Pandemic essentials become ‘New Normal’ Valentine’s Day gifts

This Valentine's Day has been different from any other, with many Filipinos choosing to give their loved ones gifts that are more useful in the New Normal created by the pandemic.

In Mai Bermudez's report on Sunday’s “24 Oras Weekend,” members of the Rizal Provincial Police Office handed out face shields and face masks in addition to flowers. 

Others made bouquets out of soap, face masks, hand sanitizers and alcohol made instead of flowers and chocolates.

For those who want to give edible gifts, bouquets with pinakbet or chopsuey ingredients were also available.

Others, meanwhile, still prefer the classic way by giving flower bouquets and made an effort to buy fresh ones from the Dangwa flower market in Manila.

Sellers, however, say that customers are fewer than the previous years given the pandemic.

While Valentine’s Day is considered the day to show love, others believe that it can be showed everyday hence, their simple celebration.

“’Di naman importante [yung celebration] basta araw-araw ko naman mahal yung magulang ko tsaka yung girlfriend ko. Parang Valentine’s na rin ‘yon,” a netizen stated. — Franchesca Viernes/BM, GMA News