Not your kind of DATE

YESTERDAY afternoon, Mr. J called me and asked me to go out and have some...coffee? Yes, there's a question mark. He don't even like coffee?  He even despise hanging out at Starbucks!  But of course, I said yes *sparkles everywhere* because we seldom got the chance to sit down and talk about our lives due to our demanding schedules. 

After hanging the phone, I pictured the two of us, sitting across each other while sipping our frappucinos. 

So at around 6 pm, we met at a mall first because I need to have my sim card cut for my new phone. Then after strolling around the mall for a few minutes, off we go. 

While we are walking, He told me that we should try the stores along the road leading to the plaza, maybe there's a newly opened cafe there. I followed him. I love discovering new things, blog-worthy :) As we walk pass his former primary school, he reminisced his childhood memories which I already know, but some details appeared new to me. I enjoyed the conversation with him, it was light but very nostalgic.

And then it strikes me, we were actually heading to the municipality's plaza! I was quite disappointed because I was already expecting for a cozy cafe, with good music and comfy couches. But nah, that's not what I get. But why am I expecting? well, honestly, we don't go on a formal date very often---that's why I'm excited to have one. Most of the time, we just meet in a certain place and eat in a fast-food chain, Jollibee is his favorite.

IMUS MUNICIPAL HALL. Look how beautiful it is at night!

IMUS CATHEDRAL. This is one of my favorite churches. Cardinal Tagle used to lead Sunday masses here.

We are not like the other couples who really set a date on a pretty nice place. For us, it was never planned. Yes, we go out, but always with a purpose: to buy some personal stuff, run an errand, or look for something we need for work. We've been together for almost ten years, so we managed to keep things simple. 

Going back to my story, I was hesitant but I agreed to his proposal---walk around the plaza. And I didn't regret my decision. :) Our municipality's plaza, in my opinion, is just an ordinary place, but since it's Christmas, it was adorned by a lot of decorations which made it look festive. 

NATIVITY SCENE. Across the Municipal hall is the large display of the nativity scene. It was so picture-perfect.

SELFIE TIME :) Dressed in shirts + shorts, matched with messy hair---the perfect 'date' look.

The place is so nice! I even enjoyed it more because there are a lot of food stalls on both sides of the road :) Streetfoods are the best! With an appetite like mine, I've almost tried everything sold that night. He paid for almost everything that I've feasted with, haha! In between the chewing and swallowing, we had one of our best conversation. That night become so special to me. ^_^

We were about to leave the place at around 8 pm, but I insisted in going back again just to take some photos! Well, for blogging purposes :) A lot of thoughts floated in my mind, I felt the urge to write them down. 

DRIED SQUID anyone? It is very seldom that I found this kind of streetfood near our place tho.

PUTO BUMBONG at BIBINGKA. Christmas season won't be complete without these native delicacies! Puto bumbong is simply made from violet glutinous rice while bibingka is made from rice flour and topped with salted egg. yumyum!

And then after the food tripping, we visited another mall nearby which has a roof deck area. We discovered that this one is a perfect spot for barkadas who want to chill out and have a bottle of beer or two. We will definitely bring our friends there next time!

We went home at around 9:30 pm. We even continued our conversation inside the PUJ, reminiscing our high school days...those were my memorable years. Truly, this is one of my most memorable dates with him. 

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I came to realized that things need not be expensive, nor moments be festive, for us to enjoy a good company. We had been fighting over and over again, for the past few months, over silly things---until this thought hit me: Maybe we were short on the deep conversations, more on the lengthy but shallow ones. I think we should have this kind of date more often. 

There's nothing wrong in engaging in a very formal or romantic date, set in a very nice place. It is still the discretion of the couple. But I guess, simple dates like this will reveal true stories, real emotions and deeper understanding of you and your partner. Plus, it  is cheaper! I suggest that you go in a place relevant to the other, to you, or both. If it's near your place, the better. 

The simplest of memories are the greatest and the most memorable :)

I want more calamares, siomai, puto bumbong and inihaw na pusit!