MANILA, Philippines — For loving couples who remain clueless as to where to go or celebrate Valentine’s Day, a pious member of a very influential religious group said going to church may be a good idea. Father Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

(CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, is particularly recommending this to couples planning to get married at this point.

“More than the romantic date, this is the opportunity to know each other (better)… so go to church together and do some apostolate work,” he said.

Castro said the problem with some couples is that they are more focused on impressing each other by making their Valentine’s Day rendezvous romantic.

“Although that’s also important to nourish the relationship, but it’s important to also nourish it with prayer,” he said.

“What is important is that during the period of courtship, they get to know each other for them to know if they should marry each other,” added Castro.

And for those who don’t have a date, the CBCP official is also urging single men and women to visit the church.

Castro said single men and women should go to church and pray so they may find the right person for them.

If not, he said, there’s nothing to be ashamed of if one ends up being single as they may have a different calling.

“There are different kinds of vocations or calling from God. Some are called to consecrated life, married life, while there are those called to remain single. Don’t be ashamed of your state of life, what is important is our fidelity to God,” Castro said.