If there’s one thing that couples should avoid doing this Valentine’s Day, it’s going to dark places.

This was Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales’ advice, saying couples, particularly those who are not married, should avoid going to dark places so as not to be tempted to do something which they will later regret.

“They should maintain a clean relationship and not give in to temptation because they might regret it later and they will be sorry for it,” he said.

The Cardinal, meantime, blamed commercialism for injecting sensualism into Sunday’s celebration.

“The festivity or whatever was invaded by commercialism… but what is saddening is that sensualism has entered into that commercialism and lovers are taking advantage of this,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean that just because you were given a gift or favor, you have to give something in return to the point of compromising one’s self,” added Rosales.

His Eminence said this is not the right way to prepare for a family or a lifetime partner.

“Maintain a relationship that is pure and true and not resort to gift-giving which often leads to something else,” Rosales said.

And so as not to be placed in such a situation, he advised couples to practice self-control and avoid going to dark places.

As this developed, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral advised young lovers to be responsible individuals by not engaging in premarital sex, especially at Sunday’s celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Cabral also urged parents to guide their sons and daughters properly through good education or teaching to enable them to control themselves during critical times like today.

“Lovers, especially young lovers, should be responsible for each other and make sure no harmful consequences happen to either of them,’’ Cabral said.

“We don’t advise them (young) to do that (engage in premarital sex) until they’re old enough to be responsible of themselves,’’ she said in an interview.

The health chief made the warning as lovers from all walks of life will express this Sunday their love and affection in different ways, including giving of cards, flowers and gifts, dinners, out of town trips and even sexual activities.

Citing local studies, Cabral said that premarital sex has become prevalent among the young over the years and that females have overtaken the male population.

Although the Valentine’s Day festivity this Sunday has grown beyond lovers, she noted that many young ones engaged in premarital sex on or before Valentines.

Cabral also noted that most young lovers refuse to heed their parents’ advice and have often ended up pregnant at a young age or under their parents’ care.

“We know that advises like this are not heeded by people, in which case, they have to take precaution so that they will not be a burden to their families and even their communities,’’ she said.

In its 2006 Young Adult Fertility Survey (Yafs) which covered 20, 000 Filipino youths aged 15 to 24 years old across the country, the University of the Philippines-Population Institute (UPPI) indicated that majority of first sex experiences were not planned and wanted, with girls more prone to unwanted and unplanned sex.

The study also showed that teenage pregnancy was more common among less educated people.

The Yafs said that Internet was one of the major reasons for the increasing number of females practicing pre-marital sex.

The UPPI had recommended integrating sex education in the curriculum since the survey revealed that students who did not learn sex education tend to become sexually active more.

The survey indicated there were fewer students who practice pre-marital sex in schools that teach sex education than in educational institutions that do not adopt the subject.

Moreover, Cabral also asked couples to continue loving each other, stressing that “to be in love with someone who loves you back is the most wonderful thing.’’

Meanwhile, Catholic Church leaders condemned Saturday the Department of Health’s (DoH) distribution of free condoms due its total disregard of morality.

“We deplore this government’s total disregard of morality. The way it cheapened sex and human love and relationship deserves condemnation of all good willed citizens,” Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECFL-CBCP), said over Church-run Radio Veritas 846.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco also deplored the act, saying education and not condom will help solve the problem on HIV/AIDS.

“Education is the solution. We should not make a shortcut to solve some problem by using immoral solutions,” he said.

Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches Teodoro Bacani agreed with Ongtioco, saying what the government did might only lead to the further spread of HIV/AIDS.

“Is that the way to help prevent HIV or is that a way of encouraging pre-marital sex or illegitimate sex which will only lead to the further spread of HIV?” asked the prelate.