1. Feed your need for speed.

Take control and drive as fast as you please in the most exhilarating ride of your life. Organize your own Grand Prix at City Kart Racing Makati, where there's no such thing as overspeeding. Registration fee is P750, inclusive of a briefing for safety, plus adult-kart, racing suit, and helmet rental. One ride lasts for 12 minutes, but they have a promo of P1,700 for a 36-minute race for those who love the adrenaline high.

City Kart Racing Makati is located at the 7^th Level, Car Park, Park Square 1, Ayala Center, Makati City. Open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 12 m.n. on Fridays to Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Contact 856-9155 or (0917) 585-9155 or visit www.citykartracing.com for more information.

2. Do your best poker face.

If love is a gamble, then it's a game of poker. Place a bet. Raise it or make a call if you're confident in your cards; otherwise, fold altogether. Feeling right about everything? Then don't waste time and go all-in. Take your date to The Metro Card Club and see how your match goes. Membership is free and pre-registration for future tournaments is allowed upon paying for your buy-in.

The Metro Card Club is located at Building C, Bazaar Area, Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Open 24 hours. Contact 633-1422 or 633-6536, or visit www.metrocardclub.com to know the tournament schedule.

3. Get starstruck, literally.

Surround yourself with more heavenly bliss while upgrading a romantic night to an educational discovery at the UP PAGASA Astronomical Observatory. Be amazed by the constellations and admire Mercury and Venus through a telescope. On a lucky night, lovers can even catch a falling star and wish for forever with “The One.”

The UP PAGASA Astronomical Observatory is located at the University of the Philippines campus, Diliman, Quezon City. Contact 929-1237 for more information.

4. Laugh your heart out for a good cause.

Share a good chuckle with your date and take pleasure in each other's company while watching Four Fridays in February for Love Romantic Comedies, featuring four short acts presented by MMQ Theatre Salon Series. Filipino and foreign artists deliver their best comedic performances in an intimate venue every weekend. Proceeds are for the benefit of SAGIP and Hospicio de San Jose.

Four Fridays in February for Love Romantic Comedies is on February 10 at Society Lounge, Makati City; February 17 at North Forbes Park, Makati City; and February 24 at Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Cocktails and canapés will be served at 7:30 p.m., except on February 24 at 6:30 pm. Contact Lucci at (0927) 383-9517 or (0927) 391-4618 for ticket reservations. E-mail mmqtheatre@gmail.com or log on to www.mmqtheatre.com for more information.

5. Be each other's target.

A healthy competition never hurt anyone. Challenge your date and go head-to-head in a game of tag at the country's largest laser-tag arena. Lazer Maxx is three levels of strategy-demanding obstacles along glow-in-the-dark, Star Trek-inspired alleys. A 15-minute game on weekdays costs P170 and P190 on weekends. A match made for the future, indeed.

Lazer Maxx is located at Eton Centris, MRT Quezon Avenue Station, EDSA. Contact 441-1958, (0917) 559-0806, or (0922) 876-4962 for reservations.

6. Play cupid.

Now that you've found your target in the romantic field, it's time to focus all that love-struck energy on hitting another target—and we're not talking about cheating, silly. Gandiva Café and Archery Range makes the sport available to anyone out for an unexpected hobby, not to mention a healthier lifestyle. Try no-meat treats such as the veggie Bacon 'N Cheese Sandwich and VG Sloppy Joes before or after (or both!) a session.

Hourly fee is P150, equipment rental is P200 and trainer's fee is P200 per hour.

Gandiva Café and Archery Range is located at Unit 704, One Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Contact 638-8771 for more information.

7. Declare war.

Safe, cheery, colorful—who would've thought these adjectives could describe a war zone? Global Gutz operates paintball games made to bring out team tactics and target-shooting skills in a combative but fun atmosphere. A game costs P350 per person, which already includes rental of gadgets and 50 bullets. Invite couple friends for a quadruple date—the bigger the team, the greater the challenge.

Global Gutz's fields are located at the Philippine Army Gymnasium Compound, Lawton Avenue corner Bayani Road, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City; C5 Road, Taguig City; and La Mesa Eco Park, Quezon City. Contact 703-5152 or 710-6088 for more information.

8. Scream “I love you” 20 feet high up in the air.

Dance on Cloud 9 without risking your limbs. Adrenaline junkies need not spend a fortune to experience the thrill of defying gravity. For just P120, Bungee Fun at Eastwood City Walk lets you bounce, flip, and swing in the air safely for a breathtaking three minutes. Falling in love has never been this crazy.

Bungee Fun is located in front of Pho Hoa at the Eastwood City Walk, Libis, Quezon City.

9. Hire a private chef.

A restaurant packed with lovestruck couples barking at waiters for their hour-late order—where's the romance in that? Take time enjoying a heartwarming Spanish meal whipped up by Chef Camille Ocampo at her own home. The private chef serves eight to 12 people, so invite other friends to join in the intimate experience. A meal of P1,000 to P1,500 already includes an appetizer, a salad, two desserts (hope that she serves her famous creme brulee cake cake!), wine, coffee, and her family's traditional Paella Valenciana.

Contact Chef Camille Ocampo at (0916) 745-7729 for reservations.

10. Make a difference.

Instead of staying in, why not go out and touch other people's lives? Help provide decent shelter for less fortunate families by volunteering at Habitat for Humanity Philippines. Join their regular home-building projects and prepare to be immersed in activities such as carrying blocks and digging. Construction expertise is not necessary, but a kind heart always is.

Habitat for Humanity Philippines is located at 3/F, 111 Paseo Condo Building, Tower 1, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. To volunteer, fill out a form at www.habitat.org.ph or contact 846-2177.