication services that allow long distance calls, you can take all the time you need to create your own obra-maestra. You two can follow a calming Bob Ross tutorial or maybe start a contest of speed painting about various assigned topics.
The canvas is your world, so give the world to your partner!
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7. Virtual Karaoke
Musicality has always been in the Filipino blood. In courting, for example, those in the old days made use of a harana, where one of the two sings a song or few to the person they are interested in. One can also see this inclination for melodic expression in karaoke, another staple of Philippine culture, which stands as a source of interactive entertainment, where people can sing along to the instrumental of a song.
Now, thanks to technology, one can whistle their notes in the digital sphere and even invite others along with them. Karaoke can be done in several platforms such as Smule, Singsnap, or even through a call in Discord or Facebook Messenger which allows you and your partner to play a video simultaneously at the comfort of your own homes. Don’t forget to practice your octaves before serenading your partner with a slow song or impressing them with a rap.
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| Photo: Daniele Costa on Pinterest |
6. Playlist Party
As stated previously, music just has a way into the soul. Creating a playlist for one another can show how much you cherish the other half. In addition, sharing songs can help increase familiarity among the couple, as music can tell a lot about a person.
Spotify offers the opportunity to start group sessions, where multiple people can listen to music at the same time. This is a sign to hunt all your favorite songs and stick them inside a playlist for you and your partner to just vibe along to the melody, while having a meaningful conversation over a call.
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| Photo: Melinna & Zeus on Youtube |
5. Creating a Vision Board
During this pandemic, it can be so easy to lose track of time, since the days can all seem the same. With the fate of the global outbreak proving itself to be an unpredictable blur, it can be comforting to talk and plan about the future, especially with someone you hold so dear.
A vision board is a collage of photographs, newspaper or magazine clippings, or quotes and sayings that illustrate one’s goals and ambitions to visually affirm their wants. It can be about anything ranging from career, travel, hobbies, or perhaps a long-term life plan.
Creative resources like Photoshop, Canva, or PicsArt can help you create aesthetically pleasing vision boards with your partner, for you two to show each other after an allotted time. Not only does this activity give you both an avenue to deepen your bond, but it also provides you a reason in looking forward to the future — possibly one together.
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| Photo: Klaudia H on Pinterest |
4. QnA Session
Nothing beats a simple, direct Question and Answer. Doable in a single call through Facebook Messenger, this is especially good for early-stage couples that look forward to really knowing more about who they are dating. One can search up questions online or write the inquiries themselves, crafted specifically to the other party.
Moreover, you can incorporate popular games such as Never Have I Ever, Would You Rather, or even Truth or Dare to add some spice to this session of “get-to-know-me”. A human is like a book full of pages waiting to be read, so never be afraid to ask even the most embarrassing questions!
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| Photo: Westend61 |
3. Watching Livestreams
The internet offers endless entertainment, too much for one to consume. Luckily, though, you are not alone. Real-time shows such as gaming livestreams, live comedy specials, podcasts, or live book readings can be watched together by couples on call, so they can commentate over the piece of media, while snacking. These livestreams can be found in various social media platforms, like Twitch, YouTube, Tiktok, Instagram, and so on.
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| Photo: HOLR Magazine |
2. Study/Work Date
Do you have that math test you’re dreading about, or perhaps a deadline is creeping its way towards you, yet you still want to spend some time with your partner? Well, this number is dedicated to the couples who have a lot on their plate even during Valentine’s.
There are times when your pile of work can seem mountainous, with you needing some sort of motivation or push to make sure you’re going in the right direction. That is why sometimes a simple call with someone you love can keep the momentum of professional or academic task completion on a constant speed. What is more romantic than having your partner by your side, cheering you on?
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| Photo: HOLR Magazine |
1. Cooking Dinner Together
A romantic candle-lit dinner is what most visualize when thinking of a Valentine’s Day date. A more intimate version of this would be preparing dinner at home, for you two to enjoy all throughout the evening. Even with pandemic restrictions keeping everyone apart, that doesn’t mean no one is allowed to have a warm meal in each others’ company, even if it’s through video call.
Using a phone stand, you and your partner can set up a call that allows one another to fully see the kitchen. Just make sure to keep the device away from the stove! Both of the partners can make use of one dish recipe, be it the usual favorite or something new to explore all-together. What screams “domestic love” more than preparing food, drinks, and utensils, while having a conversation as if you two share the same room?
Then, when all is finished, you two can have all the food to yourself, talking some more through the call. After spending a long time with one another, the physical distance between you will mean nothing compared to the emotional connection you managed to build up over time.